Planning to visit Wilmington, North Carolina, soon and interested in checking out some high-end real estate? Good choice, as this southerly destination is not just the home of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, but is also a beachy and popular portside gem that was recently voted North Carolina’s cleanest city.
Wrightsville Sound
The most expensive neighborhood in Wilmington is Wrightsville Sound, where the median sale price for a home in October 2025 was a lofty $1,212,500. Less than 10 miles from Wilmington International Airport and across the Intracoastal Waterway from much-loved Wrightsville Beach, one of North Carolina’s top seaside towns, the neighborhood contains a mix of architectural styles from grand estates to coastal cottages and is perched right on the Intracoastal Waterway.
The distinguishing feature of this neighborhood is its waterfront location and its 67-acre colorful paradise, Airlie Gardens. Ranked one of the top things to do in Wilmington on Tripadvisor, the gardens are home to deep-pink azaleas, lavender hyacinths, white and red camellias, and many other flowers bloom in season, attracting pollinators and dozens of species of birds. In summer, Airlie Gardens hosts live music, which fosters a sense of community among neighbors. On Homes.com, one local realtor described these lively events: “Everyone brings a blanket and food, and we sit out under the big oak trees. Bands are playing, and people are socializing; it’s just lovely.”
Wrightsville Sound is also home to Lumina Station, a shopping center with high-end boutiques and several restaurants, including American, French, Greek, and Japanese options. There’s also waterfront dining nearby, such as The Bridge Tender. If you’re staying in the area, there’s a convenient Hampton Inn & Suites, rated 4.6 stars on Tripadvisor. If you prefer an oceanfront accommodation, head 2 miles over to the beach, where you’ll find a range of hotels to suit any budget.
Landfall
According to the Redfin analysis, the second-most expensive neighborhood in Wilmington is the 2,200-acreLandfall housing development, with a median sale price of $1,185,000. Also less than 10 miles from the airport, this area of around 2,000 homesites is also on the Intracoastal Waterway, just northeast of the Wrightsville Sound community. Local realtor Jacki Hedgecock describes the community in a YouTube video as being “like a whole other town” that’s made up of more than a dozen different sub-regions…