Relocating to north carolina!

[yankebabie]

We are relocating from upstate New York to North Carolina in the spring. Want to live near a beach and was thinking about the Wilmington area in a nice, quiet middle class area. Any information you could share regarding this area or any other nice areas near the beach would be very much appreciated.

 

[ArmandXG]

Howdy!

Let me be the first to welcome you to N.C. We moved here in 1989 from Miami Fla. and we love it. Growing up in Miami, I've had my share of beaches, so we moved to the country to be surrounded by trees and wildlife (I once had a momma bear and 2 cubs go through my yard).

Unfortunately, I cannot help you in the neighborhood department, but I can tell you that you will enjoy this state. It may be a bit of a culture shock, but you will soon get used to it. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We love Wilmington! We have lived up and down the East Coast with DH's job (including Upstate NY ), but we will have to be dragged kicking and screaming from Wilmington!

I can recommend several areas, depending where you will be working, ages of kids, etc. Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[kirrrby]

I wouldn't recommend Wilmington if you're looking for a peaceful beach atmosphere. It just seems very busy, especially around the college and downtown. I've lived in New Bern (great place, especially with the downtown area) and i've had relatives in Southport. Now the median house price for Southport is very high, but there is a town about 15 minutes from it off Hwy17, it's called Shallotte. There might be some homes further into the town area of Southport that run in the low 200's high 100's. Also a few other towns that are lovely beach type, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Swansboro, Newport and Carolina Beach. If you do end up in Wilmington though I can recommend a brewery called Front Street Brewery. Best Beer in NC. I would recommend Coastal Kolsch or Dramm Tree Ale.

 

[lchadwick]

My mom and sister both live in Shallotte, NC! I lived in Supply for 5 years, though now live in Myrtle Beach. To be honest, the schools in Brunswick County can be scetchy, but if you spend time doing schoolwork with your kids, you'll be better off.

Lots of golf communites in Brunswick County - and then you'd be 1/2 way between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, which I really liked.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I wouldn't recommend Wilmington if you're looking for a peaceful beach atmosphere. It just seems very busy, especially around the college and downtown. I've lived in New Bern (great place, especially with the downtown area) and i've had relatives in Southport. Now the median house price for Southport is very high, but there is a town about 15 minutes from it off Hwy17, it's called Shallotte. There might be some homes further into the town area of Southport that run in the low 200's high 100's. Also a few other towns that are lovely beach type, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Swansboro, Newport and Carolina Beach. If you do end up in Wilmington though I can recommend a brewery called Front Street Brewery. Best Beer in NC. I would recommend Coastal Kolsch or Dramm Tree Ale.

It does depend what you are looking for, OP. I don't think Wilmington is particularly busy - I think Myrtle Beach is busy. New Bern and Shallotte are much too small for my tastes - I prefer the amenities of a college town - there is always plenty to do and lots of services offered. Wilmington is much smaller than Raleigh, Charlotte or Greensboro, but it is large enough not to be boring.

If you are looking for beach and little else, I'd recommend someplace other than Wilmington. If you want access to activities, attractions, beaches, good schools, lots of restaurant choices, soccer leagues, summer camps, etc, I'd recommend Wilmington. Cost of living is lower in Hampstead (Pender County) or Leland (Brunswick County), but the commute is still doable if you work in Wilmington. It depends what is important to you in terms of proximity and convenience as well as housing costs.

 

[kirrrby]

It does depend what you are looking for, OP. I don't think Wilmington is particularly busy - I think Myrtle Beach is busy. New Bern and Shallotte are much too small for my tastes - I prefer the amenities of a college town - there is always plenty to do and lots of services offered. Wilmington is much smaller than Raleigh, Charlotte or Greensboro, but it is large enough not to be boring.

If you are looking for beach and little else, I'd recommend someplace other than Wilmington. If you want access to activities, attractions, beaches, good schools, lots of restaurant choices, soccer leagues, summer camps, etc, I'd recommend Wilmington. Cost of living is lower in Hampstead (Pender County) or Leland (Brunswick County), but the commute is still doable if you work in Wilmington. It depends what is important to you in terms of proximity and convenience as well as housing costs.

Shallotte and Southport, between the two towns there are a lot of new construction going up along 211. They have a lot of new beach style condos, and cape cod style homes. And it's true Wilmington is great for the college atmosphere but if you're in the older crowd being right in the heart of downtown just seems like one big party on the weekends. I know for a fact that when the Marines in Jacksonville get a long liberty they head down there for beer booze and clubs. There are a lot of the old southern charm type houses a few blocks away from the Market/Front street area. But if you go too far you end up in the ghetto. But it's good for proximity. You're close to a lot of beaches, a personal favorite of mine is Kure/Fort Fisher beach access. And you're about 3 hours from major beaches (Myrtle and VA Beach). I'll be relocating to VA Beach within the next year. I love the beach atmosphere.

 

[mrsklamc]

I too wanted to recommend Kure Beach. It's quiet and it won't be getting bigger because it's boxed in. You have water, water, and nature preserve.

I thought I was going to have a blog at one time.... and I haven't kept it up but here is the old post on Kure Beach.

http://www.littlemissrandom.com/?p=27

 

[Tarheel Tink]

I live in Carteret County in the Crystal Coast (Emerald Isle, Beaufort, Morehead City). We do not have the college town atmosphere and amenities that Wilmington has (which is 90 minutes south of us). We are a tourist destination and our down east area is very relaxed and remote. Lots of fishing and boating if you enjoy that, great seafood of course!
I have a recently divorced friend who moved away and has her home for sale that is 5 minutes from the Emerald Isle bridge (you can see the bridge from her upstairs window). Just saying....

 

[kirrrby]

I too wanted to recommend Kure Beach. It's quiet and it won't be getting bigger because it's boxed in. You have water, water, and nature preserve.

I thought I was going to have a blog at one time.... and I haven't kept it up but here is the old post on Kure Beach.

http://www.littlemissrandom.com/?p=27

Only thing is that the real estate is very expensive on Kure Beach. Condos go for about 200k while actual homes go for more, plus the expense of insurance against the hurricanes and whatnot.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

And it's true Wilmington is great for the college atmosphere but if you're in the older crowd being right in the heart of downtown just seems like one big party on the weekends. I know for a fact that when the Marines in Jacksonville get a long liberty they head down there for beer booze and clubs. There are a lot of the old southern charm type houses a few blocks away from the Market/Front street area. But if you go too far you end up in the ghetto. But it's good for proximity. You're close to a lot of beaches, a personal favorite of mine is Kure/Fort Fisher beach access. And you're about 3 hours from major beaches (Myrtle and VA Beach). I'll be relocating to VA Beach within the next year. I love the beach atmosphere.

We don't live anywhere near downtown. We live near Wrightsville Beach, but we are in the Wilmington city limits. We live in a nice neighborhood with lots of kids (and also the "older crowd" - not sure if you count 40-somethings in that or not, so I'm not sure if I qualify). I rarely go downtown, but that is because everything I need is located where I live. There are lots of bars downtown, but I know very few people who live there. Most live in the suburbs like any other city of Wilmington's size.

I wouldn't expect the OP would want to live downtown if the beach is important. They are nowhere near each other, unless you are referring to the banks of the Cape Fear River - not exactly a beach. Quiet, middle class Wilmington includes many different areas.

FWIW, UNCW is not downtown either. We appreciate the amenities of the college (sports, summer camps, lectures, concerts, etc) without actually attending any keg parties.

And Wilmington is much smaller and quieter than Raleigh, and certainly has fewer bars and fewer college students.

We are less than two hours from Myrtle Beach - we just went there last weekend.

 

[yankebabie]

You guys are great! I really do appreciate all the input. My husband and I are empty nesters and in our late forties. We definitely do not want to be in a college town or too much of a touristy area. My son and his wife (with baby on board, my first grandchild) will be moving with us so in a couple of years, good schools will be an important factor. We don't know alot about NC and originally we are from Long Island, where we lived within 15 miles of the beach. We moved upstate NY where there are NO beaches and we long to be close to a beach again. Not to far in the country where you are isolated, but not right in town where its busy and loud.

 

[yankebabie]

Also, we are not set on Wilmington area necessarily, we were using that as our starting point because we knew there are alot of beaches there. My husband is self-employed so we are not locked into any one area. We are looking to by a house in the $150,000 or less range as it is just my husband and I and don't need a big house anymore. Thanks again for your help!

 

[yankebabie]

We were considering the Myrtle Beach area at some point, but thought maybe that would definitely be too much of a touristy area. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong. LOL

 

[crabbygal902]

Welcome to North Carolina!

I'm from the the other side of the state, but I love to visit Wilmington and have always wanted to live there. I have several friends from that area who absolutely love it for the good schools, an active arts community, and lots of things to see and do.

In my humble opinion, Myrtle Beach is a fun place to visit in the off season, but I wouldn't enjoy living there...especially during the tourist season! The traffic alone would drive me batty. Another place that bears mentioning is Swansboro, NC: one of my favorite places in NC. It is a quaint waterfront community on the White Oak River, very close to the ocean.

I hope y'all will be very happy with your move. Grab a glass of sweet tea, some eastern-style BBQ, and watch a Carolina/Duke basketball game. You'll fit in in no time!

 

[kirrrby]

We were considering the Myrtle Beach area at some point, but thought maybe that would definitely be too much of a touristy area. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong. LOL

Myrtle Beach isn't a prime place to live IMHO. It's full of tourist during any season. I think the only time it's really dead is when it's very cold. I stayed with a friend for a while at Patriots Point apartments near Boardwalk at the Beach and it was just too busy for me. There are plenty of other side towns though that still put you in close proximity of shops, restaurants, etc. Places like Murrell's Inlet, SC or Conway, SC, you're also close to Tanger Outlets.

This is just personal opinion but I would still look into New Bern, I loved it there. It has the old southern historic feel, lots of places to go fishing and you're about 45 minutes from the beach. We stayed at Woodland Crossing Apartments right off Hwy 17. That area has all the major grocery stores, Walmart, Target, and the gas is pretty fair price down there. Especially it being near the beach. It was one of my favorite places to live. They have lots of festivals, and we never had much problem with bad weather. I would although avoid military towns like the plague unless you are military oriented (Jacksonville, Havelock, Fayetteville).

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Also, we are not set on Wilmington area necessarily, we were using that as our starting point because we knew there are alot of beaches there. My husband is self-employed so we are not locked into any one area. We are looking to by a house in the $150,000 or less range as it is just my husband and I and don't need a big house anymore. Thanks again for your help!

You might consider the Topsail area. It is in Pender County, so the housing costs are lower. The beaches are beautiful, and there are some very good schools there. It is not very touristy at all, but you are close enough to Wilmington to enjoy what it has to offer.

Leland is across the river from Wilmington in Brunswick County. It is a growing area because the costs are lower but it is not a bad commute into Wilmington. I don't know about the schools, though.

We were considering the Myrtle Beach area at some point, but thought maybe that would definitely be too much of a touristy area. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong. LOL

Much too touristy. It is great to visit, but not in the summer. There are some very nice areas in between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, but you have to research the schools carefully.

Welcome to North Carolina!

I'm from the the other side of the state, but I love to visit Wilmington and have always wanted to live there. I have several friends from that area who absolutely love it for the good schools, an active arts community, and lots of things to see and do.

In my humble opinion, Myrtle Beach is a fun place to visit in the off season, but I wouldn't enjoy living there...especially during the tourist season! The traffic alone would drive me batty. Another place that bears mentioning is Swansboro, NC: one of my favorite places in NC. It is a quaint waterfront community on the White Oak River, very close to the ocean.

I hope y'all will be very happy with your move. Grab a glass of sweet tea, some eastern-style BBQ, and watch a Carolina/Duke basketball game. You'll fit in in no time!

I agree with all of this!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

This is just personal opinion but I would still look into New Bern, I loved it there. It has the old southern historic feel, lots of places to go fishing and you're about 45 minutes from the beach. We stayed at Woodland Crossing Apartments right off Hwy 17. That area has all the major grocery stores, Walmart, Target, and the gas is pretty fair price down there. Especially it being near the beach. It was one of my favorite places to live. They have lots of festivals, and we never had much problem with bad weather. I would although avoid military towns like the plague unless you are military oriented (Jacksonville, Havelock, Fayetteville).

New Bern is beautiful. If you are looking for a smaller town than Wilmington, New Bern is a nice choice. I think New Bern's population is around 30,000. Wilmington's is just over 100,000. It just depends what size city you have in mind. New Bern is too small for me, OP, but it might be just what you are looking for.

 

[mrsklamc]

Well I hope OP doesn't mind me asking this but since everyone is here already..

Is there a different beach we should consider for next summer other than Kure?We love how quiet it is and the aquarium, but it sounds like we might get cheaper lodging elsewhere?

 

[marie1203]

I wouldn't recommend Wilmington if you're looking for a peaceful beach atmosphere. It just seems very busy, especially around the college and downtown. I've lived in New Bern (great place, especially with the downtown area) and i've had relatives in Southport. Now the median house price for Southport is very high, but there is a town about 15 minutes from it off Hwy17, it's called Shallotte. There might be some homes further into the town area of Southport that run in the low 200's high 100's. Also a few other towns that are lovely beach type, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Swansboro, Newport and Carolina Beach. If you do end up in Wilmington though I can recommend a brewery called Front Street Brewery. Best Beer in NC. I would recommend Coastal Kolsch or Dramm Tree Ale.

We like New Bern but never lived there and it is a much smaller place than Wilmington and the beach is not too close. I really don't think Wilmington is busy of course if you are downtown on a friday night next to the clubs it is busy but that is in every city there are plenty of other places that are oriented to families that are not "busy".

We don't live anywhere near downtown. We live near Wrightsville Beach, but we are in the Wilmington city limits. We live in a nice neighborhood with lots of kids (and also the "older crowd" - not sure if you count 40-somethings in that or not, so I'm not sure if I qualify). I rarely go downtown, but that is because everything I need is located where I live. There are lots of bars downtown, but I know very few people who live there. Most live in the suburbs like any other city of Wilmington's size.

I wouldn't expect the OP would want to live downtown if the beach is important. They are nowhere near each other, unless you are referring to the banks of the Cape Fear River - not exactly a beach. Quiet, middle class Wilmington includes many different areas.

FWIW, UNCW is not downtown either. We appreciate the amenities of the college (sports, summer camps, lectures, concerts, etc) without actually attending any keg parties.

And Wilmington is much smaller and quieter than Raleigh, and certainly has fewer bars and fewer college students.

We are less than two hours from Myrtle Beach - we just went there last weekend.

I agree with this.

You might consider the Topsail area. It is in Pender County, so the housing costs are lower. The beaches are beautiful, and there are some very good schools there. It is not very touristy at all, but you are close enough to Wilmington to enjoy what it has to offer.

You won't find a house in the price range the OP asked in topsail maybe farther from the beach in Pender but not in Topsail.