Swansboro, N.C.- If any town in southeastern North Carolina deserves the title of “Best Kept Secret,” it arguably could be Swansboro. Even for locals it remains a hidden gem. Perhaps the reason it’s so often overlooked is its size. With a total area of 1.3 square miles, Swansboro is one of the smallest incorporated towns in the state.
The official nickname is the “Friendly City by the Sea,” but it’s more commonly known as just “The Boro.”
Swansboro is a waterfront community with residents having access to several different bodies of water. It sits right where the IntraCoastal Waterway, the Bogue Inlet and the White River all converge- branching off those bodies are several tributaries and canals, and on top of that, access to the Atlantic Ocean is just a six minute drive from the town’s center.
As you can imagine, this is a town for people who love their watersports, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, water skiing and jet skiing.
One of the main attractions for visitors is a small, historic downtown. In 1990 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Pedestrians have access to roughly 40 restaurants and boutique stores- and many of those downtown locations have private docks to provide boaters a chance to stop and take a tour.
The biggest event of the year is the mullet festival, which celebrates recipes made from the small, bony fish that appears to have a purplish tint when caught in the waters of the White River. The event, one of the oldest festivals in the state, started in 1954 as a potluck-type gathering with town folks coming together and contributing to the celebration. This year the 68th annual Mullet Fesitval will attract thousands of people and is scheduled for October 8-9th.
JUST THE FACTS
- In pop culture Swansboro was used as the setting for the 2003 Nicholas Sparks novel The Guardian.
- According to the 2020 census the town’s population sits at 3,744 with a total of 1,360 households
- Median annual household income is $45,357
- Average price of a single family home in the first half of 2022 was $383,349
- When originally founded in the early 1700’s the town was called Swansborough. When it officially incorporated in 1783 it changed its spelling to today’s shorter version
- During the Civil War Swansboro, resident Otway Burns used his personal vessel to stop British ships from reaching the eastern coast. Today a statue of Burns is on display in a small park near the center of town
- With several nearby bodies most of Swansboro sits in the flood zone. During Hurricane Florence in 2018, Swansboro set a state record for the most rain to fall at any given time with a total of 34 inches coming down in just a two day period
- Nearest beach is located at Hammocks Beach State Park, less than three miles from downtown
- Distance from Swansboro to Wilmington is 73 miles
- *Distance from Swansboro to Raleigh is 140 miles
- Distance from Swansboro to Myrtle Beach 149 miles
Jennifer’s Weekend Getaway
Just For Buyers Realty agent Jennifer Reinholt has become one of Swansboro’s biggest fans. She discovered the town last fall when visiting a friend, and now makes the trip from Wilmington at least once a month for weekend getaways.
“It’s a pretty easy commute, you can make the trip in less than an hour and a half,” said Jennifer. “Remember a big part of that is just getting from one side of Wilmington to another. Once you make it on Highway 17 its pretty much a straight shot.”
Jennifer didn’t have high expectations on her first trip. On some level, the truth is if you’ve seen one coastal town, you more or less have seen them all. In fact when she makes her monthly drive she passes a half dozen other waterfront communities. But “The Boro” is different. It’s not a beach town. It’s a boating town. It’s a fishing town.
“Did you know Hollywood used Swansboro to shoot a movie that took place on Martha’s Vineyard,” she says talking about the 1994 movie Inkwell. “This is coastal Carolina, but it very much has a New England vibe about it. It’s not one of those communities where people go just to sit on the beach and soak up the sun. Swansboro is a very active town. People come here to play, not to relax.”
As much as she enjoys the weekend getaways, at this point Jennifer has no plans on making “The Boro” her permanent home.
“At this point I really like all that a bigger city like Wilmington has to offer,” says Jennifer. “I like having access to concerts, and an accessible airport. But I could see a time when I’d want to get away from the hustle and bustle. At the moment- I have the best of both worlds. I live in a very cool town, and I have this getaway- only a short drive away- when I need to escape.”
Where to live
Charleston Park: Construction in Charleston Park started in 2010, with the most recent homes being built in 2018. Properties come in one and two stories offering between three and four bedrooms. There is no HOA, and therefore no amenities. So far in 2022 a total of eleven homes have sold for an average price of just over $278,000.
Coldwater Creek:. This community is a mixture of preexisting and new construction homes. The older properties were built between 2009 and 2011, with construction continuing today. The homes are the product of a variety of builders, so the style of floorplans can drastically differ from one to the next. In size properties can range between 1,500 to up to more than 4,000 square feet. So far in 2022 a total of 15 homes have sold in Coldwater for an average price of $370,000.
Halls Creek North: This is one of the largest neighborhoods in Swansboro. Halls Creek North was built under several different phases. Homes tend to be larger than in other communities in town. Five and six bedroom properties can be found in the neighborhood. Most of the subdivision is under an HOA, but a handful of homes in the community are independent and not under the jurisdiction. So far in 2022, a total of 18 homes have sold for an average price of $421,000.
Swansborough Acres: This neighborhood is roughly shaped like a figure eight. It consists of approximately 90 homes, in both ranch and colony style. Many of the residents work at nearby Camp Lejeune. Homes are slightly smaller than other subdivisions in town. An average property in Swansborough Acres measures around 1,400 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. So far in 2022 thirteen homes have sold in the community for an average price of $288,000.
Swansgate: This is one of the newest communities in Swansboro. Construction started here in 2021, with many of the lots unsold. Most of the homes are being built by A Sydes Construction company. The smallest floorplan in the neighborhood measures roughly 2,300 square feet while the largest homes are slightly less than 4,000 square feet offering five bedrooms and four baths. So far in 2022 a total of thirteen homes have sold in Swansgate for an average price of $351,000.
Final Thoughts
If considering Swansboro future residents still in the workforce will want to take their new job into consideration. If you’re going to be employed in Brunswick, New Hanover, and certain parts of Pender County, Swansboro is probably too long of a commute to be practical. For workers employed anywhere in Onslow County, or the Hampstead and Surf City portions of Pender County- then Swansboro should be on your short list.
“The Boro” is also not a place for retirees who are hoping to find a community rich in amenities. If you’re looking for a development with golf courses, pickle ball courts, and large community pools- you’re not going to find what you want in Swansboro.
Instead it may be the perfect place for retirees who find their amenities in the entire town and not just the neighborhood. This is the perfect place for people who want to spend their gold years on board a boat, whether fishing or just exploring all the nearby bodies of water.
For a waterfront community, the homes in Swansboro are some of the most reasonably priced properties anywhere on the eastern seaboard. But don’t tell everyone… for now… let’s keep the secret, one of the best kept secrets in this part of the country, between the two of us.