Moving to Coastal NC? (Wilmington, Jacksonville: renting, house, to buy)

[sarahdickey]

I've posted this before on the regular NC thread but was told I'd get a better response here. I am from Colorado originally from PA. I've started to miss the east coast living and being closer to the beaches. I was wondering if anyone knew of any inexpensive/not as crowded places to live on the coast? I don't mind being 30-45 mins away from the beach I just want to be able to get to it. I also want to live in a well developed area (I know I want it all right?) but figured I would see anyways. I am a 23 year old female and will be moving there with my 18 year old sister. A lot of people are recommending Wilmington or Jacksonville... thoughts on those places?

[Lyoshka]

Hi Sarah! not sure if this will be much help, since we just moved here 3 months ago ourselves-but then again, we are looking at everything with fresh eyes, so hopefully! my husband and I moved here with our boys from Chicago. We are building a house in Wilmington and renting in Carolina Beach right now. Our house will be 15 min from Carolina Beach and 20 min from Kure and Wrightsville Beaches. We are in love with this area (never been before I came to buy a house )-so much to do!!!! ocean is close, Wilmington is a city with restaurants and night life if you want it, and museums and art galleries and gorgeous historic downtown; riverfront is beautiful. I'm missing a few stores that were all very close in Chicago suburbs, but to me, it's a no-brainer-we wanted a city for all its conveniences, but also a much less stressed out pace of life. We found it here. I love how peaceful people are, no one is in quite such a rush as in Chicago, no billboards advertising suing someone over something, everyone is friendly... so much to do, beautiful weather, etc etc To me personally, NO comparison between Jacksonville and Wilmington-i'd choose Wilmington every day.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have.

[BC1960]

Define "inexpensive". Also, all coastal areas are crowded in the summer tourist season.


Wilmington is much nicer than Jacksonville.

[LLN]

You might want to look at Morehead City. It is basically on the coast. It has most of the big box stores, not the best health care, but you may not need much.

New Bern, about 45 minutes inland is more of a town. A lot of retirees, but young people, too.

45 minutes further inland is Greenville, home of ECU and a much younger "scene." But, you are getting close to an hour and a half from coast.

[GMarcan920]

Southport is beautiful

[walessp]

Sunset Beach is very crowded every summer weekend. As I have mentioned before it's like Coney Island or the Jersey Shore Saturday and Sunday. Beach parking is difficult to find and you should expect to pay $7 per day or more at the pay lots. I'm not trying to drive people away, just telling it like it is.

walessp

[walessp]

Most recent natural disasters that affected Brunswick County:

North Carolina Hurricane Matthew, Incident Period: October 04, 2016 to October 24, 2016, Emergency Declared EM-3380: October 07, 2016, FEMA Id: 3380, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Hurricane Matthew, Incident Period: October 04, 2016 to October 24, 2016, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4285: October 10, 2016, FEMA Id: 4285, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Hurricane Irene, Incident Period: August 25, 2011 to September 01, 2011, Emergency Declared EM-3327: August 25, 2011, FEMA Id: 3327, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Hurricane Irene, Incident Period: August 25, 2011 to September 01, 2011, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4019: August 31, 2011, FEMA Id: 4019, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole, Recent Data for Brunswick County - Source is City-Data.com

Incident Period: September 27, 2010 to October 01, 2010, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1942: October 14, 2010, FEMA Id: 1942, Natural disaster type: Tropical Storm, Storm, Flood, Wind
North Carolina Hurricane Earl, Incident Period: September 01, 2010 to September 04, 2010, Emergency Declared EM-3314: September 01, 2010, FEMA Id: 3314, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Tropical Storm Hanna, Incident Period: September 04, 2008 to September 15, 2008, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1801: October 08, 2008, FEMA Id: 1801, Natural disaster type: Tropical Storm
North Carolina Hurricane Ophelia, Incident Period: September 11, 2005 to September 17, 2005, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1608: October 07, 2005, FEMA Id: 1608, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Hurricane Ophelia, Incident Period: September 11, 2005 to September 17, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3254: September 14, 2005, FEMA Id: 3254, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
North Carolina Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3222: September 05, 2005, FEMA Id: 3222, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
10 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.

The number of natural disasters in Brunswick County (20) is greater than the US average (13).
Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 12
Emergencies Declared: 8


Read more: https://www.city-data.com/county/Brun...#ixzz4a0M4yjwf