The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 28420 sells for about $267,582, or $156 per square foot.
Prices are up +4.2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 68 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,250 a month.
ZIP 28420 — Ash
The 28420 housing market remains stable, characterized by steady demand for affordable rural housing as buyers look outside the expensive Wilmington core. While inventory is limited, the market is balanced by moderate price growth and consistent interest from families and retirees. Note that specific metrics like months of supply and sale-to-list ratios are based on local market trends as ZIP-level data is not formally published by the state.
This ZIP is best suited for buyers seeking rural affordability, space, and a quieter lifestyle, particularly those willing to commute to larger employment centers in the Wilmington or Myrtle Beach regions.
Median prices moved up 4.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 68 days on market with 5.4 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
13% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.2% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.8% · poverty 13.5% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.6%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 28420, Brunswick County NC
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Crime data for the rural Ash area is not specifically tracked in regional urban indices, but generally reflects low-density rural patterns with property-related incidents being the primary concern.
Schools serving the area are part of the Brunswick County School District, which generally maintains average performance ratings compared to the state.
The area is subject to hurricane and tropical storm wind risks due to its proximity to the North Carolina coast, with flood zones designated in low-lying areas near wetlands.
Economic momentum is driven by the expansion of the Wilmington metro area and tourism-related development in nearby coastal Brunswick County communities.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (North Carolina) — Tax Lien Attachment: A tax lien attaches to all real property, taking priority over all other liens and encumbrances regardless of when they were created. State (North Carolina) — Ad Valorem Property Tax: Tax is calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property by the combined state and local tax rate. The formula is: Tax = (Assessed Value / 100) * Tax Rate.
Commutes are primarily car-dependent, with residents typically driving 30-45 minutes to reach employment hubs in Wilmington or North Myrtle Beach.
The area offers rural outdoor recreation including access to local woodlands and proximity to the coastal amenities and beaches of Brunswick County.
The rental market is limited in depth, consisting mostly of single-family homes with low vacancy pressure and minimal short-term rental saturation compared to coastal zones.
The local economy is anchored by agriculture, forestry, and service-sector jobs, with many residents commuting to the Wilmington metro area for professional employment.
Public transit is non-existent in this rural ZIP; residents rely entirely on personal vehicles for transportation.
Development is largely focused on low-density residential subdivisions and rural land preservation.
Brunswick County Tax Office performs periodic revaluations to ensure assessments align with market value.
Parcels are served by Brunswick County Schools and local fire/emergency service districts.
Property insurance premiums are elevated due to coastal wind and flood risk exposure.
North Carolina continues to see positive net domestic migration, particularly from the Northeast and Midwest.
North Carolina is a judicial foreclosure state, requiring court action to complete the process.
Sellers are required to provide a Residential Property and Owners' Association Disclosure Statement.
Data retrieved from Census Reporter and Data Commons ZCTA profiles.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Boondocks Adventure Farm4.713.3 mi
- Tropical Adventure Mini Golf4.714.4 mi
- Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center4.112.4 mi
- River Hills Golf & Country Club4.417.1 mi
- The Pearl Golf Links4.213.3 mi
- Le Volte Oceanfront Dining & Venue4.813.4 mi
- Panic Attack Haunted Attraction4.713.3 mi
- Ingram Planetarium4.412.5 mi
- Museum of Coastal Carolina4.612.8 mi
- Mary's Gone Wild4.313.2 mi
- Sunset River Gallery4.814.8 mi
- The Swamp Park- Zip Line and ATV Center4.99 mi
- Ocean Isle Beach Park4.710.3 mi
- Green Swamp Preserve4.78.9 mi
- Shallotte Riverwalk4.78.1 mi
- Town Center Park4.812.8 mi
- North Myrtle Beach RV Resort and Dry Dock Marina4.319.9 mi
- Harbourgate Marina Club in North Myrtle Beach4.519.3 mi
- Myrtle Beach Yacht Club4.617.9 mi
- Holden Beach Marina4.815.1 mi
- Freedom Boat Club - North Myrtle Beach, SC4.819.3 mi
- Rivers Edge Golf Club4.59 mi
- Brunswick Plantation & Golf Resort4.411.2 mi
- Sea Trail Golf Resort & Convention Center4.112.4 mi
- Thistle Golf Club4.612.6 mi
- Crow Creek Golf Club412 mi
- Publix Super Market at Ocean Isle Beach Market Place4.611.7 mi
- Belk4.28 mi
- Heritage Fresh Market4.79.8 mi
- Holden Beach Seafood4.612.8 mi
- Dollar General4.111.2 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Provides hiking, biking, and kayaking access in the broader region.
A large protected area known for its unique biodiversity and carnivorous plants.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.