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Pine Level vs Mar-Mac

17 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (6.2× in Pine Level) and growth since 2010 (+32.3 pts in Pine Level).

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Pine Level, NCOne of the safest townsNorth Carolina · 2,031 people

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Mar-Mac, NCOne of the healthiest townsNorth Carolina · 2,877 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

Pine LevelOne of the safest towns

SafetySafer than 83%of U.S. towns we grade All about Pine Level →

Mar-MacOne of the healthiest towns

Health61% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Mar-Mac →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker6.2×

Pine Level is more of a job hub

Pine Level 0.62Mar-Mac 0.10

Growth since 2010+32.3 pts

Pine Level has grown faster since 2010

Pine Level +20.4%Mar-Mac -11.9%

Property tax bill2×

Tax bills are bigger in Pine Level

Pine Level $1,678Mar-Mac $824

Home values+48%

Homes cost more in Pine Level

Pine Level $221,000Mar-Mac $149,200

Street grid+45%

Pine Level has the more walkable street grid

Pine Level 44.5Mar-Mac 30.7

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $450 more a month in Pine Level

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Pine Level$1,300/mo

Typical home $221K (Census) · tax rate 0.76% · or rent about $804/mo · Housing →

Mar-Mac$850/mo

Typical home $149K (Census) · tax rate 0.55% · or rent about $821/mo · Housing →

The difference: $450 a month, about $5,400 a year, between Pine Level and Mar-Mac.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every North Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety

A−Pine LevelSafer than 83% of U.S. towns –Mar-MacNot graded

Schools

B−Pine LevelBetter than 53% of districts in the state –Mar-MacNot graded

Health

BPine LevelHealthier than 57% of U.S. towns C+Mar-MacHealthier than 39% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

Pine LevelMar-Mac

Snow a year1″2″

January low31°F 35°F

July high92°F 91°F

Growing season (days)220d 250d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)26th 71st

Outdoors & history

Pine LevelMar-Mac

Trails0 mi —

Conserved land1.9%—

Community

Pine LevelMar-Mac

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

17 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Pine LevelMar-Mac

Pine Level ↔ Mar-Mac17 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs North Carolina average

Pine LevelMar-Mac

People

Population 2,031Lowest 2,877Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +20.4%Highest NC: +9.5% -11.9%Lowest NC: +9.5%

Median age 38.7±8Lowest about the NC average 39±11.7Highest about the NC average

Mar-Mac and Pine Level are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 25.2%±6.2Lowest NC: 21.8% 28.1%±6Highest NC: 21.8%

Mar-Mac and Pine Level are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 15%±1.2Lowest NC: 17.2% 16.5%±5.3Highest NC: 17.2%

Mar-Mac and Pine Level are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24.5%Highest NC: 35.7% 20.1%Lowest NC: 35.7%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.1%±2.2Lowest NC: 6.4% 6.7%±3.1Highest NC: 6.4%

Mar-Mac and Pine Level are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $75,263±$25kHighest 4% above NC $53,819±$14kLowest 26% below NC

Pine Level and Mar-Mac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $221,000±$32kHighest 24% below NC $149,200±$16kLowest 48% below NC

Rentmedian gross, monthly $804±$66Lowest 35% below NC $821±$56Highest 33% below NC

Mar-Mac and Pine Level are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,678Highest 11% below NC $824Lowest 57% below NC

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58%±35.2Lowest NC: 48.9% 68.2%±34.4Highest NC: 48.9%

Mar-Mac and Pine Level are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 8%Lowest NC: 13% 11.8%Highest NC: 13%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 80.8%Highest NC: 66.6% 79.3%Lowest NC: 66.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1985Highest 6 yrs older than NC 1980Lowest 11 yrs older than NC

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 16% below NC 25 minHighest about the NC average

Work from home 5.2%±3Highest NC: 16.3% 0.9%±1.6Lowest NC: 16.3%

Pine Level and Mar-Mac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 4.4%Highest 0.3%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.3 miHighest 16.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.62Highest 0.10Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Smithfield (16%)Goldsboro (27%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Mar-MacFew work in Pine Level

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 1.9%Lowest 3.4%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.6 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 44.5Highest 30.7Lowest

Schools

School district Johnston County Public Schools—

High school in town None in town—

North Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Pine Level neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Pine Level’s Town Square.

Mar-Mac neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mar-Mac’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Pine Level and Mar-Mac

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Pine Level

Selma6,817 people · $172K homes

Towns like Pine Level

Oakboro2,683 people · $283K homes

Glen Alpine1,991 people · $173K homes

Pinebluff1,806 people · $234K homes

Broadway1,657 people · $255K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.