Burgaw

Burgaw owes its existence to the railroad. In 1838, the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad laid tracks through a small crossroads trading post on Burgaw Creek, and a depot and post office followed. When Pender County split off from New Hanover County in 1875, the railroad donated surrounding land on the condition that the depot become the new county seat — and the town of Burgaw was formally incorporated in 1879. The town takes its name from the creek itself, not a person.

That railroad-town layout is still intact in Historic Downtown Burgaw, a 57-acre district added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, anchored by the 1935 Pender County Courthouse and its oak-canopied grounds. Each June, downtown Burgaw hosts the North Carolina Blueberry Festival, celebrating the region's role as one of the state's top blueberry-producing areas with live music, a 5K, a bike ride, and more than 175 vendors. As the seat of Pender County, Burgaw is small — around 3,100 residents — but functions as the county's civic and institutional hub.

Burgaw's housing character is shaped by its identity as a small, historic county seat rather than a beach or resort town.

The historic district itself holds Burgaw's oldest and most architecturally distinct homes — Queen Anne and Gothic Revival styles dating from the mid-19th to mid-20th century, within walking distance of the courthouse square and downtown's shops and restaurants. Surrounding neighborhoods offer more conventional single-family homes at a meaningfully lower price point than Wilmington or the coastal towns, reflecting Burgaw's inland, small-town character rather than beach-driven demand. Given the town's compact footprint — under 5 square miles — most of Burgaw is walkable from downtown, and new construction here tends to be modest infill rather than large subdivisions.

Commute: Burgaw sits just off I-40, about 25 miles — roughly 30–35 minutes — north of downtown Wilmington, and about 40 minutes from Wilmington International Airport (ILM).

Medical care: Novant Health Pender Medical Center, a 24/7 critical access hospital, is located directly in Burgaw; Wilmington's larger hospitals are also within a comfortable drive.

Schools: Burgaw is served by Pender County Schools, with several schools located directly in town, including a Cape Fear Community College satellite campus for continuing education.

Property taxes: Burgaw residents pay a municipal rate on top of the Pender County rate. The Pender County Tax Administration is the most reliable source for a current estimate.

Getting settled: For town services, permits, and utilities, the Town of Burgaw's official site is the best starting point. For concerts, movies in the park, and seasonal festivals beyond the Blueberry Festival, see the Town's Parks, Recreation and Tourism department page.

Burgaw offers the most affordable, small-town alternative in the Cape Fear region — a genuine county-seat market with meaningfully lower price points than Wilmington or the coastal towns, drawing buyers who prioritize a walkable historic downtown and value over beach proximity.

For current listing data and pricing, use the search above — figures shown reflect live MLS data.

Burgaw draws buyers looking for small-town, historic character and affordability within commuting distance of Wilmington — its walkable downtown, active community calendar anchored by the Blueberry Festival, and lower cost of living set it apart from the coastal towns that dominate the rest of the Cape Fear region.

Reporting by Dana Blanks, Founder & Principal Broker of Dana Blanks Real Estate™, licensed in NC, SC, and GA.

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