Eastover, NC Town Guide: Taxes, Schools, Commute and History

Eastover is a small, mostly rural town in Cumberland County about 7 miles northeast of downtown Fayetteville, across the Cape Fear River. It was incorporated in July 2007 and had 3,656 residents in the 2020 census. U.S. 301 (Dunn Road) runs through the center of town, and I-95 runs just to the east with exits 55, 56 and 58, which also connect to I-295 toward Fort Bragg.

People choose Eastover for larger lots, a lower town tax rate than Fayetteville's, and quick interstate access, while doing most of their shopping, dining and medical visits in Fayetteville.

Eastover at a Glance

Fact	Detail
County	Cumberland
Incorporated	July 2007 (first town election January 2008)
Population	3,656 (2020 census), up from 3,628 in 2010
Median age	48.6 (2020 census)
Land area	About 11.3 square miles
ZIP code	28312 (shared with parts of east Fayetteville)
Main roads	U.S. 301/Dunn Road, I-95, I-295, U.S. 13
Town Hall	3876 Dunn Road; (910) 323-0707; weekdays 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Town Council	Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m., Eastover Community Center, 4008 School Road

History: From Flea Hill to Eastover

Before it was Eastover, this part of Cumberland County was known as Flea Hill. The town's history page says the name probably came from a tavern where animals were kept, and that an even earlier name, Mary's Garden, appears on an 1808 map and in county post office records. The state renamed Flea Hill Township as Eastover Township in 1865; the town's name reflects its location east of and over the river from Fayetteville.

Two older landmarks are worth knowing:

• The Robert Williams House, a Greek Revival coastal cottage built around 1850 near Eastover, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The state historic preservation office notes that descendants of the builder still owned the house and land when it was nominated. It is a private home, not a museum.
• Mount Zion AME Zion Church, organized in 1855 as Flea Hill African Methodist Zion, is described by local historians as the second documented African American church in Cumberland County.

Taxes and Town Services

Eastover keeps a small town government. For 2026 tax bills, Cumberland County's rate is 49.9 cents per $100 of assessed value and Eastover's town rate is 23 cents, for a combined 72.9 cents. Inside Fayetteville, the city adds 44.95 cents for a combined 94.85 cents.

Location	County rate	Town or city rate	Combined (per $100)
Eastover	49.9¢	23¢	72.9¢
Falcon	49.9¢	35¢	84.9¢
Fayetteville	49.9¢	44.95¢	94.85¢

Rates are from Cumberland County Tax Administration for 2026 tax bills. Check your own bill for any fire district or other charges. See our Cumberland County property tax guide for how bills are calculated.

Because Eastover is small, many services come from the county or regional providers. Ask Town Hall which agencies cover law enforcement and fire protection for a given address, and confirm water, sewer and electric providers before you buy, since they vary by street. Many rural lots use wells and septic systems.

Schools

Eastover students attend Cumberland County Schools. Eastover-Central Elementary at 5174 Dunn Road serves pre-K through fifth grade in town. Middle and high school assignments depend on the exact address; two county schools on Clinton Road east of Fayetteville, Mac Williams Middle and Cape Fear High, serve parts of this side of the county. Confirm your assignment with the district before you sign a contract. Our Cumberland County Schools guide and enrollment guide explain how to check.

Commuting From Eastover

Destination	Typical route
Downtown Fayetteville	U.S. 301/Dunn Road south across the Cape Fear River
Fort Bragg	I-95 to exit 58, then I-295 west around the north side of Fayetteville
Raleigh	I-95 north to I-40 west
Dunn and Smithfield	I-95 north

The Fayetteville Outer Loop (I-295) was completed in 2025 as a 39-mile loop, which made the drive from Eastover to the west side of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg more predictable than surface streets. Military families should compare drive times to their unit's gate; see our Fort Bragg gates and commute guide.

What's in Eastover

• Eastover Recreation Center, with a full-size indoor basketball gym, a cardio room and two large activity rooms.
• Eastover Ball Park, an outdoor sports facility that dates to 1971.
• Talley Woodland Park, a small wooded park with wooden bridges over a brook.
• The Eastover Community Center on School Road, where the town council meets.
• Churches, small businesses and farmland along Dunn Road and the side roads.

For groceries, big-box shopping and restaurants, most residents drive into Fayetteville or to the I-95 exits. The Fayetteville neighborhoods guide compares Eastover with other areas around the city.

Is Eastover a Good Place to Live?

It depends on what you want:

Reasons people like it

• Lower combined property tax rate than Fayetteville
• Larger lots and a rural setting close to a city of more than 200,000
• Fast access to I-95 for trips north or south
• An older, settled population; the 2020 census median age was 48.6

Trade-offs

• Few stores or restaurants in town
• Longer drives to the west side of Fort Bragg than from Spring Lake or west Fayetteville
• Well, septic and flood zone questions on some rural lots; check FEMA flood maps and get a septic inspection. Our home buying and flood zones guide explains the steps.

If you are comparing small towns around Fayetteville, see our guide to nearby Falcon, farther up I-95.

Sources

• Town of Eastover
• Cumberland County Tax Administration: Tax rates
• Eastover, North Carolina (2020 census data)
• NC State Historic Preservation Office: Robert Williams House nomination
• ABC11: Fayetteville Outer Loop completed
• Cumberland County Municipalities

Details checked October 2026.