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Wilmington, NC 55+ active adult communities & homes for sale
Living in Wilmington
Located in Coastal North Carolina, Wilmington is a midsize city on the Atlantic Ocean. Pleasant weather all year, combined with its proximity to the ocean, make this a popular…
Located in Coastal North Carolina, Wilmington is a midsize city on the Atlantic Ocean. Pleasant weather all year, combined with its proximity to the ocean, make this a popular destination for active adults looking to retire on the water. Besides this, retirees enjoy the strong sense of community with local amenities like boutique shops, craft breweries, and community festivals.
Wilmington Climate & Geography
Wilmington is located on a peninsula on the eastern coast of North Carolina. Its eastern edge is Hewletts Creek, and its western edge is Cape Fear River. Both bodies of water lead to the Atlantic Ocean.
Recreation, Culture & Entertainment in Wilmington
A largely historic city, Wilmington places a strong emphasis on community and history. The Cape Fear Museum, Wilmington Railroad Museum, and Cameron Art Museum are popular for history buffs, as well as the hundreds of historic homes throughout the city.
Residents seeking outdoor recreation have several choices. The Airlie Gardens, Halyburton Park, Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve, Greenfield Park, and Hugh MacRae Park all offer trails, self guided tours, and natural areas for picnicking. The Whiteface, Lookout, and Esther Mountains, as well as the Catamount Mountain Trail all have a variety of hiking trails. Golfers can enjoy the holes at Beau Rivage Golf and Resort, Porters Neck Country Club, and Wilmington Municipal Golf Course.
In addition to outdoor recreation, residents can shop the local boutiques of the Riverwalk and Downtown Wilmington, both located on Cape Fear River on the western side of town. The downtown area also hosts community events like art walks, holiday festivals, and a Saturday farmers market. There are also several breweries and wineries, including the Wrightsville Beach Brewery and Noni Bacca Winery.
Wilmington Cost of Living & Taxes
Wilmington’s cost of living is nearly the same as the national average. This is mainly because housing is more costly than the rest of the state, while groceries, utilities, and transportation are all lower than average. Health care tends to hover above the national average.
North Carolina taxes all forms of income at a flat rate of 5.5 percent except for Social Security. The state’s property taxes are low, and Wilmington’s 7 percent sales tax is average. Unlike many states, North Carolina taxes groceries, but at a lower rate.
Health Care in Wilmington
According to Gallup’s Well-Being Index, North Carolina’s highest ranking is in the community index, indicating that residents feel safe and have a sense of pride in their community.
The only general hospital in Wilmington, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, is rated by U.S. News as high performing and is the No. 10 hospital in North Carolina. J. Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital and Pender Memorial Hospital are also within 25 miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Wilmington, there are 1 large community with over 1000 homes, 2 medium communities with 500-1000 homes, and 2 small communities with less than 500 homes.
The smallest 55+ communities in Wilmington has 38 homes, the largest has 3000 homes, and the average communities consists of 966 homes.
Yes, there are new 55+ homes available in Wilmington. The most recent communities started in Wilmington include Bellaport, Del Webb Wilmington, Riverlights. There are also 5 communities in Wilmington that offer new construction homes, including Bellaport, Porters Neck Plantation, The Village at Motts Landing.
Yes, there is gated 55+ communities in Wilmington. Approximately 20.0% of 55+ communities in the area are gated. For instance, Porters Neck Plantation is a gated communities with 834 homes.
On average, listings in 55+ communities in Wilmington stay on the market for around 290 days. The average price of homes for sale in these communities is approximately $658,408, though prices can range widely based on the size, location, and amenities of the communities. For example, homes in Porters Neck Plantation average around $972,871, while homes in The Village at Motts Landing average around $589,000.
14 communities near Wilmington
572 homes near Wilmington
Relevance
3 beds
|2 baths
|1,961 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|4 baths
|4,080 sq ft
|House
5 beds
|4 baths
|4,094 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|4 baths
|3,026 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|2 baths
|1,918 sq ft
|Townhouse
3 beds
|3 baths
|2,145 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|3 baths
|2,319 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|3 baths
|1,958 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|3 baths
|2,605 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|3 baths
|2,323 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|3 baths
|2,958 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|3 baths
|3,226 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|3 baths
|2,903 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|2 baths
|1,833 sq ft
|House
5 beds
|3 baths
|2,879 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|4 baths
|3,714 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|3 baths
|2,249 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|2 baths
|1,669 sq ft
|House
2 beds
|2 baths
|1,872 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|5 baths
|2,842 sq ft
|Townhouse
3 beds
|2 baths
|1,413 sq ft
|Townhouse
3 beds
|3 baths
|3,525 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|3 baths
|2,500 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|4 baths
|2,883 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|3 baths
|2,546 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|2 baths
|1,833 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|3 baths
|2,696 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|4 baths
|4,239 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|2 baths
|1,872 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|3 baths
|2,276 sq ft
|House
2 beds
|2 baths
|1,872 sq ft
|House
3 beds
|3 baths
|2,325 sq ft
|House
4 beds
|4 baths
|3,700 sq ft
|House
Frequently Asked Questions
In Wilmington, there are 1 large community with over 1000 homes, 2 medium communities with 500-1000 homes, and 2 small communities with less than 500 homes.
The smallest 55+ communities in Wilmington has 38 homes, the largest has 3000 homes, and the average communities consists of 966 homes.
Yes, there are new 55+ homes available in Wilmington. The most recent communities started in Wilmington include Bellaport, Del Webb Wilmington, Riverlights. There are also 5 communities in Wilmington that offer new construction homes, including Bellaport, Porters Neck Plantation, The Village at Motts Landing.
Yes, there is gated 55+ communities in Wilmington. Approximately 20.0% of 55+ communities in the area are gated. For instance, Porters Neck Plantation is a gated communities with 834 homes.
On average, listings in 55+ communities in Wilmington stay on the market for around 290 days. The average price of homes for sale in these communities is approximately $658,408, though prices can range widely based on the size, location, and amenities of the communities. For example, homes in Porters Neck Plantation average around $972,871, while homes in The Village at Motts Landing average around $589,000.
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REIN updates its listings on a daily basis. Data last updated: Sep 19, 2026.
This application does not include information on all of the properties available for sale at this time.
