Roanoke Island has two distinct sections – one, Manteo, welcomes tourists and promotes the history of The Lost Colony of Roanoke, while the other, Wanchese, actively maintains its status as a small fishing village. “Most people visiting the Outer Banks don’t even know it’s there,” says Michael Siers, a broker with Howard Hanna Outer Banks Realty who has been selling in the area for over 14 years. The seafood in Wanchese is always fresh because it was caught and processed in the Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park, and the Wanchese Village Residential Zoning District preserves the area's history of single-family housing and small, locally owned businesses, including boat builders. “Bayliss Boats, Spencer Yachts and a few others build $8 million to $10 million boats out in Wanchese,” Siers says. “Michael Jordan just had his latest boat built there, if that explains anything.” The Wanchese Preservation Alliance is also dedicated to maintaining the village's small-town atmosphere by petitioning against new businesses and developments that they feel don’t contribute to the character of the community.
Wanchese is a historic fishing village with old-world charm and a strong sense of identity.
The Wanchese harbor is home to many fishing vessels.
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Fishing and sightseeing in Wanchese
While most residents own or have even made their own boats, there are also many fishing charters to take anglers out on the Roanoke Sound and Croatan Sound. There are several marinas for mooring watercrafts. The area’s more rural atmosphere allows for observation of wildlife in its natural habitat. Paradise Dolphin Cruises offers a closer view of the aquatic mammals and departs from Wanchese. Back on land, Pigum Walker Park has baseball and softball fields and tennis and pickleball courts. Kids can play on the playground while parents find shade under the covered picnic pavilion. The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island and Roanoke Island Festival Park, a museum where visitors can learn about the first English settlers in 1585 and explore their lives, are in Manteo.
Locals head back to the harbor after a successful morning of fishing.
Visitors and local catch a popular dolphin tour from the docks at Wanchese harbor.
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Celebrating at the community building
In addition to hosting community events throughout the year, the Wanchese Community Building is also the site for meetings of the Wanchese Preservation Alliance. These events include the annual Wanchese May Day, where residents celebrate the summer with food, local vendors, music and activities for kids. The community building also hosts The Wanchese Fall Fever Craft and Vendor Show emphasizes local talent. On Saturdays, vendors gather at the Secotan Market to sell fresh produce, baked goods, meats and home goods.
Homes passed down for many generations
“Most of the homes in Wanchese have been passed down in families for generations,” Siers says. As a result, houses rarely come on the market; in 2023, only five houses sold. Styles here range from smaller brick ranch-style homes and bungalows to large Colonial Revivals with sizable front porches. Many homes were built between the 1950s and 1990s and may need updating. Some properties are sold with the intention of tearing down the current house and building a new one. Prices for single-family homes start at $225,000 and go as high as $415,000. Manufactured homes range from $155,000 to $280,000. In 2023, The Dare County Board of Commissioners approved the development of 60 cluster homes despite residents protesting the development at a public board meeting. The Wanchese Preservation Alliance is fighting against the project because they fear it will disrupt their ecosystem and ruin the architectural style of the village. If completed, the development will be called The Village at Old Wharf Road.
Wanchese is a small fishing village on the southern end of Roanoke Island.
Historic Colonial Revival homes in Wanchese sell for $500,000.
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College credits at Maneo High
Manteo Elementary earns a B-minus grade on Niche. Both Manteo Middle and Manteo High score a B-plus. The high school is part of a partnership that allows students to earn college credits through the College of Albemarle. Some students may choose to earn an associate degree in engineering, science, fine arts or teaching. Sporting teams often compete in state champions, including the women’s soccer team who won in 2023. “We have great sports programs,” Myatt says. “Maneo has a great football and soccer team.”
Manteo High School is a public high school in the Dare County School District.
Manteo Elementary School is a public pre-k, and elementary school in Manteo, NC.
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Connecting Roanoke Island through North Carolina Highway 345
North Carolina Highway 345, also known as Mill Landing in Wanchese, connects the area to Manteo. The drive between the two towns is around 5.5 miles and takes about 11 minutes. In Manteo, N.C. 345 turns into U.S. Route 64, stretching from the Outer Banks to the Tennessee state line. Dare County Regional Airport is about 9 miles away, and there is no public transportation here, so residents rely on cars to get around. However, they may walk or bike to get to destinations within Wanchese.
Wanchese is close to the town of Manteo, where more shopping and dining can be found.
O'Neal's is both a seafood wholesaler and a restaurant. “The tuna you’re buying has been filleted within 15 minutes of eating it,” says Matt Myatt, broker and owner of The Myatt Group with Keller Williams who has over 20 years of experience selling in the Outer Banks. “You’re watching them clean the fish that they’re selling to you.” At the Wanchese Marina, The Landing Grill serves fresh-caught seafood and other American cuisine with a waterfront view. Great Gut Deli in the Thicket Lump Marina is a family-owned and -operated deli with rotating specials posted daily on its Facebook page. The Tiki Bar at Outer Banks Marina has cold drinks and live music in the summer. In addition to home-improvement needs, Village Hardware sells ice cream when the weather is warm. There’s more shopping and dining in Manteo. The slightly larger town has grocery stores, including Piggly Wiggly and Food-A-Rama. However, the Duck Thru convenience store in Wanchese has some essentials.
Buy seafood straight off the boats from O'Neal"s in Wanchese.
The Landing Grill in Wanchese serves all of your favorite seafood dishes.
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Environmental factors
Hurricanes are a concern for residents of the Outer Banks. “I’d rather have a hurricane than an earthquake or wildfire because at least we have time to prepare for it,” Myatt says. Storm season means watching for alerts from official sources and knowing evacuation zones and routes. Residents will need a re-entry permit from Dare County Emergency Management after a forced evacuation. With homes close to the water, flooding is also a potential risk.
Homes in Wanchese are built on stilts to protect from flooding.
The Wanchese community surrounds the large working harbor used by commercial fishing companies.
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Pigum Walker Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Wanchese
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
2
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
2
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Wanchese Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Wanchese, Nags Head sell after 103 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Wanchese, Nags Head over the last 12 months is $365,000, up 43% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$350,000
Median Sale Price
$365,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$365,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
4
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
43%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$281
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
376
Median Year Built
1976
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,612
Below the national average
1,933
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
23,086
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Diana Brink,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
953
Median Age
45
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
21.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$63,616
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$75,443
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
92.6%
College Graduates
23.6%
Advanced Degrees
1.6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
84.2%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
50''
Average Winter Low Temperature
36°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
27/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
6/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
