Where is Rocky Point, and what should you know about Rocky Point NC homes? Rocky Point is an unincorporated community in southern Pender County, just north of Castle Hayne, along US 117, NC 210 and NC 133, with its own exit (Exit 408) on I-40. It’s a rural area with county services instead of town services, public boat ramps on the Northeast Cape Fear River, and a ZIP-level median sale price of about $444K (Redfin, 3 months ending September 2026).
I’m Tabi, a REALTOR® in Wilmington, and I get a lot of questions about Rocky Point from buyers who want more room and a straight shot down I-40. This guide covers what I’d want to know before buying here: where it is, what the homes are like, how Pender County taxes actually work right now, water and flood checks, and the public outdoor spots nearby.
Where Rocky Point is and what’s nearby
Rocky Point is a census-designated place in Pender County, not an incorporated town. That means there’s no town government or town tax. You deal with Pender County for taxes, zoning, water and permits. It sits in southern Pender County, north of Castle Hayne and the New Hanover County line, and it’s part of the Wilmington metro area.
The main roads are US 117 (Castle Hayne Road as it heads south), NC 210 (east toward Hampstead and Topsail Island), NC 133, and I-40 at Exit 408. The ZIP code is 28457, and it covers far more ground than the Rocky Point census area itself. Some 28457 addresses sit out along NC 210 toward the Hampstead side, so “Rocky Point” on a listing can mean a lot of different settings.
Everyday shopping is a short drive: there’s some commercial activity near the I-40 interchange, with bigger stores in Wilmington and Hampstead. The closest hospital is Novant Health Pender Medical Center in Burgaw. Novant Health’s main Wilmington hospital is farther south. For libraries, the Pender County Public Library’s main branch is in Burgaw and there’s a branch in Hampstead. The library doesn’t list a Rocky Point location.
Moving to Wilmington?
Tell me a little about what you’re looking for, and I’ll send over the Rocky Point and Pender County homes that fit, plus my honest take on each one.
Rocky Point NC homes
Rocky Point has a mix of housing. There are older single-family homes and manufactured homes on rural lots along the state roads, homes on larger parcels and acreage, and newer subdivisions with builder floor plans. Lot size varies a lot from road to road, so check the recorded plat and the Pender County GIS record for any property you’re serious about.
New construction is part of the picture. One example is Brick Chimney Landing, a BCL Homes community in Rocky Point. The builder describes one- and two-story single-family homes of about 1,700–2,979 square feet, “starting in the mid-$300s,” with a clubhouse, pool, walking trails and a kayak/paddleboard launch (builder website, September 2026). Builder pricing and incentives change often, so ask for the current price sheet. My new construction guide covers what to ask a builder before you sign.
Market snapshot
According to Redfin, the median sale price in ZIP 28457 was about $444K for the three months ending September 2026, up 12.7% from the same period a year earlier. Median days on market was 58, compared with 32 a year earlier, and 29 homes sold in September 2026. That’s ZIP-level data. Redfin’s figures for the smaller Rocky Point census area rest on only a handful of sales, so I don’t use them to describe the market. A few sales can move those numbers a lot, so ask me for current comps on the exact street.
What my MLS shows
Here’s what my MLS showed for Rocky Point on October 17, 2026. These are houses sold from January through September 2026.
- Typical sale price: $433,454. Half sold for more, half for less.
- Price per square foot: $206.
- Homes sold: 90.
- Time to sell: about 51 days.
Ninety sales in nine months is a small market, so a few new-construction closings can move these numbers around. The one to remember is $206 per square foot. Wilmington as a whole ran $278 over the same months. If you want land and don’t mind a 30-to-40-minute drive to the beach or downtown, that gap is why Rocky Point is worth a look.
Taxes, utilities and flood risk
Property taxes: the rate is higher, but that’s not the whole story
You’ll sometimes hear that Pender County has “lower taxes.” On the rate alone, it doesn’t. For fiscal year 2026–27, a home in the Rocky Point Fire Tax District pays:
- Pender County: 73.75¢ per $100 of assessed value
- Countywide EMS district: 9.25¢
- Rocky Point Fire Tax District: 10.0¢
- Total: 93.0¢ per $100 (about $2,790 a year on a $300,000 assessed value)
New Hanover County’s 2026–27 county rate is 30.6¢. But comparing rates across counties is misleading because the counties are at different points in their revaluation cycles. New Hanover revalued in 2025. Pender last revalued in 2019. Its 2026 revaluation raised values by about 110% on average countywide, but a new state law (Senate Bill 889) put those values on hold for one year. So Pender adopted its 2026–27 budget on the older schedule of values, and the county says the 2026 values are expected to take effect in the 2027–28 tax year. In practice, assessed values in Rocky Point may be well below what homes sell for today, and the rate could change once the new values apply. Compare the actual tax bill on the home you’re considering, not the rate. Some 28457 addresses fall in other fire districts (for example, Long Creek Grady at 11.0¢ or Hampstead at 9.5¢), so confirm the district on the county tax record. My county taxes guide walks through the math.
Water and sewer
Public water in this area comes from Pender County’s utility, now branded Pender Water & Sewer (some county pages still say Pender County Utilities). It runs six water and sewer districts, and one of them is the Rocky Point/Topsail district. The county’s main water source is its surface water treatment plant, opened in 2012, which uses granular activated carbon filters that the county says help with PFAS and GenX. The 2026–27 budget includes a 13.2% increase to the base water rate to fund planned capital projects. Not every road has a county water line, and many rural properties use private wells. County sewer is limited, so many homes here use septic systems. For any address, confirm the water source and ask for the septic permit and inspection history. The Pender County water quality guide goes into testing, PFAS and wells.
Flood risk
Rocky Point is river country, and flood risk is a real factor. During Hurricane Florence in 2018, the National Weather Service reported that the Northeast Cape Fear River gauge at Burgaw crested at 25.58 feet on September 19, more than three feet above the Hurricane Floyd crest. The NWS also documented flooding along Castle Hayne Road just north of the Pender/New Hanover line, and I-40 was closed for several days. Many parcels here sit well above the floodplain and some don’t. Check every address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center and NC FRIS, ask the seller about past water and flood claims, and get a flood insurance quote early. The flood zones guide and homeowners insurance guide explain what to look for.
Parks and outdoor life
- Millers Pond Park (12762 US Hwy 117, Rocky Point): a 31-acre Pender County park with a seven-acre pond, a half-mile walking trail, a canoe/kayak launch, a fishing deck, a playground and a reservable picnic shelter.
- NC Wildlife boating access areas on the Northeast Cape Fear River: Holly Shelter and Sawpit Landing are both on the river north of Rocky Point, and Shelter Creek is on Holly Shelter Creek. The Castle Hayne access area, on the same river, is just south in New Hanover County. Check NC Wildlife’s rules for each ramp before you launch.
- Holly Shelter Game Land: an NC Wildlife game land of about 65,000 acres in Pender County, off Shaw Highway, used for hunting, fishing and designated camping. Check season dates and gate schedules first.
- Beaches: Topsail Island is east via NC 210, and Wrightsville Beach is south through Wilmington.
Getting around
I-40 Exit 408 is the key feature here. Typical drive times:
- Downtown Wilmington: roughly 25–35 minutes, depending on traffic
- Castle Hayne: roughly 10–15 minutes
- Burgaw: roughly 15–20 minutes
- Hampstead (via NC 210): roughly 20–30 minutes
- Surf City / Topsail Island (via NC 210): roughly 35–45 minutes
- Wilmington International Airport: roughly 20–30 minutes
On the Topsail side, NCDOT held a public meeting in March 2026 on project R-5900 at the NC 210 / NC 50 / Belt Road intersection near Surf City. The project would add turn lanes, a median and a traffic signal. NCDOT hasn’t published a construction schedule. See the 2026 road projects roundup for more.
Schools
Rocky Point addresses are served by Pender County Schools. School assignments are set by address and can change, and Pender County Schools has a redistricting page. Confirm the current assignment for any specific address with the district before you buy. Don’t rely on a listing or a builder flyer for this.
Is Rocky Point a good match for what you want?
Rocky Point may fit if you want a rural or semi-rural setting in unincorporated Pender County, a wide range of lot sizes including acreage, direct I-40 access toward Wilmington, and public boat ramps and game land nearby.
It may be less of a fit if you need city water and sewer at every address, walkable shops, a short drive to the beach, or a property well clear of any river floodplain without doing your own checks. Pender’s pending revaluation also makes the future tax bill harder to predict.
Keep researching: Moving to Pender County · Is Hampstead a good place to live? · Places to live near Wilmington · How to research a neighborhood · Cost of living in Wilmington · Buying a home in Wilmington
Frequently asked questions
Is Rocky Point, NC, its own town?
No. Rocky Point is an unincorporated community (a census-designated place) in Pender County. There’s no town government or town tax. Pender County provides services and sets zoning.
What is the property tax rate in Rocky Point?
For fiscal year 2026–27, the Rocky Point Fire Tax District total is 93.0¢ per $100 of assessed value: 73.75¢ county, 9.25¢ EMS and 10.0¢ fire. Pender is still billing on its older values because Senate Bill 889 delayed the 2026 revaluation for one year, so compare actual tax bills rather than rates.
What is the median home price in Rocky Point?
Redfin reports a median sale price of about $444K for ZIP 28457 over the three months ending September 2026, up 12.7% year over year, with a median of 58 days on market.
Do homes in Rocky Point have public water and sewer?
Some do. Pender Water & Sewer runs a Rocky Point/Topsail water and sewer district, but many rural properties use private wells, and public sewer is limited, so many homes use septic. Confirm utilities for each address.
Is there public boat access near Rocky Point?
Yes. NC Wildlife operates the Holly Shelter and Sawpit Landing boating access areas on the Northeast Cape Fear River north of Rocky Point, plus the Castle Hayne access area just south in New Hanover County. Millers Pond Park on US 117 has a canoe/kayak launch.
Hey, I’m Tabi! I help people buy and sell homes all over the Cape Fear coast, from New Hanover to Brunswick and Pender. If Rocky Point is on your list, I’d love to pull current comps, check the water and flood details on any address, and ride out there with you. No pressure, just honest answers. Call or text me at (910) 983-8963 or reach out through my contact page.
Talk soon,
Tabi
Tabetha Klein, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage
Nearby Neighborhoods
Comparing Rocky Point to nearby areas? Take a look at Castle Hayne, Hampstead and Northchase.
Tabetha Klein, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · 910-983-8963 · www.makingilmhome.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Figures reflect sources available as of October 2026 (Pender County FY2026–27 budget ordinance, Port City Daily, WHQR, Redfin, three months ending September 2026; Pender County Utilities, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, National Weather Service, NCDOT, BCL Homes) and change often. Verify taxes, utilities, flood zone and school assignment for any specific property. This page describes places and public amenities only.
Sources: Pender County FY2026–27 budget & ordinance · Port City Daily, June 19, 2026 · Port City Daily, May 1, 2026 · WHQR, May 19, 2026 · New Hanover County revaluation · Redfin 28457 housing market · Pender County Utilities · Millers Pond Park · NCWRC boating access areas · NCWRC Holly Shelter Game Land map · NWS Wilmington: Hurricane Florence · NCDOT R-5900 · BCL Homes: Brick Chimney Landing · Pender County Public Library · Novant Health Pender Medical Center · Rocky Point (Wikipedia)