River Road
Kayakers search for shark teeth at Shark Tooth Island
Outdoor recreation centers surround the Cape Fear River. “Boating is a way of life here,” says Sean Skutnik, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage. “People cruise up the river, dock downtown and go to dinner.” He says the river is known to have a strong current and some big swells. “The river runs into the Intracoastal Waterway, where boating and casual recreation takes place. It connects to the Masonboro Island area, which is an amazing playground for fishing, paddleboarding and kayaking,” Skutnik says. River Road Park is the neighborhood green space featuring a playground shaded by pine trees. The park’s main road leads through the marsh to a kayak launch and fishing pier. Kayakers can paddle to Shark Tooth Island, a small nature preserve known to have shark teeth buried in the sand. Golfers can go for a round at Beau Rivage Golf & Resort. The semi-private course features 18 holes over rolling hills designed by Joe Gessner. The sandy shore of Carolina Beach is about 6 miles away for sunbathing, swimming and entertainment along the boardwalk.Custom waterfront homes with private docks
Single-family homes rest right on River Road or along secluded private drives made of pavement, gravel or sand. “You have some houses on little islands, and most of those homes have docks. If they’re an interior property, they may share a pier with a waterfront home,” Skutnik says. No two properties look the same, as most are custom-built with luxury in mind. They often have design features inspired by Cape Cod and Charleston-style homes but with a coastal twist, like dormer windows with Bahama shutters. Lawns are highly landscaped with shapely shrubs and manicured garden beds. Some feature saltwater pools or a small strip of sandy riverbank. Skutnik says older custom estates can cost between $700,000 and $800,000, but updated properties start at $1 million and can top $2 million. Two and three-bedroom condos list in the $300,000s, and townhouses are available between $330,000 and $450,000. Potential buyers should note that the neighborhood’s riverside location increases its risk of flooding and that tropical storms can hit Wilmington.Mom-and-pop shops dot Carolina Beach Road
Residents stop into Seaside Bagels, a locally owned and operated bagel shop, for breakfast or brunch. Its menu features Wilmington-themed bagel sandwiches such as the Carolina Beach, topped with turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing. Joe’s Oasis is a casual bar and grill serving pub fare, while Za Pie Pizzeria bakes up fresh pizza and stromboli for dine-in and carry-out. More dining options and vibrant nightlife are available in Carolina Beach. Where residents go to shop for groceries depends on their location along the peninsula. Those in the southern half will tend to stock up at the Food Lion and Publix in Carolina Beach. Residents in the northern half of the neighborhood are closer to the Harris Teeter near Monkey Junction, the historic intersection of College and Carolina Beach roads. It features national retailers, including Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s Home Improvement and Dollar Tree.Inspiring future marine scientists at Eugene Ashley High
Golf carts mix in with cars in the drop-off line each morning at Carolina Beach Elementary. Less than half a mile from the Atlantic Ocean, the school earns an A-minus from Niche and features an outdoor classroom. Charles P. Murray Middle and Eugene Ashley High share a connected campus hugged by the grassy athletic fields in Veterans Park. Murray Middle gets an A-minus and offers a Science Olympiad team where students participate in an annual cardboard boat regatta each summer after taking on the state tournament in the spring. Ashley High receives a B rating and features a Marine Science Academy in partnership with the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The college-level program includes Oceanography 150 and Biology 170, which students won’t have to repeat if they attend UNCW. Both Island Montessori Charter School, earning a B-plus, and the B-rated Coastal Christian High School are nearby alternatives to the public school track.The neighborhood’s namesake street
Residents can drive or bike along River Road to reach downtown Wilmington, about 12 miles north. The scenic two-lane street courses straight through the marsh parallel to the Cape Fear River and offers a quiet, less-traveled route to Carolina Beach. While Roels says the road is fun to bike along, Skutnik warns that it can be dangerous despite having marked bike lanes as the speed limit is 45 miles per hour. One of Wilmington’s major thoroughfares, Carolina Beach Road (U.S. Route 421), is nearby for drives into downtown or midtown. Wilmington International Airport is about 15 miles away.
Written By
DeeVa Payne
Photography Contributed By
Marc Smith
Video By
Brad Davis
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Kimberly Penrose
Kimberly Penrose
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
(910) 936-3490
31 Total Sales
1 in River Road
$388,200 Price
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Sue Singleton
Sue Singleton
Carolina Coast Homes Real Estate LLC
(910) 714-9147
33 Total Sales
1 in River Road
$329,870 Price
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Atlantic Edge Partners
Atlantic Edge Partners
Responds QuicklyIntracoastal Realty Corp
(833) 626-1316
71 Total Sales
1 in River Road
$735,000 Price
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Rob Warwick
Rob Warwick
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
(910) 807-7356
384 Total Sales
4 in River Road
$219K - $286K Price Range
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Marshall Pickett
Marshall Pickett
Ivester Jackson Coastal LLC
(910) 679-9239
147 Total Sales
1 in River Road
$340,000 Price
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Cisco Cardoso
Cisco Cardoso
Cardoso & Company
(910) 807-4576
119 Total Sales
1 in River Road
$295,000 Price
Schools
Source:
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
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
River Road Park
River Road Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | River Road | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
River Road Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in River Road, Sea Breeze sell after 78 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in River Road, Sea Breeze over the last 12 months is $445,000, down 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$445,000
Median Sale Price
$445,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$445,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
9
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-14%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$156
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
233
Number of Homes for Sale
0
Median Year Built
2000
Months of Supply
0.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,650
Significantly above the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,542
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,228
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
17,641
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
642
Median Age
47
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
20.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
23.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$61,200
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$90,340
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
96.2%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
36.5%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
14.1%
% Population in Labor Force
63.5%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
64''
Average Winter Low Temperature
34°F
Average Summer High Temperature
89°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
44
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
1
/ 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.
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