This Quaint Town in North Carolina Is a Great Place to Live and Visit-With a Low Cost of Living, Beach Access, and a Laid-back Atmosphere

""Newport, though large on the map of eastern North Carolina, is a quaint small town. Children still ride their bikes down the sidewalk to get ice cream and play basketball at the park. People aren't afraid to talk to one another and help their neighbors," says Amanda Shepherd, co-owner of Stable Grounds Coffee. "Our community continues to grow with the addition of new neighborhoods, but the charm that makes Newport is very much alive and well.""

""Newport isn't a place you rush through. It's a place you settle into," says Tara Powell, broker-in-charge at Re/Max NC Coastal Team, who shares that Newport is "more about living than visiting." "You won't find rows of souvenir shops or crowded boardwalks here. What you will find are back roads that lead to water, local spots where people remember your name, and easy access to everything that makes the Crystal Coast special without being in the middle of the crowds," she says."

Newport, population 4,501, sits on the southeastern side of North Carolina and serves as the gateway to the Crystal Coast from Cape Lookout to the mouth of the New River. The town offers a slow-paced, small-town atmosphere where children ride bikes for ice cream, neighbors know one another, and community support is common. The community is growing with new neighborhoods while retaining its charm. Newport emphasizes living over visiting, with back roads to water, local gathering spots, and easy access to coastal attractions without crowds. Affordability and overall livability make Newport attractive for people seeking to settle down.

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