Brunswick County’s two largest communities — 4,500-acre master plan vs 5,000-home golf plantation
| Factor | Brunswick Forest | St. James Plantation |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Leland — 15 min to Wilmington | Southport — 30 min to Wilmington |
| Scale | 4,500 acres master plan | 5,000 homes since 1991 |
| Price range | $300K–$700K | $300K–$900K |
| Golf | No on-site course; Cape Fear National membership available | 4 courses on-site (separate memberships) |
| HOA structure | $2,000–$8,000/yr depending on section | Varies by section plus optional golf + beach club |
| Beach access | ~25 min to Wrightsville | ~40 min to Oak Island (private beach club) |
| ICW / marina access | No | Yes — marina, Intracoastal access |
| Indoor pool | Yes | Limited |
| Town Center on-site | Yes — retail, dining, medical | No |
| Age restriction | Not fully age-restricted — active adult focus | Age-targeted (verify HOPA status) |
Brunswick Forest wins on location (closer to Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach), HOA transparency relative to what you get, indoor pool access, and the Town Center convenience of having retail and medical on-site. St. James wins decisively for golfers — four on-site courses with no equivalent anywhere else in the Brunswick County market. St. James also wins on Southport character and Intracoastal access. If you golf: St. James. If you do not golf and want the most complete master-plan community closest to Wilmington: Brunswick Forest.
Tell us your priorities — beach, taxes, healthcare, community scale — and we will give you a straight recommendation.
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