$417,258Average Value$215Average Price per Sq Ft31Homes For Sale
Boaters and artists live in the waterfront town of Onancock
Framed by a namesake Chesapeake Bay creek, Onancock was chartered in 1680 as a major Eastern Shore port town. Today, living here is no longer defined by trade, but the community’s deep water still attracts avid boaters, while golden sunsets dipping below the cordgrass-covered shoreline serve as inspiration for local painters. “Everybody who lives here is active or artsy,” says Tammy Hill, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Harbour Realty and an Onancock resident. Locals can store boats at the community marina and stroll through downtown Onancock, known for its art galleries and lively community events. The town also preserves its history, with several century-old buildings, like the former Onancock High School, restored into vibrant community centers. Though waterfront restaurants and the Tangier-Onancock Ferry bring in a small summer crowd, Onancock is predominantly made up of full-time residents. “I like to think our town is a secret because we don’t get too many vacationers or newbies moving in,” Hill says. “Families here have known each other for decades, sometimes even centuries.”
A large beautiful mural lines a downtown building in Onancock.
Residents of Onacock enjoy boating.
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Maintaining historic homes is important here
Colonial Revivals, Queen Annes and bungalows built between the late 1800s and early 1900s are among Onancock’s historic homes. Though some of these century-old houses need renovations, residents strive to maintain original fixtures, like wrap-around porches and clapboard facades. “When someone buys an older house, everybody in town gossips about how the new owners are restoring it because nobody wants the area’s charm to be destroyed,” Hill says. Other housing styles include mid-20th-century cottages and 21st-century New Traditionals. Some homes back up to water with private boat docks. Inland homes can cost between $80,000 and $500,000, while waterfront properties usually range from about $600,000 to around $1.5 million. Severe rainstorms can cause Onancock Creek to overflow, so flood insurance may be required for properties closest to the water, and any new-build homes in flood zones must be raised 2 feet.
Historical homes such as this colonial style house are found throughout Onancock.
An Onancock homeowner enjoys tending to her landscaping on a summer day.
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Onancock Wharf and Marina has boat storage and a neighboring restaurant
Sailboats, dinghies and powerboats are tied to wooden docks at the Onancock Wharf and Marina, which also has a boat ramp and gas pumping services. People from other Chesapeake Bay communities often boat into the marina to eat at Mallard’s, a neighboring seafood restaurant located in a former maritime trading center from 1842. “If the marina is full, it’s because there’s live music at Mallard’s,” Hill says. “Sometimes the head chef will even come out and play his guitar.” Boaters may see crab pots poking out of the calm water and great blue heron rookeries perched atop oak trees when they leave the marina and travel along Onancock Creek into Chesapeake Bay. The town has a few inland green spaces, including a dog park and the Central Accomack Little League Ball Fields. Several oceanfront tourist beaches, like Chincoteague Island, are about 30 miles east.
Mallards At the Wharf in Onancock offers dining along their waterfront pier.
Waterfront homes line the shores in Onancock.
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Tourists can take a ferry to Tangier Island
The Tangier-Onancock Ferry operates out of the town marina, offering daily rides to and from the island between May and September. A by-request service is also available year-round to the remote island. Though Hill says Onancock isn’t super touristy, the ferry does attract a few vacationers. “We have a few small hotels, but the only time people really stay in Onancock is when they miss their ferry to Tangier Island, which happens more frequently than it should.”
The Tangier Ferry operates daily to take visitors to and from Tangier Island.
Enjoy an evening on the water of Virginia's eastern shore in Onancock.
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An Accomack County public school is now a community and recreation center
Onancock is zoned for Accomack County Public Schools. Kids can attend Accawmacke Elementary, graded a C-plus by Niche, and Nandua Middle, earning a B-minus. They may continue to B-rated Nandua High, which opened in 1984 when the former Onancock High merged with another Eastern Shore school. Today, the original high school's Georgian-style building is Historic Onancock School, a community and recreation center with art studios, a playground and a disc golf course. Eastern Shore Community College, 7 miles south, offers career certifications and associate degrees in fields like business administration, education and nursing.
The Onancock Historic School was built in 1922 and now hosts many artists and shop owners inside it's halls.
The Historic Onancock School provides recreational programs like disc golf, arts programs, events and hosts retail shops inside.
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Downtown Onancock is a lively and artistic town center
Murals decorate the sides of downtown Onancock’s brick and clapboard storefronts, filled with boutiques, entertainment hubs and a diverse selection of restaurants. “We have an Irish pub, an Italian restaurant and so many coffee shops. I’ve never had a bad meal in this town,” Hill says. Roseland Theatre has shown international films and domestic blockbusters since the 1950s. The Greek Revival-style Historic Cokesbury Cultural Center is a 19th-century church that now hosts choir performances and piano recitals. Art galleries stay open late, host acoustic concerts and serve wine during the Second Friday Art Stroll, held once a month. There’s a farmers market every Saturday, and the town of Olney, about 2 miles east, has the nearest big-box grocery stores.
Shops and galleries line along North Street in downtown Onancock.
Onancock is known for it's many art galleries and shops in it's historic district.
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Locals take walks during sunsets and can easily drive to U.S. Route 13
Though not every road in Onancock has sidewalks, the community is walkable. “People go to streets near the water and walk their dogs as the sun sets,” Hill says. “That’s kind of a nightly summer tradition for families here.” Onancock is also convenient for drivers, with U.S. Route 13 immediately east. A 60-mile drive north on the highway reaches Salisbury, where locals will find the nearest regional airport. STAR Transit offers bus service to communities like Chincoteague and Cape Charles. Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onancock has 52 beds and an emergency department. Perdue Farms Harvest Facility, about 6 miles east, is another major Accomack County employer.
Friends walk their pets on a summer morning in Onancock.
Retail big box options are available just outside Onancock on Rt. 13.
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Written By
Meghan Baker
Photography Contributed By
David MacNeill
Video By
Kyo Nguyen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Sarah Rivas,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Onancock, VA sell after 69 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Onancock, VA over the last 12 months is $339,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
WOW! Don't miss this one! This stunning, one owner, custom designed and built home has so much to offer it can't all be covered here! You really have to see it to believe it! Starting with the beautiful 6.2 acre bayside waterfront lot to the thought and care the owner/builder put into this home shows throughout! Virtually everything that went into this home was upgraded well above builder grade
Elevated waterfront property with stunning views of Deep Creek, which leads out to the bay. This 840 sq ft home features 1 bedroom and 1 full bath above a 2-car garage, with an elevator lift for easy access. Enjoy breathtaking water vistas from the living areas and outdoor spaces. The restored dock and bulkhead, complete with a boat lift installed in 2021, provide easy access for boating and
Beautifully renovated 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on 0.93 acres just outside the town ordinance, offering peaceful living with close-to-town convenience. Brand new walnut hardwood floors flow through the main living spaces. The primary suite features its own full bath, while a second full bath in the hallway serves the other two bedrooms. A half bath is conveniently located by the garage and laundry
Just a few miles from the town of Onancock in the charming waterfront community! Completely renovated! Large family room with new screened in porch. New appliances, quartz countertop and subway tile in the beautiful bright kitchen. Off the kitchen is a new trek deck where one can enjoy a cocktail with water views of Deep Creek. Master bedroom suite has all the upgrades including an awesome tile
Contemporary home with open floor plan on half an acre. Short drive to downtown Onancock, public boat ramp, shopping and Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital. Credit score of 700 and completed lease application required, if credit score is below 700 full credit report and proof of income required. No smoking, no pets.
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