Winter Park is one of Wilmington’s most useful midtown reference points when buyers compare “close to UNCW and College Road” against beach living or farther suburbs. Drawing on Wilmington Daily’s Winter Park neighborhood page (updated Oct. 11, 2026), here is a warm, practical guide for shoppers who want facts—housing mix, schools, values, and getting around—without hype.
Where Winter Park Sits
On the city’s planning map, Winter Park is about 535 acres built around MacMillan Avenue in ZIP code 28403, just south of the UNCW campus and east of College Road. Wrightsville Avenue and Oleander Drive cross the area west to east. Neighborhood names that fall inside or beside the planning area include Avondale, Homeland Heights, Oak Crest, Pine Hills, Piney Acres, Piney Woods, Stonesthrow, Woodale, and Woodland Park.
New Hanover County address points count about 1,729 residential addresses in the planning area: roughly 803 single-family homes, 889 apartment/condo units, 20 in mobile-home parks, and 17 vacant lots. That mix is the lifestyle: quieter single-family streets next to a substantial rental and condo inventory—handy for buyers who want options at different price points and for investors comparing asset types.
Schools: One High School, Split Elementary/Middle
Every residential address in the planning area is zoned for John T. Hoggard High. Elementary and middle assignments split. Wilmington Daily’s Oct. 11 check against the district School Locator (citing N.C. DPI 2025–26 grade-level shares) reported:
- College Park Elementary — about 1,290 of 1,729 addresses; 34.2% of tests at grade level
- Winter Park Model Elementary — about 439 addresses; 65.4% at grade level
- Williston Middle — about 1,294 addresses; 33.1% at grade level
- Roland-Grise Middle — about 435 addresses; 67.9% at grade level
- Hoggard High — all 1,729 addresses; 69.8% at grade level
Statewide, DPI figures cited on that page put end-of-grade tests at 59.1% at grade level and end-of-course tests at 59.6%. College Park Elementary and Williston Middle appear on the state’s 2025–26 low-performing list with D grades, per the same source. Always verify an exact address with New Hanover County Schools’ School Locator before you buy—zone lines are not something to assume from a nearby listing. Isaac Bear Early College High (application-based) sits on MacMillan Avenue just outside the planning area for families exploring that path.
Home Values in ZIP 28403
Zillow’s Home Value Index for ZIP 28403 was $397,870 in August 2026, up about 1.1% from $393,707 a year earlier, according to Wilmington Daily’s citation of Zillow Research. ZHVI is a modeled typical value for the middle of the market (houses and condos together), not a sale price for a specific street. The same ZIP also covers Forest Hills, so treat 28403 as a useful midtown band rather than a Winter Park-only appraisal. Wilmington’s citywide ZHVI figure cited alongside it was $419,038.
Getting Around and Daily Errands
College Road (U.S. 117 / N.C. 132) forms the western edge; Oleander (U.S. 76) and Wrightsville Avenue are the cross-town spines. Wilmington Daily’s routing estimates put I-40 exit 420 about 4.9 miles by road, downtown/City Hall about 5.3 miles, and Wilmington International Airport about 9.9 miles—distances, not promised drive times. Wave Transit routes 107 (College Road), 109 (Kerr Avenue), and 206 (Oleander Drive) serve the area on the county’s 2025 transit map.
Everyday retail is close: Trader Joe’s on South College Road and Winterpark Discount Drug on Wrightsville Avenue sit inside the area; CVS, Walgreens, Harris Teeter, and Tidal Creek Co-op are nearby on Oleander or College Road corridors. That “errands without a beach-bridge wait” convenience is a big reason buyers shortlist midtown.
Parks and Outdoor Access—Fairly Framed
The city’s parks layer shows no city park drawn inside the Winter Park planning polygon itself, per Wilmington Daily. That is a mapping fact, not a verdict that midtown living lacks green space. Residents still reach nearby city and county parks, UNCW paths, and the broader Oleander/Wrightsville corridor for walks and recreation. When we tour with buyers, we map the closest playgrounds and trails from the specific house—not from the planning-area label alone.
Midtown vs. Beach vs. Suburb: How Buyers Usually Compare
- Winter Park / midtown: Closer to UNCW, College Road jobs and shopping, mixed housing stock, Hoggard High zoning for every address in the planning area.
- Beach towns (Wrightsville, Carolina Beach, etc.): Lifestyle and second-home energy, bridge and parking trade-offs, different insurance conversations.
- Farther suburbs (Porters Neck, Leland, Hampstead corridors): Often newer subdivisions and different commute math into downtown or the beaches.
None of those is universally “better.” Winter Park shines when you want midtown access and a realistic shot at single-family streets or condo living without committing to island logistics.
FAQ
What ZIP code is Winter Park?
28403, for every residential address in the city’s Winter Park planning area, per New Hanover County address records cited by Wilmington Daily.
Are all Winter Park homes zoned for the same schools?
Same high school (Hoggard). Elementary and middle schools split—roughly three in four addresses toward College Park / Williston and about one in four toward Winter Park Model / Roland-Grise in the Oct. 11 address check.
Is Winter Park only single-family homes?
No. Address points show a large apartment/condo share alongside single-family streets.
How current are the value figures?
The ZHVI figure cited here is August 2026. Markets move; use it as context and rely on fresh comps for offers.
Talk With a Local Team
Comparing Winter Park with beach towns or Brunswick/Pender suburbs and want tours that match your commute and school priorities? Reach out to Aspyre Collective—we’ll help you read midtown Wilmington with local eyes and a clear plan.
