Relaxed beach community on North Carolina’s Pleasure Island
One term is commonly used to describe Carolina Beach: laid-back. And there’s an unofficial uniform to match. “You wouldn’t know a billionaire from someone who lives paycheck to paycheck because everyone is in shorts and a T-shirt,” says Kristen Dunn, a Realtor with BlueCoast Realty Corporation. Established in the 1800s by Captain John Harper, Carolina Beach remains a steadily growing vacation destination, with approximately 6,500 full-time residents ranging from young families and surfers to retirees. But instead of boarding a steamer and then a train to reach this coastal town, people today simply drive over the Snow’s Cut Bridge. “When you come over the bridge, your stress level goes down,” Dunn says, who’s been a resident for nearly 20 years. “A term here is OTB or ‘over the bridge.’ Nobody wants to do anything over the bridge. You can go to the grocery store here and go to school here. Locals really don’t leave,” she says.
There’s a noticeable shift in vibe when tourists, ready to hit the beach and boardwalk, arrive in droves for the summer. “People are everywhere. You can drive down the street with your windows down and hear live music from all the different places,” Dunn says. “Locals know to go grocery shopping on Thursday and to go out on weeknights.” Tourism is the biggest industry here, with retail, hospitality, and food service being some of the most common jobs, in addition to health care and social assistance. If not working in town, people commute to Wilmington.
Carolina Beach’s population continues to rise by 1.3% each year. Amid this growth, more than $70 million worth of projects are on the books as part of the CB2045 Infrastructure Plan, including a new water treatment facility, upgrading water storage and improving stormwater infrastructure.
Carolina Beach is a laid back beach town for visitors and full-time residents.
Carolina Beach’s population continues to rise by 1.3% each year.
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Oceanfront condos and coastal single-family homes
In Carolina Beach, condos, townhouses and detached homes in coastal colors sit along tightly packed gridded streets. Properties near the shore are often built on stilts and typically have two or more stories with balconies offering views of the Atlantic Ocean. Some homes have private boardwalks, accessible the beach, while some properties around Myrtle Grove Sound feature docks and boat slips. In the Carolina Sands neighborhood, tall Charleston-style homes sit next to smaller cottages and ranch-style homes. Seagrove features Craftsman bungalows and transitional two-story designs on highly manicured lots.
Home prices rose 4% from 2023 to 2024. Currently, the median home price is $870,000, nearly double the national median. Prices range from $307,000 for a one-bedroom condo to nearly $2.5 million for a seven-bedroom with an ocean view. On average, properties sell after 67 days on the market, which is above the national average of 44 days. While there are plenty of permanent residents, investment properties are popular. “Vacationers stay for a week, and then they want a condo,” says Derek Criscitiello, an agent with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage.
Prices range from $307,000 to $2.5 million with an ocean view along Carolina Beach.
The median price of homes in Carolina Beach is $870,000.
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From the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape Fear River
With several miles of public shoreline, lounging on the beach, swimming and surfing are a part of daily life. Beyond the northern pier, Canal Drive suddenly switches from pavement to sand at the entrance of Freeman Park. “Back your car or truck right up to the ocean, put down the tailgate, bring out the grill and have a good time,” says Criscitiello, who has camped at the park with friends. On the island's western side is Carolina Beach State Park. The park has over 700 acres of forest hugged by marshland and dunes, complete with tree-shaded campsites and a marina along the Cape Fear River. Sandy hiking trails weave through oak and pine trees, offering the chance to spot the park’s many flora and fauna, like the Venus flytrap and the eastern fox squirrel. With ballfields and courts, Mike Chappell Park hosts several athletic leagues, including Pleasure Island Youth Baseball.
The town is continually updating and adding to its park system. In May of 2024, the newly expanded Ben Wingrove Carolina Beach Skate Park opened, and there are plans to build a new volleyball court on Cape Fear Boulevard.
Carolina Beach is a boat lovers dream, with easy access to the Cape Fear River.
Mike Chappell Park in Carolina Beach has as a skate park, playground & dog park, and fields.
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All-day fun at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk
Seagulls squawk overhead as a light breeze carries the salty scent of the ocean to the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, an iconic landmark known for its amusement rides, live music and endless shopping and dining. Narrow alleyways are lined with colorful boutiques, surf shops, bars and eateries, mostly locally owned. Britt’s Donuts is a mainstay dating to 1939. It’s nationally recognized for its glazed donuts. While no restaurants are truly on the water, Ocean Grill and Tiki Bar has a long pier stretching over the sand. Dunn says there is a huge crowd on Thursday nights for the weekly fireworks show held throughout the summer.
Colorful murals, often with a beach theme, are sprinkled around the city, adding swaths of color to walls and alleyways. All of this public art is thanks to The Carolina Beach Mural Project. “We find a wall, get in contact with the owner, and then we raise money and hire artists to create something historical or something that has special meaning to Carolina Beach,” explains Dunn, a former member of the organization’s Board of Directors. According to Dunn, there are nearly 20 murals displayed in the city.
From beach music festivals to Flamingo Bingo nights, community events are held year-round. Dunn says the year's biggest event is the Parade of Lights, held on the first Friday in December along Lake Park Boulevard. This annual Christmas Parade with a beachy twist features traditional floats, decorated golf carts and boats, marching bands, car clubs and Santa as the finale. “The streets are packed several people deep. It’s really old-timey Americana,” Dunn says.
The ferris wheel at Carolina Beach is popular amongst residents and visitors.
You can enjoy the boardwalk when you visit Carolina Beach.
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Biking down the Island Greenway
U.S. Route 421 is the main road through Carolina Beach and the only road off the island. It connects to Wilmington, about 15 miles north, and can get congested around Snow’s Cut Bridge during beach season. Residents walk, bike and drive to get around Carolina Beach. However, golf carts are another favored and accepted way to traverse the city. There are even dedicated golf cart parking spots. A popular route for walkers and cyclists is the Island Greenway, a trail system that includes a 1.2-mile stretch starting at Mike Chappel Park. “It’s like a highway with so many people walking and biking,” Dunn says. In partnership with Kure Beach, plans are underway to extend the greenway southward to Fort Fisher. Wilmington International Airport is about 18 miles away for a quick getaway or extended vacation.
Golf cart is one of the popular modes of transportation near Carolina Beach.
Residents walk, bike and drive to get around Carolina Beach.
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Arriving at Carolina Beach Elementary in a golf cart
New Hanover County Schools receives an A-minus grade from Niche and serves 25,000 students, including those on Pleasure Island. Sitting next to the 11-acre Carolina Lake is Carolina Beach Elementary School. Earning an A-minus from Niche, the school has a unique morning tradition. “There’s a whole bunch of bikers and walkers, but the car line is mostly golf carts,” Dunn says. “Everybody knows everybody, and everyone knows your kids. I don’t know if it's the salt in the air, but people are just so friendly,” she says. Students take the bus “OTB” to Charles P. Murray Middle School, which has an A-minus grade. Next door is the B-rated Eugene Ashley High School, which offers college-level courses for students in the Marine Science Academy. While no private schools are on the island, Coastal Christian High School, with a B-plus, and the unrated Innovative Academy are about 7 miles away.
A reduction in crime
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, the Carolina Beach Department reports that all violent offenses decreased from 131 in 2020 to 86 in 2023.
The Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project and the chance for storms
Winters are mild, but the summers are hot and come with the risk of hurricanes and flooding. “Canal Drive floods monthly with the king tides, meaning high tides with full moons,” Dunn says. “After a hurricane, people help each other clean up. You see the best of humanity after a storm.” Combatting beach erosion is an ongoing effort. Wilmington’s Army Corps of Engineers routinely adds sand back to the shoreline.
Carolina Beach also protects endangered sea turtles during nesting season. May through August, volunteers with the Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project walk up and down the beach looking for nesting turtles and noting their location. The team also fixes damaged nests, builds sand berms for storm and tide protection and educates the public.
Helping heal sea turtles at the Karen Beasley Rescue Center.
Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project walk up and down the beach looking for nesting turtles.
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