North Carolina’s Coastal Charm: Beach Towns You’ll Love

Discover the allure of North Carolina’s coastal charm with our guide to the beach towns you’ll love, featuring stunning shorelines, vibrant downtowns, and desirable neighborhoods. 

Kill Devil Hills provides a blend of entertainment, dining, and shopping options, including live music, waterfront eateries, and nearby specialty shops. The beach area, with Avalon Pier, is relatively quiet compared to neighboring towns, making it a relaxing destination for sunbathing and swimming. According to Redfin, as of June, Kill Devil Hills has a moderately competitive real estate market, with a median home sale price of $600,000 and properties selling after an average of 48 days on the market.   

The pristine beach at Oak Island surrounds the Ocean Crest Fishing Pier, a common spot for fishing and taking in ocean views. The town offers a local farmers market, golfing amenities, and various tourist attractions. The real estate market on Oak Island includes oceanfront properties, vacation rentals, and more affordable inland homes. Its market is somewhat competitive, with a median home sale price just shy of $550,000 and homes spending 76 days on the market on average. 

Known for its laid-back ambiance and excellent surfing conditions, Surf City’s tranquil beaches offer coastal shops, restaurants, and fishing pier access. Real estate in Surf City includes beachfront properties, vacation rentals, and year-round residences. The median home sale price in Surf City was just under $465,000 in June, with homes selling after an average of 39 days on a moderately competitive market, per Redfin.  

Hotels, restaurants, fishing piers, and water sport amenities line the picturesque shorelines of Wrightsville Beach. Wrightsville Beach’s real estate scene is fairly competitive, with many luxury homes and beachfront properties. According to Redfin, in June, the median home sale price was north of $1.8 million, and homes spent 46 days on the market on average. 

The beaches of Nags Head offer a classic Outer Banks atmosphere, with fishing piers, eateries, and art galleries. Its expansive beaches are ideal for activities such as beachcombing and swimming. The Village at Nags Head has luxurious homes and amenities, including a private golf course and soundfront properties, while Old Nags Head Cove features a mix of traditional beach homes and vacation rentals, many with waterfront views of the Roanoke Sound. As of June, homes in the real estate market sold for a median price of $837,500 and remained on the market for an average of 26 days, showing a somewhat competitive scene per Redfin. 

Home to one of the most family-friendly beaches, Duck’s shops and restaurants are among its most appealing features. Olde Duck Beach and Port Trinitie are standout neighborhoods known for their attractive beachside locations and appealing residential environments. Both are desirable places to live due to their proximity to the water and water sports facilities. Duck’s real estate scene, known for its upscale homes and well-maintained properties, is moderately competitive, with a median home sale price of approximately $1.3 million and homes spending 23 days on the market on average, according to Redfin’s June data. 

Campsites at nearby parks and fishing piers are popular among Carolina Beach visitors. On the boardwalk, amusement rides, eateries, and specialty shops attract many people daily. Based on June Redfin data, Carolina Beach has a reasonably competitive real estate scene, with homes selling for a median price of $510,000 within 36 days on average. The area often attracts both investors and families. 

Perched on Bogue Banks Island, the beaches of Emerald Isle are appealing places for fishing, engaging in watersports, and admiring stunning vistas of the Bogue Inlet. The city’s pristine and vast beaches are also ideal for sunbathing and swimming, with less commercial development compared to other areas. Emerald Isle offers a range of homes, from beachfront properties to more secluded inland options. In June, Redfin reported a median home sale price of $893,000, with properties remaining on the market for an average of 13 days, indicating a somewhat competitive market.