Situated along the Pasquotank River in the very northeastern corner of North Carolina, Elizabeth City has built its reputation on being a friendly riverfront town. When boaters traveling down the Intracoastal Waterway would stop in at Elizabeth City’s docks, they’d leave with new friends and full stomachs. That welcoming spirit is something residents pride themselves in — and as the city continues to grow, it’s remained a way of life “We’ve had tons of people moving here from up north for the warm weather and waterfront lifestyle,” says Rhonda Twiddy, a lifelong Elizabeth City resident and Realtor with the Rhonda Twiddy Team. “But it’s also for the community. This is the kind of place where restaurants know your drink when you come in. I’ve met so many people who moved away, only to come back because there’s no place like it.” Residents here say that Downtown Elizabeth City has seen recent revitalization, bringing with it new businesses, popular events and suburban developments, but the city’s tight-knit feel has never gotten lost along the way.
Mariner's Wharf park holds live music concerts throughout the summer each Tuesday night.
Sawyertown locals are surrounded by the history and charm of Elizabeth City.
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A new Sentara hospital and a large U.S. Coast Guard Air Station
Sentara Healthcare is already one of the city’s largest employers, and its economic footprint is only expected to grow with the completion of a $200 million medical campus slated for opening in 2025. The new hospital is one of the largest development projects in the area since the original facility opened 60 years ago and will bring expanded services and residency programs to the city.
To the south at Elizabeth City Regional Airport, the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City is one of the biggest and busiest air stations in the country. “The Coast Guard also has a huge number of defense contractors, which also brings people to the city,” Twiddy says. “We also have a lot of people who commute up to Chesapeake or Norfolk, because the cost of living is better here, and so is the traffic.” Government and education are two of the leading employers in the city, thanks to the three universities located in Elizabeth City, while the surrounding area tends to be more rural.
Northside locals are close to the all new Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.
Pelican Pointe sits adjacent to Elizabeth City's U.S. Coast Guard Base.
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A boom in new development, but historic houses remain
Large, historic homes line Main Street in Downtown Elizabeth City, while more suburban neighborhoods such as Riverside are comprised of postwar cottages and riverfront stunners. “There’s not a whole lot of waterfront properties available right now, because people don’t tend to sell those,” Twiddy says. Increasingly, new construction developments have been cropping up on the edges of the city, including single-family homes, townhouses and condos.
The median home price in Elizabeth City is around $320,000, slightly lower than the state median of $375,000. Notably, the median single-family home sells for around $330,000, while the median townhouse is priced closer to $280,000. Homes here stay on the market for an average of 40 days, roughly on par with the national average of 44 days.
Many of the historic homes of Sawyertown are showcased in style outside Downtown Elizabeth City.
New communities and new homes are being build and are available in Riverside.
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Fifty miles from Norfolk via U.S. Route 17
Elizabeth City sits where U.S. Route 158 meets U.S. Route 17, but it’s also long been well-traveled by commercial and recreational boaters passing through along the Intracoastal Waterway. Since the 1980s, a group of volunteers who called themselves the Rose Buddies have received traveling boaters at Mariners’ Wharf with smiles and goody bags, earning the city its nickname: “the Harbor of Hospitality.”
Other North Carolina cities are more than 200 miles inland, meaning most people travel north to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia for city amenities. The nearest commercial flights depart from Norfolk International Airport, about 50 miles north. Plenty of residents also take day trips to the Outer Banks, roughly 100 miles east on the Atlantic coast.
Travel North and Southbound is easy for Sawyertown residents using US Highway 17.
Camden locals enjoy boating and more on the Pasquotank River.
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Three universities and a STEM-based charter school
Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools serves around 4,800 students and scores a C grade from Niche. It operates seven elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools, in addition to one early college high school and one alternative school for grades six through 12. A public charter school, the Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies, is located on the campus of Elizabeth City State University. A historically African American university, ESCU is a public institution within the University of North Carolina system that enrolls roughly 2,500 undergraduate students annually. The college is known for its aviation programs and its partnership with the nearby U.S. Coast Guard Air Station. College of the Albemarle’s central campus and Mid-Atlantic Christian University are also both located in the city.
Elizabeth City State University is a central part of the Edgewood neighborhood.
Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies offer courses for aspiring pilots.
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At the center of the Albemarle and its tradition of agriculture
Elizabeth City is squarely in the heart of North Carolina’s Albemarle region, the northeastern portion of the state that was first settled early in the colonial era. The Museum of the Albemarle chronicles this area’s storied history, with exhibits spanning from the lost Roanoke Colony to the advent of aviation in Kitty Hawk.
The fertile surrounding region has stayed true to its agricultural roots, which the city celebrates every May with the North Carolina Potato Festival. Elizabeth City also lays claim to the invention of the Moth boat, a type of small sailing dinghy, and regattas are still held on the Pasquotank River each year. Other annual events include the Coast Guard Marathon, the Albemarle Craftsman’s Fair, and a Lighted Boat Parade.
The Museum of the Albemarle is available to Pelican Pointe residents in Downtown Elizabeth City.
Rural Camden is located near Elizabeth City, Nc.
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Riverfront parks and restaurants in Downtown Elizabeth City
After recent revitalization, Downtown Elizabeth City has become a thriving retail and dining hub. Waterfront restaurants sit along the Pasquotank River, with local microbreweries, cafes and other Southern eateries scattered around Downtown. Grocery stores, chain restaurants and big-box shops tend to be along the highways on the suburban outskirts of the city, particularly to the north and the west.
Small greenspaces along the Pasquotank River are the city’s primary gathering spaces, offering boardwalks along the water and boat launch ramps. Fishing, paddling and sailing are all popular activities. “The people who live here want to be out and about, not stuck in their homes,” Twiddy says. “We’ve got all the great waterfront activities without having to pay beach prices for it.” During the summer months, families gather with lawn chairs and picnic blankets for live music and film screenings at these riverfront parks. On the weekends, parents shuttle their kids to soccer games at River Road Sports Complex and baseball games at South Parks Sports Complex. A handful of playgrounds and tot lots are also scattered around Downtown.
Live music, friendly locals and beautiful views make Music on the Green a great event to attend.
Downtown Elizabeth City locals enjoy popular events throughout the year at Waterfront Park.
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Property crime dropping, but flooding remains a concern
According to FBI crime data, in the three-year span from 2020 to 2023, violent crime in Elizabeth City rose by 8% while property crime fell by 25%. Elizabeth City’s violent crime rates are on par with national and state averages, while its property crime rates are slightly higher.
Elizabeth City has a humid, temperate climate, with average winter lows of 35°F and summertime highs of 87°F. Many homes along the Pasquotank River and its tributaries are at risk of flooding, as the area does see significant rainfall from hurricanes and tropical storms off the Atlantic Ocean. While about 50 inches of precipitation annually can be expected, snow tends to be rare.
On average, homes in Elizabeth City, NC sell after 51 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Elizabeth City, NC over the last 12 months is $328,087, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
During my many years as a Property Manager, the scope of service that I provided for my clients broadened. I worked to help them expend their real estate portfolios and make smart purchasing decisions based off of data, projections and anticipated return. My goal is for clients to understand a home's full earning potential and assist in finding ways to make improvements while realizing the most on their return. Because of my background and local contacts, I remain involved in client's projects long after the closing. Though I love working with investment properties, helping families find forever homes is a top priority. With a fresh inventory of new construction and quality existing homes in our area, I see a surge in residential home searches (and ultimately purchases).
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
