Newport offers small-town living between Cherry Point and the beach
Marketed as the Gateway to the Crystal Coast, Newport is the final inland town vacationers pass through on their way to Morehead City and Atlantic Beach. About 4,600 people live in this small town, which is split by a river of the same name and is known for its military history. Newport was once the site of a Union camp and several battles during the Civil War. Today, it’s a commuter enclave less than 10 miles from Havelock, home to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, the largest Marine Corps air station in the world. “My father-in-law lived in Carteret County but worked at Cherry Point for 36 years as a civilian contractor for the military base,” says Greg Moss , a longtime resident of the region and a Realtor with Beaufort Realty. “Most people don’t go to Newport for the shopping, dining and beach access. It’s a place where a lot of people live because you can find more affordable homes than in Morehead City or Beaufort.” Moss adds that Newport attracts full-time residents for being in a highly rated school district and second home and investment buyers for its proximity to Bogue Banks Island.
Single-family homes, townhouses and condos outside Morehead City
Single-family homes in Newport fill subdivisions that branch off West Railroad Boulevard, Chatham Street and U.S. Highway 70. Ranch-style homes are most common, but the Gracelyn Park subdivision features a mix of neotraditional homes with farmhouse- and Craftsman-inspired features such as covered front porches and tapered columns, and Heritage Pointe offers new construction. “Newport is incredibly diverse in terms of home styles, sizes and prices,” Moss says. “In the last year, I’ve had some homes that sold for under $300,000 and I’ve had some that sold for an excess of $1 million.” The median price for a single-family home in Newport is around $400,000, slightly below the national median and Morehead City’s median. The figure is also significantly below Beaufort’s median, which exceeds $500,000. The Villas at Newport community has newly built townhouses that range from $245,000 to $255,000. Nearby, The Coves at Newport offers condos that cost between $215,000 and $300,000.
Public schools in Carteret County earn A and B ratings from Niche
Carteret County Public Schools earns an A-minus overall rating from Niche and is a big draw for some homebuyers. “The reason people who work at the military base want to live in Carteret County is because of our school system,” Moss says. The district has about 8,000 students spread across 18 schools, three of which serve Newport: The B-plus-rated Newport Elementary, the A-minus-rated Newport Middle and the B-plus-rated West Carteret High. Several private schools are in the area, including the C-plus-rated Gramercy Christian School. Carteret Community College and the North Carolina State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technology are about 8 miles away.
Parks in and around Newport offer sports, history and nature
From public parks to Bogue Banks Island beaches, Newport and the surrounding region offer many adventures for those who love the outdoors. Newport's parks range from recreation-focused spaces, such as Newport Community Park, which has a playground, basketball courts and a baseball field, to education-based places, such as Civil War Memorial Park, which is next to the Newport Historical Museum and shares the story of the Battle of Newport Barracks in 1864. With facilities for sports like tennis, baseball and soccer, Fort Benjamin Park & Recreation Center is often the site of youth summer camps.
Hiking trails and hunting areas are hidden under mature pines in the 160,000-acre Croatan National Forest, which also offers camping, mountain biking and horseback riding as well as access points for the Neuse River. Boaters and kayakers can drop into the Newport River at the Newport Boating Access Area, a few miles south of the town center. The river, which is narrow as it meanders through Newport, widens dramatically north of Morehead City as it meets Harlowe Creek. Atlantic Beach is about 11 miles away.
Music in the Park is a summertime tradition
Newport’s small-town spirit is showcased at community events like Music in the Park. The free summer concert series at Newport Community Park highlights regional bands every third Thursday from July through October. In addition to live music and dancing, residents can get dinner from area food trucks and enjoy local craft beer brewed by Shortway Brewing Company.
Shopping and dining options on U.S. Route 70 and Chatham Street
Newport has two main shopping areas: the U.S. Route 70 commercial corridor and Chatham Street in the town center. The latter features local businesses such as Cox Family Ice Cream, known for its ice cream tacos, and Shortway Brewing Company, which offers a family-friendly taproom for craft beer tastings and food truck events. Popular restaurants include El Mexicano Tacos and Tequila and TimeOut Tavern Sports Bar & Grill. The Newport Flea Mall, which claims to be the largest flea mall on the East Coast, is a bustling place to be on Saturday mornings when shoppers descend on dozens of vendors selling handcrafted goods, antiques and collectibles. “While there are some good stores and restaurants in Newport, most people go to Morehead City for shopping and dining,” Moss says. Morehead City offers name-brand and department stores along U.S. Route 70. Belk and Hobby Lobby anchor Cypress Bay Plaza, while T.J. Maxx, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Burlington are some of the big names across the street at Crystal Coast Plaza.
Newport commuters have direct access to U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 slices through the center of Newport and connects the town to nearby communities such as Morehead City, about 10 miles southeast, and Havelock , about 7 miles north. The free Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach Ferry crosses the Neuse River and is a vital service for commuters. “A lot of the folks that use it live in Pamlico County and work at the military base in Havelock,” Moss says. Coastal Carolina Regional Airport offers the closest commercial flights, around 24 miles away. Carteret Health Care, a full-service hospital serving the region, is roughly 8 miles away in Morehead City.
Important to know
The potential for hurricanes and tropical storms is a reality of living in the Crystal Coast region, and mandatory evacuations are possible throughout the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which begins in June and lasts through November. Newport is in Evacuation Zone B, which is typically the second zone evacuated ahead of major storms. The properties most at risk of flooding, according to FEMA flood maps, are near waterways such as the Newport River and Deep Creek.
