Belville has contemporary subdivisions outside of Wilmington
On the Brunswick River banks, the Belville community offers contemporary homes minutes from downtown Wilmington. Belville, and its neighbor Leland, have that classic Southern suburb feel, with tidy, well-kept homes and proximity to a retail area with several local and chain restaurants. Belville residents benefit from the green space surrounding them, ranging from riverfront trails and nature preserves to neighborhood parks and golf courses. The Atlantic Coast is a short drive from Belville, opening residents to a wealth of golden sand beaches. In addition to its nature, one of the most noteworthy aspects of Belville is how much it’s growing. “I’ve lived in the area since 2011 and it’s tripled in size,” says Realtor Laura Mathis with Coldwell Banker Seacoast Realty. “People are moving out here because there are so many planned communities with a ton of amenities, and once you cross the river, you’re getting a lot more for your money.”
Contemporary homes, townhouses and community spaces
Belville's collection of subdivisions offers options for buyers. New Traditional homes reign supreme here, and most sit on neat, well-maintained yards surrounded by towering pine trees. Backyards are on the larger side; many build above-ground or in-ground pools to enjoy on hot summer days. New construction is rapidly growing, as Mathis notes. Contemporary developments and townhouse communities “are very active areas, with pickleball courts, fitness centers and playgrounds,” Mathis says. Most suburban residences are listed between $300,000 and $430,000. Many subdivisions have an HOA fee to maintain community spaces, typically from $50 to $150 per month.
Students attend Brunswick County Schools
Brunswick County Schools serves Belville students. Most students on the eastern side of the community may attend Belville Elementary, which earns a B-plus rating from Niche, and Leland Middle, which gets a B-minus. Students on the western side of Belville may attend B-plus-rated Town Creek Elementary, which Niche ranks as the top elementary in the Wilmington area. They may then attend B-minus-rated Town Creek Middle. All public school students may go on to B-minus-rated North Brunswick High. The high school offers over a dozen clubs and activities, including a robotics club, a disc golf club and the Caffeinated Chapter Chasers book club.
Belville Riverwalk, nature trails, and golf courses
Many residences are within a short drive to the Belville Riverwalk, which offers sweeping views of the Brunswick River. The Riverwalk has pet-friendly boardwalk paths surrounded by thickets of trees. There's a playground, ice cream truck, picnic areas, and a public dock where you can fish or launch a kayak. The Riverwalk also offers an open-air farm stand and seafood market for fresh, local food. The Brunswick Nature Trail is another popular area for hiking on scenic wooded paths surrounding Town Creek and also offers a kayaking launch area. Golfers can book a public tee time at Olde Fort Golf Course. Through Belville's numerous subdivisions, residents will find small pocket parks with playgrounds for the area's kiddos. Belville is also “within 30 minutes of about five different beaches,” Mathis says. “We’re a coastal county so the beaches are a big draw, and a lot of people retire here because of the proximity to the beach.” One of these is Wrightsville Beach, about 15 miles from Belville. This beloved beachfront has miles of white sand and blue water, a fishing pier and numerous boat launches.
Ocean Highway dining and retail
Ocean Highway, or U.S. Highways 74 and 17, is where most of the area's dining and retail is located. There are several options for grocery shopping, including Walmart, Harris Teeter, Piggly Wiggly and ALDI. The area is also abundant with chain restaurants. Residents can grab a burger at Highway 55 or juicy North Carolina-style pulled pork at Smithfield's Chicken N' Bar-B-Q. Leland Brewing Company is a locally owned option for craft brews, and Shirley's Diner offers homestyle comfort food and breakfast platters. For more, residents can easily commute to downtown Wilmington, about 5 miles away. In addition to attractions like the Wilmington Riverwalk and the Cape Fear Museum, there are several breweries, taverns and restaurants, like Anne Bonny's Bar and Grill. This outdoor eatery is located on a floating barge on the Brunswick River and is a Wilmington staple for fried seafood, drinks and live music. About 10 miles inland near Routes 74 and 17, there is an expansive commercial area. “That’s our main retail area; there are shopping centers, big box store plazas and Mayfair Town Center, an outdoor mall,” Mathis says.
Commuting from Belville
In addition to Highways 74 and 17, Interstate 140 is also nearby, connecting to I-40 about 20 miles northeast of Wilmington. The community is car-dependent and does not feature a transportation system. The closest hospital is Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, 8 miles away. There are also numerous urgent care centers and medical clinics along Highway 74. Wilmington International Airport is about 9 miles from Belville.
