Wilmington - Where to Live? (Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach: apartments, to rent, high crime)

[Cleveland1]

I am moving to Wilmington from Cleveland next month and I am a little confused where to live. The prices at Carolina Beach seem reasonable , but does it really take a half hour to get to the hospital? What about traffic going back in the evening? What part of Downtown is considered to be " happening area ?" is it safe to live there? Where would you live if you were 30 , single and had a good job?

[roxors]

I lived in Carolina Beach for about 3 years, and yes, it will be a good half hour or so to the hospital depending on the time of day. Traffic both ways can be bad. Are you looking to rent or own? Carolina Beach is nice, but not considered a "happening" area, especially for singles. My parents still live there.

[Cleveland1]

I plan to rent. Ok , if Carolina Beach is out , any other suggestions? What about Monkey Junction, Mayaire, or Wrightsville beach? What part of Wilmington is the "happening " place or are there mulitple? Where would you live?

thanks

[anonymous]

I moved to Wilmington 3 months ago, and was making a decision between downtown and Carolina Beach, just like you.

Carolina Beach is easily the weirdest beach I've ever been to. It has plenty of dilapidated cinder block huts, with brand new 3-story houses mixed in. For $650/month, I found a little 500 square foot mildewy shack, on ground level, with plywood walls. No thanks.

Anyway, living downtown is better for single people & young people. Not so much college-age, but between 25 and 35, or people without kids. I live between 3rd and 4th St. Don't go farther up than about.. 6th or 7th. Don't get anything near Wooster & Dawson. Some areas of downtown are high crime, but there's a lot going on here. Front Street and Water Street are really cool commercial areas. The good residential areas of downtown are pretty small, but at the same time, are fairly high-density. What looks like a house with 1 front door might have 3 or 4 apartments in it, for example.

If you can afford Wrightsville Beach, go for it. I sure can't.

[roxors]

Yeah, I would agree, Wrightsville Beach would be more what you're looking for, but it is expensive and can get downright crazy on the weekends with the UNCW students hitting the beach and the bars.

[Cleveland1]

thank you so much, you have been a great help.

any information about the very north side of downtown? I have found a place , but it seems to be too good to be true

[roxors]

Can't really comment on the north side of downtown, but I did rent a townhouse in Northchase for a couple years. It's about 5-10 minutes north of downtown in a nice area, you might look into that. Northchase is a huge subdivision, mix of townhomes and single family homes in varying price ranges.

[anonymous]

Originally Posted by Cleveland1

thank you so much, you have been a great help.

any information about the very north side of downtown? I have found a place , but it seems to be too good to be true

you'll have to be more specific about where.

My understanding is that the north side of downtown has some high crime areas - and when you get farther out towards the more 1/2 acre subdivision-type places (not technically downtown, but close), you have frequent flooding problems.

If it seems to good to be true in downtown, it probably is. Finding a place downtown can be tricky.

[Cleveland1]

how would the area about S. 6th st. and Nun be? is it safe or just on the fringe?

[NCSC]

In my opinion, that's on the fringe, I wouldn't go any further than 6th or 7th.
The closer to the river you are, the better.