Currie is a rural North Carolina community that blends country living with encouraging growth
Currie is a rural North Carolina destination north of Wilmington. The community still offers quiet country living about 30 miles from the coast, yet it is slowly but surely growing. The most notable recent addition is Pender Commerce Park, which will soon have its premier tenant. “Amazon is building one of the biggest robotics plants in the United States on U.S. Route 421 in a huge industrial park,” says Buddy Blake, a team leader with Coldwell Banker SeaCoast Advantage and founder of freehousevalue.com. “That is a corridor that is only going to continue to expand.” The 650,000-square-foot fulfillment center and delivery station is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027. In the meantime, new homes are being built in proximity to the corridor.
New homes near the main highway feature paved driveways, attached garages
Most of the housing can be found in the eastern half of the community. The typical offering is either a manufactured home or ranch-style home on an oversized lot in a wooded setting. However, new homes near U.S. 421 are being built closer together and offer modern features such as paved driveways and attached garages. Prices typically range from the mid-$100,000s to about $300,000. Outliers include larger homes, both historic and contemporary, that come with additional acreage. These homes can range from the mid-$400,000s to the mid-$900,000s, depending on size and amenities. Despite the community’s inland location, it still faces a major risk of flooding and wind damage during hurricane season, which runs from May through November.
Residents drive to Wilmington for shopping and dining
A pair of Dollar stores and Johnson Corner Grille are located along U.S. 421. The Grille is part of a convenience store, where residents can gas up for regional travel. “There are places to eat in these little towns, but if you’re going to shop, you’re going to Wilmington,” Blake says. Wilmington offers a collection of shopping centers, boutique stores and contemporary restaurants. Burgaw is a charming Southern town with a historic downtown district and additional retail amenities such as Piggly Wiggly and Walmart. It is about a 20-minute drive from Currie.
River, coastal beaches provide plenty of recreation
The Black River runs through the community. It is stocked with a variety of fish, most notably largemouth bass, bluegill and red breast sunfish. The river also offers popular spots for canoeing and kayaking north of the community, and it flows into the Cape Fear River just south of the community. The Cape Fear River is a haven for outdoors enthusiasts, and it flows through Wilmington into the Atlantic Ocean. The Wilmington waterfront is a regional attraction year-round. “There’s a lot of river activity, but a lot of folks will drive 30 to 40 minutes to go to one of our beaches,” Blake says. Moores Creek National Battlefield is a community attraction tied to a 1776 victory over British loyalists.
A pair of high schools serves older students
The community is served by Pender County Schools, which earns a B-plus from Niche. Younger students typically attend Malpass Corner Elementary School, rated C-plus and West Pender Middle School, rated C. Older students attend Pender High School, rated C, or Heide Trask High School, rated B-minus, depending on where in the community a student lives. The district allows students to apply for relocation to schools outside of their geographic zones.
Wilmington and Burgaw are easily accessible
U.S. 421 connects to State Highway 53 just north of the community, and the latter leads to Burgaw. U.S. 421 also provides access to Wilmington. There’s a hospital in Burgaw, and the New Hanover Regional Medical Center is located in Wilmington. Residents can get to the Wilmington Airport in under an hour. The community’s CAP Index score of 2-out-of-10 is lower than the national average.
Written By
Matt Pallister
