Small coastal town with a growing population
On the north shore of Bogue Sound, Broad Creek combines the quiet of a small coastal town with the convenience of being less than 15 miles from Morehead City. Proximity to good schools is also a perk for families. “It's a growing area, and it's in the best school district in the county,” says Kyle Graham, a broker and Realtor with Re/Max who has lived in the area since 1987. “People want to live in the area to be close to Croatan High School.” The neighborhood's namesake creek is a nice spot for fishing and boating. This unincorporated community is rooted in the commercial fishing industry, where families have worked for generations. While it is still a small community of less than 2,000 people, tourism has increased, as it has in the rest of the county. “We used to say we hand the county over to the tourists Memorial Day and get it back Labor Day,” says Alan Leary, a Carteret County native and Realtor with Re/Max Ocean Properties. “Now I think they’re here almost 365. But they provide money for jobs, restaurants and housing. It’s a real boon to the economy.”
Boating on Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle
Most Broad Creek residents own boats and spend their time on the water. The community is less than 20 miles from Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle. The Broad & Gales Creek Community Association allows residents to rent the community center for events. Outside, there’s a small playscape, basketball court and picnic shelter. The association also oversees the Broad & Gales Creek Fire Department and Carteret County EMS. Whispering Pines RV Park and Campground has many full-time residents who have access to a pool, dog park, playground and boat ramps. The Patsy Pond Nature Trail is less than 2 miles away and runs through the Croatan National Forest. The U.S. National Forest protects threatened species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker and the Carolina gopher frog. Visitors should exercise caution from October through February and April through May, as those are hunting seasons.
New homes in desired neighborhoods
Broad Creek has over 10 communities with a mix of housing prices and styles. Homes in the Bluewater Banks division range from ranch styles starting at $170,000 to $1.4 million for a four-bedroom waterfront property. “There’s a lot of new construction in the area,” Graham says. “There are prestigious neighborhoods with nice homeowner's associations.” Ballantine is a subdivision of homes built in 2022 and onwards. The Craftsman-inspired builds cost between $225,000 to $440,000. Bogue Pines is a gated manufactured home community popular with those wanting a vacation home on the Crystal Coast, the name given for the middle stretch of the barrier islands off the North Carolina Coast. “We used to say their second home was here, but now I think their second home is in Raleigh, and they live down here most of the time,” Leary says. Living or renting in this community includes access to amenities, including a pool, playground and year-round events.
Fresh seafood and brick oven pizza
Starfish Grill is a seafood restaurant that opened in 2023 but quickly gained support from the community. Its creative menu items include Mexican cheese rolls, honey butter shrimp and Jamaican jerk tuna. At Frank’s Pizza & Subs, diners can get their brick oven pizza by the slice or take a whole pie home, if they prefer. Frank's also offers subs, salads, pasta and burgers. Ma & Daughter Thrift Store is an example of a small business that has succeeded in Broad Creek. The community also has chain stores like Dollar General and two different Walmart locations, both around 7 miles away. Residents can find more shopping and dining along Highway 70, less than a 10-mile drive.
No. 1 high school in Carteret County
Bogue Sound Elementary and Broad Creek Middle earn an A rating on Niche. According to Niche, Croatan High, rated an A-minus, is the No. 1 high school in Carteret County. “There are a lot of schools close by, which makes it good for families with kids,” Leary says. “Those schools always have events in the gymnasium and activities always going on.” Croatan High has partnered with Carteret Community College for Career & College Promise, a program that allows high school students to earn college credit tuition-free.
Crossing traffic on NC Highway 24
NC 24 runs through the community and provides access to U.S. 70. “The only downfall of the Broad Creek area is that you have to get on Highway 24,” Graham says. “You have to cross three lanes to get to Morehead City or Emerald Isle, and if the traffic is bad, it can be dangerous. Especially if you have school-aged children and you have to take them to school every morning.” Hurricane season is from June to November, and residents should be aware of evacuation routes during a hurricane or tropical storm. Local radio and news stations are the best source for information on storm warnings. The area also has a high flood risk. The closest hospital, Coastal Carolina Regional, will take around 25 to 30 miles to reach.
