Thunderbolt

Whitemarsh Island floats on the Wilmington River a little more than 8 miles south of downtown Savannah’s Historic District and less than 13 miles north of Tybee Island. “It’s almost equidistant, so it’s about 10 to 15 minutes either way,” says Coldwell Banker Realtor Jinan Lamas, whose grandfather developed part of the island. She adds that its convenient proximity to the hip shopping and buzzy dining scenes downtown and Tybee’s sandy beach make it a sought-after area for homebuyers. But the island itself offers such a vibrant array of shopping, dining and entertainment, that Lamas says she tries not to leave. “You can walk to restaurants, bars and grocery stores, even schools. And there’s no HOA, so it’s not a restricted covenant area,” she says. With walkable access to the waterfront and neighborhood parks, too, there certainly aren’t many reasons to venture off-island. Home prices here run from $200,000 for one-bedroom condos in early 2000s-era buildings to more than $6 million for four-bedroom waterfront estates custom-built in the mid-2000s. The median price for a typical Traditional or ranch-style single-family home with three or four bedrooms is close to $440,000. “It’s a mix of styles of construction, from ranches to Contemporaries, the whole works. And the lots are pretty spacious,” says Lamas. One of her recent listings on the island, a classic brick ranch built in 1985, just sold for $469,900. “That house was a custom home when it was built. It’s got a new roof, heat, air, everything in there is updated,” she says, adding that most homes here are just as well-maintained. “There’s a nice mix of quality-built older homes and new construction,” says Lamas. “With the construction boom, there are even houses here that are under a year old.” Island youngsters attend Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools close to home. Between kindergarten and eighth grade, kids go to Marshpoint Elementary and Coastal Middle, both of which earned B grades from Niche in 2024. Coastal Middle sits in the No. 4 spot on Niche’s list of the best public middle schools in Chatham County. Older students go to Islands High, which also earned a B from Niche. All three schools are located on the island, within 2 miles of most homes. The high school opened in 2010 in response to a growing number of students on Whitemarsh and surrounding islands. Islands High teens today are civic-minded; theatre students presented a series of one-act plays to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank during the 2023-2024 school year, and the Student Senate sponsors regular Ronald McDonald House toy drives. At Gray’s Community Park, kids can glide down the slide or shoot some hoops at the basketball court. The nearby Islands Family YMCA has tons of recreation opportunities for locals of all ages, too, including youth programs and fitness classes. Browse the stacks or bring the kids to story time at the Islands branch of the Live Oak Public Libraries, right next door. Overlooking the river from the end of Bradley Point Road, the Savannah Yacht Club offers members everything from tennis and pickleball courts, pools and fine dining and bar service to private watercraft docks. Adventurous locals can trek over to Whitemarsh Preserve, which features more than 6 miles of hiking and biking trails. There are multiple loops to choose from, from live oak and marsh-flanked bike trails to a paved walking and jogging trail. There’s a Walmart and Publix at the Island Towne Center, within 2 miles of most homes. The shopping area also has everything from familiar fast-casual chain eateries to local favorite dining options, like Papa’s BBQ & Seafood and Super Tastes Japanese Restaurant. Nearby, the Steakhouse on Whitemarsh Island serves up surf and turf in an atmosphere that toes the line between upscale and laid-back. While the island is largely walkable, locals looking to venture farther afield can easily access surrounding Savannah via US Route 80 and the Islands Expressway, just north of most homes. From Whitemarsh Island, the 18.4-mile drive to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport takes less than 40 minutes, depending on traffic.