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Wrightsboro

Wrightsboro

Located in New Hanover County

$363,199 Average Value
$261 Average Price per Sq Ft
10 Homes For Sale

Wrightsboro is a rural Port City suburb on the rise

Home to Wilmington International Airport, Wrightsboro is the first community air travelers pass through on their way to Wilmington and the region’s many beaches. Once a quiet rural community, Wrightsboro today is humming with new home construction. “It’s just a matter of time before it booms due to the airport and the proximity to downtown,” says Kim Penrose, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage who moved to the Port City four years ago. “If someone wants more land and privacy, you can get a little bit more for your money there.” The enclave is diverse in makeup, with residential areas surrounding farms and pockets of commercial and industrial space. In addition to highway access, Wrightsboro offers short commutes to downtown Wilmington, nearby industrial parks and GE Aerospace, which has a plant north of Interstate 140.

Single-family homes and townhouses about 5 miles from Wilmington

Wrightsboro’s single-family homes rest in rural-like subdivisions, where lot sizes often reach half an acre. Walnut Hills offers brick ranch-style homes, while Rivendell Bay features neo-traditional dwellings. Recently built Craftsman homes fill newer developments such as Hanover Lakes. The median price for a single-family home is around $470,000, above the national median. Most homes fall between $200,000 and $500,000, but the custom properties in the River Bluffs and Sunset Reach communities range from $520,000 to more than $1.3 million. Newly built townhouses cost between $350,000 and $900,000.

Generational farms and eco-growers keep agricultural roots alive

Wrightsboro’s rural character is shifting as undeveloped areas give way to new subdivisions. Still, the tradition of agriculture in the area remains strong. Lewis Nursery and Farms, a generational family farm based in Rocky Point, has a seasonal strawberry farm market in Wrightsboro off Castle Hayne Road. There, visitors can pick their own strawberries from April through May. Nearby, the family-owned Tinga Nursery has been a powerhouse retail and wholesale supplier of flowers, shrubs and trees for more than a century. Terra Vita Farm, which began in 2016 as a microgreen business and has grown into an eco-focused farm, operates a produce stand along Chair Road every Friday. Several other farms and nurseries dot the community.

Most shopping is done in Midtown Wilmington

A few shopping centers, home to national brands such as Food Lion and Family Dollar, are clustered together at the intersection of Castle Hayne Road and Riverside Drive. Local restaurants include Carolina Girls’ Grillin’ Café, a relaxed lunch spot serving sandwiches and salads. Southern comfort foods are the specialty at The Sawmill Café & Catering across the street. Penrose says residents head to Wilmington for more diverse shopping and dining options. The city’s historic downtown, located roughly 5 miles away, is home to the famed Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River and features specialty shops and long-running seafood spots. Midtown Wilmington is a destination for name-brand shopping at Mayfaire Towne Center and University Centre, which feature dozens of familiar retailers and high-end boutiques. Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the closest full-service hospital, is about 7 miles away.

Parks, playgrounds and river access in New Hanover County

Wrightsboro is home to Cape Fear Optimist Park, where youth softball and baseball leagues play games, but the community doesn’t have any public parks. The sprawling Northern Regional Park is a few miles north of Interstate 140 and features tennis courts, soccer fields, playgrounds and a disc golf course. Nearby, Blue Clay Bike Park offers mountain bikers roughly 8 miles of trails. Other nearby green spaces include Olsen Park, which has an accessible playground, and Smith Creek Park, where a wide, multi-use path loops around a calm fishing lake. Boating, kayaking and fishing along Northeast Cape Fear River are popular pastimes in Wilmington. Residents of River Bluffs and Sunset Reach have private community marinas. The closest public access point for the river is in Castle Hayne, about 6 miles from the center of Wrightsboro. Wrightsboro Beach, known for its surfable waves, is around a 12-mile drive from the town.

Public and private school options north of Wilmington

New Hanover County Schools earns an A-minus overall rating from Niche. The district has more than 40 schools serving about 25,000 students. Most of Wrightsboro is zoned for Wrightsboro Elementary, which earns a C-plus rating. The school feeds into the B-rated Holly Shelter Middle and the B-plus-rated New Hanover High, which is home to the district’s Lyceum Academy program. A small portion of homes close to Interstate 140 are zoned for Castle Hayne Elementary, which earns a B-plus. Those students can move on to the B-plus-rated Emsley A. Laney High after attending Holly Shelter Middle. Nearby private options include Wilmington Christian Academy and Northside School of Christian Leadership, both of which Niche does not yet rate. Cape Fear Community College’s north campus, home to the A-rated Wilmington Early College High, is about 4 miles away. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is around 7 miles away.

Commuters have access to highways and Wilmington International Airport

Due to a lack of public transit options in Wrightsboro, the area is car-dependent. Residents here have nearby access to Interstate 140, which heads west to the town of Leland and connects with Interstate 40 to the east. Castle Hayne Road, the main road through Wrightsboro, heads south to downtown Wilmington, about 5 miles away. Wilmington International Airport offers nearly 30 nonstop flights to destinations such as Washington, D.C. and Miami, Florida. The airport is conducting a noise study in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration and the public to determine the impact on communities such as Wrightsboro. The study began in 2024 and is expected to last through 2025.

Important to know

The coastal character of New Hanover County means hurricanes and flooding are possible. FEMA flood maps show that some properties near creeks and the Northeast Cape Fear River in Wrightsboro are within or close to flood hazard areas.

DeeVa Payne
Written By
DeeVa Payne

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Ed Wagenseller, an experienced agent in this area.

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Wrightsboro Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$511,400
Median Sale Price
$574,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$511,400
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
4
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-2%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$261

Area Facts

Number of Homes
29
Number of Homes for Sale
10
Median Year Built
2018
Months of Supply
30.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,966
On par with the national average
1,926
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
10,890

Open Houses

  • Saturday, Oct 18
    Open Sat 11AM - 4PM

    1216 Rockhill Rd, Castle Hayne, NC 28429

    $774,000

    • 4 Beds
    • 3 Baths
    • 2,414 Sq Ft
    • 1216 Rockhill Rd
    • New 17 days ago

    Welcome home to Sunset Reach, where this brand-new lakefront home offers 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, and a versatile bonus room--perfect as a fourth bedroom, office, or media space. From the welcoming formal dining room to the expansive great room with soaring cathedral ceilings, this home blends comfort, elegance, and functionality.The open-concept kitchen is a chef's delight, featuring a nine

    Agent Photo
    Team Thirty 4 North
    Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
    (472) 236-8649
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  • Saturday, Oct 18
    Open Sat 11AM - 4PM

    2656 Alvernia Dr, Castle Hayne, NC 28429

    $449,990

    • 4 Beds
    • 3.5 Baths
    • 2,078 Sq Ft
    • 2656 Alvernia Dr

    Wake up to lakefront sunrises and wind down with a peaceful stroll or kayak paddle--this is everyday life at Sunset Towns in Sunset Reach. Nestled in a riverfront community just 10 minutes by boat or car to historic downtown Wilmington, this luxury townhome offers maintenance-free waterfront living with show stopping lake views from both the main living area, first floor patio and the third floor

    Agent Photo
    Team Thirty 4 North
    Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
    (910) 812-9130
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  • Saturday, Oct 18
    Open Sat 11AM - 4PM

    2597 Alvernia Dr, Castle Hayne, NC 28429

    $549,990

    • 4 Beds
    • 3.5 Baths
    • 2,585 Sq Ft
    • 2597 Alvernia Dr

    Enjoy this luxury townhome in one of the area's fastest growing communities, Sunset Reach. This waterfront townhome by award-winning Copper Builders offers serene views of the Northeast Cape Fear River and is a short 10-minute drive or boat ride from downtown Wilmington. Upon entering this luxury townhome, you'll experience modern elegance throughout, wide plank laminate flooring in all living

    Agent Photo
    Team Thirty 4 North
    Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
    (910) 776-6751
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Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Wrightsboro Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
6,747
Median Age
42
Population under 18
20.8%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
19.5%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$50,417
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$57,301

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
86.3%
College Graduates
18.8%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.8%
% Population in Labor Force
53.8%
Below the national average
65.1%

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®®

43 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®®

38 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
Wrightsboro