$573,899Average Value$312Average Price per Sq Ft15Homes For Sale
The heart of Hatteras Island
At the elbow of Hatteras Island, where the narrow strip of land widens and turns west, lies Buxton, a small village wedged between the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Best known as the home to Cape Hatteras and its iconic lighthouse, Buxton is also considered by residents to be the heart of Hatteras. “We moved here for the quality of life and the small-town feel,” says Carla Reynolds, a longtime Buxton resident and broker-in-charge at NC 12 Realty. “It’s all about the watersports. Fishing, kiteboarding, kayaking, paddleboarding, surfing: It’s part of the lifestyle.” Wendi Munden, another Realtor with NC 12 Realty who lives in the village, calls Buxton the epicenter of the island. “It’s where the schools are, our community building, our electricity company — all the infrastructure,” she says. “It’s just better for year-round living.” Indeed, this village has the highest year-round population on the island, with just over 1,200 permanent residents. However, some folks still purchase homes in Buxton for seasonal rentals, as Cape Point is one of the Outer Bank’s most prominent fishing spots.
Discover Buxton, a beautiful small village with coastal living, at the elbow of Hatteras Island.
Cape Point in Buxton is great spot for surfing waves on the Outer Banks.
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Soundside and waterfront living
Waterfront property is in high demand here. Most homes in Buxton sit near the sea, the Sound or North Carolina Highway 12, the village’s main thoroughfare. In typical Outer Banks fashion, most houses sit atop wooden stilts and feature elaborate, multi-level balconies to take advantage of the oceanside views. Pastel-hued siding or traditional shingle siding are also common, though home styles can range from single-story Cape Cods to towering three-level stunners. While luxury waterfront properties can sell for $1 million to $2 million, most other single-family homes list in the $325,000 to $850,000, range depending on proximity to the beach.
Buxton has colorful oceanfront homes with large balconies.
Find coastal home styles with striking architectural style on the Pamlico Sound in Buxton.
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Visitors flock to the village’s trademark lighthouse
Buxton's widely recognized icon is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, its distinctive black and white spiral pattern visible for miles, drawing in visitors from all over to scale its height for an unmatched view of the island. Famously the tallest lighthouse in the country, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was a guiding light for sailors navigating the Cape’s treacherous Diamond Shoals, a chain of shifting sandbars where hundreds of ships crashed, earning the waters off the Outer Banks the infamous title “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” Today, the lighthouse is a symbol of Buxton and the Outer Banks as a whole. The adjacent Museum of the Sea, located in the former lighthouse keepers’ residence, commemorates the barrier islands’ maritime history.
Cape Hatteras Light is the tallest lighthouse in the U.S. located on Hatteras Island in Buxton.
Explore great exhibits in the Museum of the Sea at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
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Surf fishing attracts anglers from all over
Miles of waterfront border Buxton on both the Sound side and the sea side of the island. “There’s not as much accessible beachfront in Buxton, because the National Parks Service owns so much of the oceanfront where Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is. So it’s a small beach area, which means less room for tourists,” Reynolds says. “However, we do have one of the only lifeguarded beaches on Hatteras Island.” Fishers and surfers converge at Cape Point, locally shortened to “the Point.” The strong currents here make it a popular spot for anglers to drive out on the sand and spend a day casting out to sea, and the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club has hosted an annual surf fishing tournament along the shore for over 60 years. Just north of town is Haulover Day Use Area, famously a hotspot for windsurfers and kiteboarders to catch some waves. Even landlubbers can find outdoor recreation in Buxton, partly due to its relatively large inland area of preserved woodlands. Buxton Woods Nature Trail winds through forests and marshlands, dotted by informative signs that narrate the village and the island’s history. Families head to the Dare County Fessenden Center for playground fun and youth baseball games, with summer camps and lessons offered at the park and recreation center.
Buxton locals enjoy surf fishing at Cape Point in Cape Hatteras.
The playground at the Fessenden Center has activities for kids in Buxton.
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No chain stores, just mom-and-pop shops
Buxton has a small-town feel, with no big chain stores and few enough local businesses that it’s possible to get to know them all by name. However, residents still have enough to get by, and then some. Conner’s Supermarket is the go-to for groceries, while the charming cottage that operates as Buxton Village Book is a good spot to pick up a beach read. There’s a United Bank branch, a post office and an island rescue station in town. Residents can travel 15 minutes up to Avon for medical care at Outer Banks Family Medicine Avon, while furry friends are well cared for at the Coastal Animal Hospital of Hatteras Island. And, of course, there are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat year-round. “Orange Blossom Bakery is famous for its apple uglies. People travel across the island for them, these big old fried apple fritter things. I actually like their donuts better,” Reynolds said. “Buxton Munch is the number one restaurant in town on Tripadvisor, and they push hard for that. It’s a good little restaurant.”
Conner's Supermarket in Buxton is the best place to shop for all of your grocery needs.
Buxton Munch Co is a popular family restaurant with delicious food.
Orange Blossom Bakery & Cafe in Buxton serves famous "Apple Uglies," and breakfast items.
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The island’s only schools are in town
Buxton is home to two Dare County Schools: Cape Hatteras Elementary and Cape Hatteras Secondary School. The former scores a B-minus from Niche, while the latter receives a B and serves grades six through 12. Cape Hatteras Secondary School is equipped with a robust media center that hosts an annual horror short film contest for students, dubbed the Haunted Cape Film Festival. Both schools have fewer than 400 students.
Cape Hatteras Elementary School serves students pre-k to 5th grade in Buxton, NC.
Cape Hatteras Secondary School in Buxton, NC serves students from grades 6th-12th.
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Along well-trafficked North Carolina Highway 12
N.C. Highway 12 connects Buxton to the rest of the Outer Banks. Kill Devil Hills, the most populous town on the islands, is roughly 60 miles north, a drive that takes an hour and 15 minutes. About 10 miles west is Hatteras, where residents can take a free ferry to Ocracoke.
Coastal considerations at higher elevation
When buying a home on an island, homebuyers should be aware of the risks that come with life in the Outer Banks. Most houses here are in a flood zone; hurricanes, tropical storms and nor’easters can affect properties throughout the year. However, Buxton is considered slightly safer due to its higher elevation, putting it at a lower risk for flooding than other areas in the Outer Banks. “For retirees who can’t or don’t want to climb a lot of stairs, most homes in the Outer Banks are on piling. In Buxton, with the higher elevation, you can find houses that are lower to the ground,” Reynolds says.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Buxton, Nags Head sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Buxton, Nags Head over the last 12 months is $467,500, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This home is situation on Buxton Back Road. Parking is off of Buxton Back Road or an entrance from Dippin Vat Road. Beautifully landscaped. Lots of tree and plants. Home is a well kept Beach Box style. Perfect for Hatteras lifestyle. Shed located in fenced in backyard. Nice screened in porch. Nice area with picnic table and a place to grill out. This house is a quiet area for making a year
Build the cute Captains Cottage on this corner lot in Buxton. Beach access is close and you may have some ocean view. Shopping and dining is right around the corner. The Captains Cottage offers a dry entry way from the carport and you have the option of adding a storage room on ground floor. The first floor offers 2 bedrooms with access to the Jack and Jill bathroom. There is attic space on
Beautiful, buildable homesite on the corner of Cape Point Way and Old Lighthouse Dr. No HOA! This homesite was cleared of trees back in 2022 but there is some growth on the site now. Site is level. Beach access is close by off of Tower Circle Rd and Old Lighthouse Rd. Seller paid the water tap fee and septic evaluation was done in 2022. The site will need 18 inches of fill for septic system.
This charming 3-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom cottage on Cottage Avenue in Buxton offers a cozy retreat just steps from the ocean. With its well-maintained and furnished interior, you'll feel at home while enjoying the ocean views from the covered porch. The cottage's proximity to eateries and the beach makes it an ideal location for creating lifelong vacation memories.The cottage is equipped with a
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