Richlands offers a respite from busy Jacksonville life
In Onslow County, Richlands is one area that never lost touch with its farming roots. The area is more rural than its neighbor, Jacksonville, but there’s a small downtown and major residential growth on the horizon. Stephanie Modlin is a Realtor and Senior Broker with Streamline Realty Team at Coldwell Banker-Sea Coast Advantage, who has helped residents find homes in Richlands. Modlin says that military members often move to Richlands because of its proximity to Jacksonville and the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. “They have their own shops and restaurants, but it’s a small town,” Modlin says. “Richlands has been growing, and there’s new construction.” Although the housing stock is growing and new people are moving in, Richlands hasn’t lost its small-town atmosphere.
Ranch-style and Craftsman homes with more construction in the future
Living in Richlands instead of Jacksonville means having more yard space and some room between neighbors. Ranch-style and Craftsman homes are most common throughout the area. Richlands’ median single-family sale price is $290,000, less than the national median of about $423,000. There have been national-style homes with up to 10 acres of land that sold for around $615,000, but the area also has manufactured homes and bungalows that have sold for about $150,000. Homes that sell for less than $150,000 often need renovations.
Richlands has homes built from the early 1900s to as recently as 2025. Ellis Developments Group is planning to build new residential communities in Richlands. One such project is Richlands Forest, a planned 250-acre development with over 300 homes and preserved green spaces. Other projects still in the planning stages will bring more homes and mixed development properties, taking advantage of the population moving from Jacksonville to Richlands.
Driving down Route 258 to Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune
Downtown residential streets are lined on one side with sidewalks, but most streets throughout Richlands are sidewalk-free. Because of this, residents drive to restaurants downtown, churches along U.S. Route 258, like First Baptist Church or jobs in Jacksonville. Depending on where people live in Richlands, the roughly 15-mile drive down Route 258 to Jacksonville takes about 20 minutes. Camp Lejeune is farther away, about 33 miles in nearly 45 minutes. The ECU Health Multispecialty Clinic and the JCMC Richlands Family practice offer primary care services, but the nearest hospital is Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville. Albert J. Elis Airport offers regional flights through American Airlines and Delta, so residents hear planes entering and leaving the airport. The plane noise isn’t an issue because many residents are or were a part of the military.
Richlands High keeps future farmers in mind
Some kids attend kindergarten through fifth grade at Heritage Elementary School, while others learn at Richlands Elementary School. Both schools feed into Trexler Middle School, and all three earn B-minus ratings from Niche. The B-rated Richlands High School knows how important farming is to the surrounding community, so the school offers programs like Animal Sciences and Horticulture. Richlands High’s large student population has led to the addition of temporary classrooms, but the Richlands School District is pushing for funds to build another high school in Richlands.
Exploring Richlands Steed Park and beach days
Richlands Steed Park neighbors Richlands Elementary, and the green space has a walking trail that winds past the playground and baseball fields. Venters Park is within walking distance of homes in downtown Richlands and next door to the fire and EMS station. While Venters Park is smaller than Steed Park, it’s a popular spot for parents to bring their kids to explore the playground. Residents can be on the shore in under an hour, since North Topsail Beach is about 32 miles away, and Surf City is closer to 40 miles from home.
Breakfast at The Coffee Co. and lunch at Camino Real
Richlands residents can pick up groceries at the Piggly Wiggly, Food Lion or Walmart Supercenter. There are chain restaurants, but more popular restaurants are locally owned, like The Coffee Co. Camino Real is a family-owned Mexican restaurant with other locations outside of Richlands, so if people enjoy the restaurant’s lunch and dinner menu, they can order what they love when visiting Surf City or Wilmington. The Fantastic Finds Vendor Mall is off Route 258, and over 50 vendors manage booths inside, selling everything from art supplies to gently used home decor.
Visiting Mike's Farm for fruit picking and seasonal festivals
Mike’s Farm started as a tobacco farm owned by Jess Lowe after he was stationed at Camp Lejune. Now owned by Mike and Theresa Lowe, Mike’s Farm has become a destination for holiday events, dining at the farm-to-table restaurant and picking up fresh baked goods in the gift shop. Visitors can pick and pay for strawberries or take an educational tour in the spring, but October is always pumpkin picking and hayride season at the farm. Mike’s Farm restaurant serves country dishes for dinner from January through September, Thursdays through Saturdays.
