Historic Downtown Wilmington is only a few miles away in Hightsville
Hightsville is a small community separated from the city of Wilmington by the meandering Smith Creek. About 700 people live in this enclave between the Northeast Cape Fear River and Wilmington International Airport, which is comprised of a mix of homes, warehouses and marshland. Caroline Dugas , a resident of the Wilmington area for over 30 years and the owner of Living Seaside Realty Group, says Hightsville is a lesser-known suburb of the city in an area active with development. “The river is getting a lot of attention as things bleed out from the Wilmington line. In Hightsville, you’re outside of the city limits, but you’re pretty close to downtown,” says Dugas, who adds that a new private, resort-style subdivision is a big draw for newcomers. “You can also find stables near there if you’re into horses,” she says.
A mix of older homes and new construction near U.S. Route 74
The median price for a single-family home in Hightsville is around $352,000, below the national median, with properties typically costing between $250,000 and $350,000. Most homes rest close together on straight and narrow streets that branch off Castle Hayne Road. Bungalows, ranch-style homes and shotgun-style cottages are the most common, but new construction is adding architectural variety.
The new gated Preservation Point subdivision features custom luxury detached homes that start around $800,000 and often exceed $1 million, as well as townhouses, which cost between $380,000 and $425,000. The community, which is still under construction, will offer amenities ranging from a private island with a marina along the Northeast Cape Fear River and a clubhouse-anchored resort-inspired pool.
Nearby parks and the Northeast Cape Fear River offer recreation
Hightsville is home to Crossfire Wilmington, which offers activities such as indoor paintball and axe throwing, but outdoor parks and other green spaces are available outside of the community. The nearby Cape Fear Optimist Park, owned by the Cape Fear Optimist Club, features six ballfields used by youth softball and baseball programs. In Castle Hayne, Hanover Stables offers various equestrian activities, including horseback riding lessons and summer camps. South of Hightsville, Wilmington’s parks range from the pocket-sized Bicentennial Park, which has a playground and basketball courts, to expansive nature-focused spaces like Greenfield Park, which offers a large lake for kayaking and paddleboating. The Cape Fear River allows for boating, fishing and kayaking, with public boat ramps available in Castle Hayne and downtown Wilmington. The surf and sand at Wrightsville Beach are about 10 miles from Hightsville.
There are a few retailers, but most shopping is done in Wilmington
Hightsville’s stretch of Castle Hayne Road serves as a commercial and industrial corridor with a mix of businesses and warehouses. Cape Fear Plaza features Tipsy Goat Bottles & Taps. The locally owned bottle shop and bar is stocked with craft beer, wine and mead, and offers arcade games and a weekly trivia night. Up the road, Seaview Crab Company is the stop for freshly caught fish, shrimp and crab.
Dugas says residents head into Wilmington for shopping, dining and nightlife. The city’s historic downtown is a destination for specialty shops, bar hopping and live music, while Midtown features University Centre and Mayfaire Town Center, two popular malls that offer dozens of name-brand stores, high-end retailers and restaurants, all less than 10 miles away. Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the closest full-service hospital, is less than 6 miles away.
Hightsville’s school options from prekindergarten to university
New Hanover County Schools earns an A-minus overall rating from Niche. The district of around 25,000 students and more than 40 schools offers some school choice. Each high school has a signature program or specialty to which students can apply. Hightsville is zoned for the C-plus-rated Wrightsboro Elementary, the B-rated Holly Shelter Middle and the B-plus-rated New Hanover High. The high school, which is more than 100 years old, is undergoing renovations to fix foundation issues and update classrooms and offices. Work is set to be complete by August 2025.
Nearby alternatives include the public D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy, which serves kindergarten through eighth grade and receives a D-minus rating, and Wilmington Christian Academy, which gets a B-minus.
Cape Fear Community College’s main campus in Historic Downtown Wilmington is less than 3 miles away. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, best known for its marine biology and nursing programs, is about 6 miles away.
Getting around New Hanover County and beyond
Commuters in Hightsville have close access to the Martin Luther King Junior Parkway, which can be used to reach Historic Downtown Wilmington, about 3 miles south. The parkway also connects with Interstate 40, North Carolina’s mountain-to-sea highway. “You can get to downtown from Hightsville in like 6 or 7 minutes. You can get on the bypass and get to the beach within 15 minutes,” Dugas says. Wilmington International Airport is directly east of the community. While Hightsville does not have a fixed-route bus service, the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority offers point-to-point rides through RideMICRO.
Important to know
Hurricanes, strong winds and flooding are realities of living along the North Carolina coast. FEMA flood maps show that most homes in Hightsville are not in flood hazard areas. However, properties along waterways face a flood risk.
Hightsville is less than 2 miles away from Wilmington International Airport, which is conducting a study with the Federal Aviation Administration and the public to determine the impacts of airport noise on the surrounding community and how to mitigate the effects. The study began in 2024 and will continue throughout 2025.
