North Carolina's Top Ten · Biltmore Forest · Grandfather Village · Governors Club · Marvin · Bald Head Island · Iredell's Lake Norman · Wrightsville Beach. Bald Head Island is off the coast of Brunswick County, and is only accessible by a 20-minute ferry from Southport. In seventh place, Wrightsville Beach is also on the list of the richest cities in the state. Wrightsville Beach is one of three coastal towns in New County Hanover.
While Bald Head Island and Wrightsville Beach were the only cities in the Wilmington area that ranked in the top 10, several other municipalities and census-designated places ranked lower among the state's 50 richest. Nags Head is a coastal town in Dare County known primarily for its stunning beaches. With its rich natural beauty and historic importance, this prime destination attracts homebuyers, investors and vacation property seekers from across the country. Located on North Carolina's stunning Outer Banks, Nags Head is located approximately 200 miles east of Raleigh.
With a year-round population of around 3,000 residents, the city grows significantly during peak tourist seasons, creating a dynamic and vibrant coastal community. Because of its waterfront location, it's a popular destination for tourists and there are plenty of things to do. Luxury homes and waterfront homes make Nags Head an exclusive place to live and an attractive place for coastal lovers. Nags Head may be an expensive place to be, but it's also a fantastic place to live.
This beautiful city has a unique atmosphere, lots of things to do, and breathtaking landscapes. Whether you're looking for a place to settle down or even a vacation home, this destination can be expensive, but with everything it has to offer, it's a great place to buy a home. This charming little port city on the southern edge of the Outer Banks, not to be confused with the South Carolina city of the same name (which is pronounced differently), has a bustling marina in the center and is dotted with historic buildings that date back to the 18th century. Beaufort is home to the wonderful North Carolina Maritime Museum and is just a stone's throw from the natural riches of the Rachel Carson Reserve.
Look for wild horses and dolphins in the water as you stroll along the downtown promenades. Rent kayaks to explore the islands or take a ferry to enjoy the best bombing at Shackleford Banks. At the southern end of the coast and a short distance from the bustling city of Wilmington, this quiet coastal town located on a 4-mile-long barrier island has a lot of charm, from a bird nesting sanctuary on the southern edge to its iconic Johnnie Mercers fishing pier. Combine an Atlantic surf environment, a world focused on boating and SUP on Banks Channel, miles of wide beaches and a deep bank of old Carolina beach cabins for sale and rent, and you'll get a sense of the magic that makes Wrightsville Beach totally fun. What's not to like about Oriental, a city with more than three times as many ships as inhabitants all year round? That connection to water through fishing, recreational boating, rowing and boating (Oriental is known as North Carolina's boating capital) defines the maritime charm of this community on the banks of the wide Neuse River, which flows into Pamlico Sound.
Those who need a beach in their daily plans will find a quick fix in small Town Beach, and the expansive tracts of Atlantic Beach aren't far away either. Just south of Beaufort, this quiet fishing community, known for preserving the Eastern dialect, has also become a popular spot for retirees. Harkers Island has a post office, a few restaurants and a grocery store, and is prized primarily for its small-town atmosphere and slow pace of life and pleasant. Stay in a house on the sound side for a magnificent view of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.
Hatteras is the starting point for the ferry to Ocracoke, but there's more to this small fishing town. Charter fishing trips, kitesurfing and kitesurfing are popular activities here, in addition to exploring the sand dunes of Cape Hatteras National Shore. Hatteras is also home to the Atlantic Cemetery Museum, with exhibits spanning five centuries of maritime history and piracy. Just a short drive away, you can visit the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Pine Knoll Shores is part of the Crystal Coast region of North Carolina, in Carteret County, and offers residents protected maritime forests facing the Atlantic Ocean, creating an environmentally friendly beach community that attracts nature lovers seeking uncrowded coastal luxury. Emerald Isle achieves the perfect balance between accessibility and exclusivity, as it is part of North Carolina's Crystal Coast and offers a more residential environment than other beach communities, making it particularly attractive to families looking for vacation homes that can generate rental income when not in use. This barrier island city has amenities for the whole family, such as an urban park with a splash rink, a skating rink and mini golf, and the nearby North Carolina Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores. Located between Myrtle Beach's most commercialized beach and Wilmington's historic allure, Holden Beach offers the perfect midpoint for luxury buyers seeking natural beauty without sacrificing accessibility to urban services.
Everyone can enjoy beaches on both the Atlantic side and the Intracoastal Waterway, including dogs, who can go to the beach with their owners all year round (but must be on a leash from May 15 to September 30). Myrtle Beach has tons of attractions, from the beach itself, the waterfront, restaurants, shops and more. Perhaps there isn't a beach destination in North Carolina as suitable for a family vacation as Duck, the northernmost city on the Outer Banks. The appeal of Kure Beach is due to its small-town charm and comparatively smaller commercial development than neighboring Carolina Beach.
For Ryan Shelton and Josh Lemke, residents of North Carolina and owners of a vacation rental they call Beach Please, one of the best coastal towns is Oak Island, thanks to its dog-friendly nature. The rest features 22 miles of pale sand, North Carolina's oldest lighthouse, locally-owned stores, and a community of beautiful beach homes. Holden Beach, a mostly residential island, is synonymous with simple pleasures, from biking and kayaking to playing on the beach and hunting ghost crabs at night. North Carolina is home to many cities, many of them originally more or less university cities, that have exploded.
If the phrase “North Carolina coastal town” conjures up images of towering sand dunes, you may be thinking of Nags Head.
