Hampstead Homes for Sale & Real Estate Listings

Pecan Grove Plantation ($600K-$1M+, ICW Gated)

Pecan Grove Plantation is one of Hampstead's premier master-planned communities, set on the Intracoastal Waterway with gated access, pecan-tree-lined streets, and a low-country architectural sensibility built around half-acre to 1.2-acre custom homesites. Phase 6 is actively selling with rolling lots from $229,000. Average sale price over the trailing 12 months runs approximately $923,000. The community amenity package is among the most complete in Hampstead: Olympic-size pool, two clubhouses, gazebos on the ICW, two boat ramps, two day docks, tennis courts, pickleball courts, playground, fitness center, game room, and a boat and RV storage lot. All homes are custom built, which means the quality and character of individual properties varies; buyers should evaluate specific homes rather than relying solely on the community brand. Direct ICW waterfront lots carry a meaningful premium above the community median and move more quickly than interior homesites.

Sloop Point Plantation ($1.5M-$3M+, Ultra-Luxury ICW)

Sloop Point Plantation is Hampstead's top-of-market address: estate homesites on and near the Intracoastal Waterway with ocean views, a canopy of mature trees, and a scale of waterfront access that no other community in the area matches. The median listing price is approximately $2.6 million, average recent sales run approximately $1.7 million at approximately $587 per square foot, and the community was home to four of the top five Pender County sales in 2025. The flagship 2025 sale, 223 Dugald Lane, was a 6,937-square-foot residence on 3 acres directly on the ICW that closed at $3,000,000 in November 2025 after 72 days on market. This is a low-turnover, high-demand tier: properties that are well-priced, move-in ready, and positioned on the water regularly attract competitive interest even as the broader Hampstead market offers buyers leverage elsewhere. Cash buyers and private banking financing dominate this segment.

Crown Pointe ($400K-$785K, Water Access)

Crown Pointe is a well-established residential water-access neighborhood on the north side of Hampstead, east of US-17 off Sloop Point Road. Active listings have run from approximately $400,000 to $784,000, with the most common price range between $630,000 and $784,000 for larger homes. The community features a pool and clubhouse, a waterfront dock and gazebo, a kayak launch, and a day dock, providing genuine water access and community amenity without the ICW-direct premium of Pecan Grove or Sloop Point. HOA fees run approximately $99 per month. Homes generally run 2,200 to 3,100 square feet across 3 to 4 bedrooms. Crown Pointe represents the strongest value proposition for buyers who want community water infrastructure and a neighborhood feel without the commitment of full ICW waterfront ownership and the corresponding price point.

Pelican Reef ($369K-$725K+, Gated Virginia Creek)

Pelican Reef is a gated community of more than 225 properties on Virginia Creek, a tributary of the Virginia Sound waterway system. The community combines genuine water access and an unusually full amenity package at a price range that still offers meaningful entry-level opportunity into the Hampstead waterfront market. Amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, kayak launch, boat corral, tennis courts, community pier and dock, fitness center, and three internal parks: Tar Pit Park, Civil War Park, and Creekside Park. Recent listings have ranged from approximately $369,000 to $725,000; sold lots have traded from $160,000, and homes with water views have cleared $600,000. Properties range from cottage-style homes to custom residences exceeding 4,000 square feet on 1 to 2 acre lots. The gated nature of the community and the creek-front character provide a sense of privacy and natural setting that buyers moving from dense suburban markets consistently respond to positively.

Intracoastal Waterway and Marina Life

The ICW is the organizing feature of Hampstead's lifestyle. Three primary marine facilities serve the community at different price points and boat sizes. Sloop Point Marina at ICW Marker 90 operates a dry-stack storage facility with valet-style service: book the launch through the BoatCloud app, and the vessel is in the water when you arrive. Harbour Village Marina accommodates 192 vessels from 25 to 60 feet in wet slips, with transient docking available, diesel and ethanol-free gasoline, and a relaxed atmosphere at ICW Mile Marker 267. Harbour Village Yacht Club, founded in 1989 and operating with 110 equity members, provides a social and boating community anchored at ICW Marker 98 with ramp access and a 58-slot boat and trailer storage lot. Beyond organized marina infrastructure, Hampstead's ICW communities include private docks at individual properties, community day docks, kayak launches, and boat ramps that make the waterway a daily-use amenity rather than an occasional destination for most waterfront residents. Fishing, paddleboarding, sunset cruises, and access to Topsail Island by water are routine weekend activities for Hampstead's boating community.

Topsail Island and Lea-Hutaff Island

Topsail Island is Hampstead's beach. The drive is approximately 9 miles via US-17 and NC-50, typically 15 to 20 minutes, crossing the Surf City Bridge opened in December 2018 at 3,600 feet long and 65 feet tall, with a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist lane overlooking the ICW. The island offers 26 miles of Atlantic oceanfront across three municipalities: North Topsail Beach, Surf City, and Topsail Beach. It is a quieter, less commercialized barrier island than Myrtle Beach or the Outer Banks, with a strong local character and a seasonal pace that suits families and retirees who want beach access without the resort crowds. For an even more remote experience, Lea-Hutaff Island is accessible by boat from Hampstead's marinas in approximately 20 to 30 minutes. The 5,641-acre island is permanently protected: the NC Coastal Land Trust purchased Hutaff Island in July 2021, completing the permanent conservation of what was then the last privately-owned undeveloped barrier island on the North Carolina coast. The island has a 2.5-mile ocean beach, critical loggerhead sea turtle nesting habitat, and populations of Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and American Oystercatchers. Residents use it for day trips involving fishing, surfing, birding, and primitive camping on a shoreline that will never have a hotel on it.

Poplar Grove Plantation and Community Events

Poplar Grove Plantation at 10200 US-17, on the Hampstead side of the Pender-New Hanover county line, is a pre-Revolutionary War plantation on the National Register of Historic Places and part of the National Park Service's Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. The 12-room Greek Revival manor house was built circa 1850 to 1853 from on-site materials by enslaved craftsmen for the Foy family, who held the property for six generations from 1795 to 1971. The plantation runs a weekly Open Air Market on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., mid-May through late August, with local farmers, bakers, and artisan makers. Annual events include Bluegrass in the Grove (summer), the Herb and Garden Fair (spring), the Merry and Bright Festival (winter), and seasonal ghost tours. The NC Spot Festival, Hampstead's signature community event scheduled for November 7 to 8, 2026, celebrates the spot fish and local heritage with kids' rides, live music, local vendors, spot fish dinners, and beer and wine across a two-day community gathering. Hampstead Alive After Five brings free outdoor concerts to Kiwanis Park through the summer months. Kiwanis Park itself at 53 acres provides the community's primary athletic infrastructure: 4 baseball and softball fields, 4 multipurpose fields, 6 tennis courts, 4 pickleball courts, 2 basketball courts, 2 sand volleyball courts, a walking trail with fitness stations, and 2 playgrounds across its expanded Phase IV footprint.

Dining, Golf, and Wilmington Access

Hampstead's local dining scene on the US-17 corridor centers on Oval and Ale, a craft pinsa restaurant with Roman-style long-fermented crust and 12 rotating regional craft beers on tap, open Wednesday through Sunday in the Hampstead Village Drive shops. Nineteen Restaurant at Olde Point Country Club serves lunch and dinner in the clubhouse, open to the public and available for private events. Grumpy Grandpas Coffee at 16717 US-17 holds a 4.9-star Yelp rating. For a broader dining and retail range, Wilmington's Mayfaire Town Center is 20 to 25 minutes south, offering national retailers, a cinema, and a dense concentration of restaurant options. Olde Point Country Club at 513 Country Club Drive is Hampstead's primary golf anchor: a 1974 Jerry Turner design with Bermuda fairways and Paspalum greens, semi-private with public tee time access, a practice range, and a membership that includes pool and tennis. Castle Bay Golf and Castle Bay Country Club and Ironclad Golf with its ICW views round out the local golf options. Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is 23 miles south, approximately 27 minutes, with direct nonstop service to Charlotte, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.

$496,000

Median Sold Price

$225/sqft

Median Price / Sq Ft

+4% YOY

Home Value Appreciation

37 Days

Median Days on Market

$92K

Median HH Income

By Air

Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is approximately 23 miles south of Hampstead, a 27-minute drive via US-17 South. ILM operates nonstop service to Charlotte (American, multiple daily), Atlanta (Delta), Philadelphia (American), and Washington D.C. Dulles (United), covering the four major hub connections most residents and business travelers need. Charlotte Douglas (CLT), reached in approximately 2.5 hours by car via I-40 West, provides a full international hub with connections to Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean for longer-haul travel. The proximity to ILM is a consistent quality-of-life advantage for Hampstead residents relative to communities farther north in Pender County.

By Car: US-17 and Key Routes

US-17 is Hampstead's primary artery, running north to Jacksonville (55 miles, 55 minutes) and south to Wilmington (18 miles, 25 minutes). NC-50 / NC-210 provides the east corridor to Topsail Island and Surf City (9 miles, 15-20 minutes to the Surf City Bridge). Sloop Point Road and Country Club Drive connect residential communities to US-17 from the east side. The US-17 corridor through Hampstead experiences notable traffic growth with the community's 32% population increase since 2020; peak-hour southbound congestion toward Wilmington runs 30 to 40 minutes during weekday morning commutes. No public transit or rail serves Hampstead. The mean commute time for residents is 29.9 minutes, and 17.2% of the workforce works from home, giving the community a more flexible commute profile than the driving time alone suggests. Raleigh is approximately 130 miles northwest via I-40, typically 2 hours.

Camp Lejeune and Military Access

Camp Lejeune's main gate is approximately 33 miles north of Hampstead via US-17 North and NC-172, typically about 1 hour by car. Jacksonville, the primary off-base city, is 14 miles from Camp Lejeune and approximately 45 miles from Hampstead. Military families who choose Hampstead over Jacksonville typically prioritize Pender County schools, the ICW and beach lifestyle, and proximity to Wilmington's employment opportunities for working spouses. Hampstead's veteran population of 9.9% is approximately 50% above the national average, confirming military-connected households as a meaningful but not dominant buyer segment. Camp Lejeune generates nearly $3 billion in annual regional commerce, has not been subject to closure risk in any BRAC round, and added personnel with the 2022 consolidation of MARSOC at the base. Service members assigned to Stone Bay or MARSOC units may find the Hampstead commute more manageable than those with early-morning formation requirements at the main installation.

Topsail Elementary School (A-, #323 NC)

Topsail Elementary at 17385 US-17 serves approximately 580 students in grades PreK through 4 with a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. Niche grades the school A- overall and A in academics for 2026, ranking it #323 of 1,499 North Carolina public elementary schools and #3 among Pender County elementary schools. State standardized test scores from the 2023-24 NC DPI assessment show 84% math proficiency and 76% reading proficiency, both well above state averages. Free or reduced lunch participation is 20%, reflecting the community's above-average income profile. An AIG (Academically and Intellectually Gifted) program is offered. The 84% math proficiency rate is among the stronger elementary scores in coastal NC and reflects both the school's academic culture and the professional household composition of the Hampstead attendance zone.

Topsail Middle School (A-, #139 NC)

Topsail Middle at 17445 US-17 serves approximately 837 students in grades 5 through 8 with a 19:1 student-teacher ratio. Niche grades the school A- overall with A in academics and A- in teachers for 2026, ranking it #139 of 758 North Carolina public middle schools and #5 among Wilmington-area middle schools. It also ranks #159 of 687 for best middle school teachers in North Carolina. State scores from 2023-24 show 67% math proficiency and 67% reading proficiency. An AIG program provides accelerated coursework including Algebra 1 in 7th grade and Geometry in 8th grade for qualifying students. The 19:1 ratio is above the national average of 16:1 but manageable; the more meaningful concern at the middle school level is the transition to Topsail High, where the ratio reaches 29:1.

Topsail High School (B+, 96% Graduation Rate)

Topsail High at 245 St. Johns Church Road serves approximately 1,945 students in grades 9 through 12. Niche grades the school B+ overall with B+ in academics and college prep and A- in sports for 2026, ranking it #215 of 635 North Carolina public high schools, #6 among Wilmington-area high schools, and in the 88th percentile statewide on CarolinaSchoolHub (#56 of 470). The headline metric is the 96% graduation rate against a North Carolina state average of 86%. Average SAT is 1,200 and average ACT is 26. AP courses and dual enrollment with Cape Fear Community College are available, with 16% of students enrolled in AP coursework. Notably, the 29:1 student-teacher ratio is the most consistently cited concern in parent and student reviews; it is significantly above the national average of 16:1 and reflects the enrollment pressure created by Hampstead's rapid growth. The new K-8 school opening in Fall 2027 will relieve some elementary and middle pressure but does not directly address high school capacity. Popular college destinations include NC State, UNC Wilmington, UNC Chapel Hill, Appalachian State, East Carolina, and Cape Fear Community College.