Living in Leland
Leland is Brunswick County's growth story, a town that went from roughly 2,000 residents in 2000 to more than 27,000 today, making it one of the fastest-growing municipalities in North Carolina for over two decades running. The reason isn't complicated: Wilmington's hospitals, universities, and employment base are minutes away across the Cape Fear River, but housing in Leland is consistently more affordable. Brunswick County property taxes run lower than New Hanover County, creating a dual advantage that families and retirees have been acting on in large numbers. The Magnolia Greens and Waterford neighborhoods anchored Leland's reputation as a master-planned bedroom community, and dozens of additional neighborhoods have followed. The town's retail corridor along US-17 has filled in rapidly, reducing the need to cross the bridge for everyday needs. Brunswick County schools, some of the region's better-performing campuses, serve Leland's families. For buyers comparing Wilmington and Brunswick County, Leland is often where the comparison ends.
About the Area
Market Data
Average Days on Market
Active
70
Average List Price
Active
$482,540
Active Listings
Active
442
Fun Facts
Leland
Leland is growing so fast that its Wikipedia population figure is almost certainly out of date by the time you read this. The town added more than 4,000 new residents between 2020 and 2023 alone, which means somewhere between you starting and finishing this paragraph, someone probably signed a purchase agreement on a Leland subdivision. It incorporated as a town in 1989 with fewer than 2,000 people. Today it has more than 27,000 and great shopping and eateries. Before any of this, the land was part of a series of large farming tracts and timber holdings that fed Brunswick County's agricultural economy through the early 20th century. The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge changed everything, once Wilmington was a five-minute drive instead of a ferry crossing, the west bank of the Cape Fear River became real estate prime for suburbanization. Today Leland is what happens when good bones (proximity to a real city, lower taxes, buildable land) meet sustained demand. New construction here runs from the mid-$300s in active adult communities to the $600s-plus in waterfront neighborhoods along the Cape Fear and Town Creek. The commute to downtown Wilmington in off-peak hours is genuinely 10 minutes. Yes, really.
Find Your Home In Leland
Leland gives Brunswick County buyers something the beach towns can't: Wilmington access at Brunswick prices, with new construction options, strong schools, and a master-planned community feel that families have been choosing for twenty years straight. Whether you're relocating for work, retiring near family, or simply getting more home for your money, Leland delivers. Search current listings below and let's find the right neighborhood for you.
