Boat cruises and beach days define life in Bayshore
A few miles northeast of Wilmington’s city limits, Bayshore attracts those looking to be close to the Intracoastal Waterway and Wrightsville Beach. This community of about 3,800 people sits in a row of high-end suburbs with country clubs and marinas along U.S. Route 17. “Bayshore has larger lots and larger, higher value homes, but not as high as Landfall,” says Leigh Saunders, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Caroline Premier Properties, who’s lived in Wilmington since 2007. “Bayshore is against the water. It has a tidal launch as part of its amenities.” In addition to offering water access along Pages Creek, the enclave is close to highly rated schools and bustling shopping malls. Bayshore is also nearly entirely residential, and many of its subdivisions do not have homeowners associations.
A variety of home styles and prices between Ogden and Porters Neck
Tall trees surround the single-family homes in Bayshore, which rest on wide, gently curving streets that sometimes have sidewalks. Architecture is diverse, ranging from ranch-style homes and two-story New Traditional homes to farmhouse-inspired builds and coastal Craftsman designs. Lot sizes also range widely, with some properties around a fifth of an acre and some stretching to well over half an acre. “Some houses in Bayshore are on the water, but it’s tidal access,” says Caroline Dugas, a longtime resident of the Wilmington area and the owner of Living Seaside Realty Group. “You can only get out to the Intracoastal for a couple of hours during high tide.” These properties with water access feature private docks and boardwalks. Many homes are quite large, topping 2,000 square feet.
The median price for a single-family home in Bayshore is about $625,000, well above the national median. Most homes fall between $370,000 and $685,000. However, grand waterfront properties start around $700,000 and can exceed $1 million. Townhouses are also available from around $290,000 to $445,000. The market moves quickly, with properties selling after about 22 days, which is less than half the national average.
Highly rated public and private school options in New Hanover County
New Hanover County Schools earns an A-minus overall rating from Niche and offers some school choice. The district has around 25,000 students and more than 40 schools, including four non-traditional high schools. Three elementary schools serve Bayshore: the A-minus-rated Porters Neck Elementary, the A-minus-rated Ogden Elementary and the B-plus-rated Murrayville Elementary. Students can move on to either Holly Shelter Middle, which receives a B-rating, or Emma B. Trask Middle, which gets a B-plus. Both schools feed into the B-plus-rated Emsley A. Laney High, which offers a STEM program and is known for its most famous alumnus, NBA icon Michael Jordan.
Nearby alternatives include American Leadership Academy Coastal, a B-rated public charter school that offers prekindergarten through 11th grade, and Wilmington Christian Academy, a private B-minus-rated Baptist-affiliated school that offers prekindergarten through 12th grade.
Outdoor recreation, from Wrightsville Beach to Ogden Park
With the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean close by, boating, swimming and surfing are popular pastimes in Wilmington. Bayshore has a private boat ramp along Pages Creek, which boaters can use to reach the Intracoastal Waterway during high tide. Wrightsville Beach’s sandy shore is about 8 miles away. HOA-controlled subdivisions like Marsh Oaks offer amenities, such as tennis courts and an outdoor pool, but public parks are outside Bayshore. The sprawling Ogden Park is less than 5 miles away and features a long list of amenities, from soccer and football fields to a tennis complex and skate park. A paved walking path loops around the park’s lake, passing by a large playground and dog park. Pages Creek Park Preserve offers a kayak launch into Pages Creek and a mile-long nature trail where walkers can learn about native plants and wildlife. Golfers have several courses to choose from, including the private 18-hole course at Eagle Point Golf Club, which was designed by the famed architect Tom Fazio.
U.S. Route 17 blends national chains with local flavor
Shopping centers line U.S. Route 17, where familiar national retailers like Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement join local shops, breweries and restaurants. Cast Iron Kitchen is a breakfast favorite, serving Southern-style fare in its eclectic dining space decorated like a country kitchen. Nearby, Two Guys Grille offers a relaxed atmosphere for burgers and craft beer. Bayshore is home to Outer Dunes Brewing Company, where customers walk through a tavern-like interior to enjoy craft brews in a manicured beer garden shaded by mature oak trees. Nearby grocery stores include Harris Teeter, Aldi and Publix. Mayfaire Town Center and University Centre, which offer dozens of name-brand stores and high-end boutiques, are less than 10 miles away. Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center is about 12 miles away.
Bayshore puts commuters close to U.S. Route 17 and state Route 140
U.S. Route 17, a busy main road connecting communities along the North Carolina coast, slices through Bayshore. Historic Downtown Wilmington is about 10 miles southwest, while Jacksonville is around 43 miles northeast. State Route 140 provides an alternate route downtown and connects with Interstate 40, allowing drivers to reach destinations across the state. Wilmington International Airport is about a 10-mile drive from Bayshore.
Hurricanes, floods and wildfires are possible
In Wilmington, hurricanes and tropical storms are possible throughout the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which lasts from June through November. FEMA flood maps show that much of Bayshore along Pages Creek is within a flood hazard area. According to the First Street National Wildfire Model, the community’s heavily forested northwestern end has a wildfire factor of 6 out of 10. This portion of Bayshore is also close to Cape Fear Public Utility Authority’s Richardson Water Treatment Plant.
