Living in Scotts Hill NC: Two Counties, One ZIP Code

By Buddy Blake · Updated October 19, 2026

The short answer: Scotts Hill is the area along US-17 where New Hanover County ends and Pender County begins, just north of Porters Neck. Most addresses say "Wilmington, NC 28411," but some are in New Hanover County and some are in Pender County, and that one line changes your property taxes, your school district and who you call for county services. The area is known for wooded lots, tidal creeks like Futch Creek that run out to Topsail Sound, and a lot of new building.

Where Scotts Hill is

Scotts Hill sits on US-17 north of Porters Neck and south of Hampstead. Scotts Hill Loop Road curves east off the highway toward the water and comes back out again. East of US-17, the land drops toward the Intracoastal Waterway and Topsail Sound. West of the highway, it's pine woods and newer subdivisions.

The New Hanover–Pender county line runs right through the area. It isn't marked by a river or a big road you'd notice, so it's easy to look at two homes on the same drive and not realize they're in different counties. The mailing address won't tell you. A Wilmington, NC 28411 address can be in Pender County. Always check the county on the tax record for the exact parcel.

Futch Creek and the water

Futch Creek starts in northeast New Hanover County and flows southeast into Topsail Sound. It's one of the reasons people look here: tidal creeks, marsh views and sound access without being on a beach island. Waterfront and water-view lots along the creek and the sound are the most sought-after properties in Scotts Hill, and the ones where you need to do the most homework on flood risk, dock permits and water depth.

Buddy's take

People hear "Scotts Hill" and think it's one place. It's really two counties sharing a name and a ZIP code. I always tell buyers: before you compare two houses here, find out which county each one is in. It changes the tax bill, the schools and the rules. We'd rather tell you that up front than have you find out at closing.

Poplar Grove: the landmark that greets you

As you come into Scotts Hill on US-17, the big house at Poplar Grove is the first thing you notice. It's on the Pender County side, at 10200 US-17, and it's the area's best-known landmark.

The history

The Foy family, of French Huguenot descent, owned the land from 1795 until 1971. Before them, it belonged to the widow of Cornelius Harnett, and the holdings once included Figure Eight Island.
The original house burned. The 12-room Greek Revival house you see today was built in the early 1850s for Joseph Mumford Foy, by people he held in slavery.
Most plantations around here grew rice or other crops. Poplar Grove was a peanut plantation, which makes it unusual.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and opened as a museum in 1980. A nonprofit foundation runs it today.

What happens there now

Poplar Grove is still a gathering place. From about March through November it offers house tours and a weekly open-air market. It also hosts festivals like the Herb & Garden Fair and Bluegrass in the Grove, paranormal ghost tours around Halloween and Merry & Bright, a holiday light festival that opens the weekend after Thanksgiving. Hours and dates change by season, so check poplargrove.org before you go.

The Abbey Nature Preserve

Behind Poplar Grove is the Abbey Nature Preserve, about 67 acres of woods and wetland with a 2.4-mile trail. The trail passes a pond that was built to power a grain mill, now surrounded by cypress bottomland. It's a good spot for birdwatching and a quiet walk. Pender County Parks and Recreation has taken over management of 62 acres of the preserve, which is protected by a conservation easement with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust. The county has plans for a new trailhead off Scotts Hill Loop Road near Scotts Hill Baptist Church.

Buddy's take

Scotts Hill is one of those places where you can still find a big wooded lot, a creek out back and room to breathe, and you're 20 minutes or so from Wilmington. That's getting harder to find every year. If a larger lot is high on your list, look here. Just do your homework on the county line, the septic and the flood zone before you fall for the view.

New Hanover side vs. Pender side

	New Hanover County side	Pender County side
County tax rate (2026–27)	30.6 cents per $100, plus 7.25 cents fire services tax in unincorporated areas, plus a stormwater fee	73.75 cents per $100
School district	New Hanover County Schools	Pender County Schools
Planning and permits	New Hanover County	Pender County
Mailing address	Usually Wilmington, NC 28411	Often still Wilmington, NC 28411

A word of caution on those tax rates: don't just compare the two numbers. Each county assesses property on its own schedule, so the assessed value of similar homes can differ. The fair way to compare is to look up the actual most recent tax bill for each property you're considering. Our property tax guide explains how it works. For tax planning, talk with a tax professional.

Homes and neighborhoods

Waterfront and water-view homes along Futch Creek, Topsail Sound and the Intracoastal, many on larger, wooded lots, some with private docks.
Established neighborhoods off Scotts Hill Loop Road and the side roads, with custom homes from different decades and mature trees.
New construction. Scotts Hill has seen a wave of new subdivisions on both sides of the line. On the New Hanover side, Mungo Homes is building Scotts Hill Village, a single-family community with a pool and cabana, with homes from about 1,700 to more than 4,300 square feet. On the Pender side, neighborhoods like Blake Farm have been under development as well.
Land. Wooded property still comes up, especially on the Pender side. Ask about septic, wells, wetlands and road access before you buy.

HOA rules vary a lot here. Older waterfront streets may have no HOA or a light one. Newer subdivisions almost always do, with rules on fences, sheds, parking and rentals.

Growth, traffic and what's coming

Scotts Hill has been one of the busiest growth areas in the region, and not everyone is happy about it. Residents formed a group called Save Scotts Hill in response to development proposals. Here's what's changed or is changing:

A hospital next door. Novant Health's Scotts Hill Medical Center opened in June 2026. It's a 66-bed hospital with a surgical focus and heart and vascular care, and the property straddles the county line.
More shopping. Site plans have been filed with Pender County for a roughly 50,000-square-foot grocery store with shops and a restaurant at US-17 and Scotts Hill Loop Road. Pender County has also approved commercial land across the road. Until those open, the nearest big shopping is in Porters Neck and Ogden.
The Hampstead Bypass. The new US-17 freeway being built west of the current highway is targeted for completion in 2030. It passes under Sidbury Road without an interchange, with exits planned at NC 140, NC 210 and Hoover Road. Look at the route map to see how close it runs to any home you're considering.
Military Cutoff Road Extension. Open since 2023, it gives you a quicker path from US-17 near Ogden to NC 140 and I-40.

US-17 through Scotts Hill carries heavy traffic, and left turns across the highway can be slow at rush hour. Drive it at the times you'd actually use it.

Things to do nearby

On the water: Paddling, fishing and boating on Futch Creek, Topsail Sound and the Intracoastal.
Beaches: Wrightsville Beach to the south and Topsail Island to the north are both within reach.
Golf: Porters Neck Plantation's course is just south, with Hampstead's courses to the north.
Shopping and dining: Porters Neck, Ogden and Mayfaire to the south; Hampstead to the north.
History and nature: Poplar Grove and the Abbey Nature Preserve, right in Scotts Hill.
Parks: Ogden Park in New Hanover County and Hampstead Kiwanis Park in Pender County are the closest large parks.

Before the growth, Scotts Hill and Futch Creek felt like the country by the water.

Not that long ago, heading up Market Street past Porters Neck felt like leaving town. Scotts Hill was quiet two-lane roads, tall pines, old family land and folks who had been there for generations. Futch Creek was tidal marsh, oyster beds, small docks and people fishing off the bank. You knew your neighbors, and you waved at every truck that passed.

The area has grown a lot since then. There are new neighborhoods, more traffic on Market Street, and more shopping close by. Some of the old quiet is gone, and I won’t pretend otherwise.

What still makes it worth a look:

The water. Futch Creek, the marshes and the Intracoastal are still right there, with Figure Eight Island and the beaches just minutes away. The feel. Even with the growth, the area still has more trees, more space and a slower pace than much of Wilmington. The people. Many longtime families are still here, and newcomers who make the effort get welcomed in.

And for our family, Scotts Hill Baptist Church is a big part of why we love this area.

Erin and I care deeply about Scotts Hill Baptist. It has one of the most welcoming youth programs in the region. Kids and teens are known by name, loved well and given a real place to belong. If you’re moving here with children, I can’t think of a better place for them to land.

Just as important, Scotts Hill Baptist still preaches the Gospel. Not a watered-down version, not a self-help talk with a Bible verse on the end. The real, life-changing message of Jesus Christ, taught with love and without apology. In a world where that’s getting harder to find, it matters.

If you’re looking at homes in Scotts Hill or Futch Creek, come visit on a Sunday. You’ll get a feel for the community that you can’t get from a listing, and you’ll meet some of the finest people in this area.

Flood and insurance

Scotts Hill has high, wooded ground and low marsh in the same small area. That means flood risk can change from lot to lot.

Look up the exact parcel on the NC Flood Risk Information System or FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Get homeowners, wind and flood insurance quotes from a licensed agent before you make an offer.
On creek or sound lots, ask for any elevation certificate, and ask about storm history and erosion along the shoreline.

Before you decide

Confirm the county on the tax record for the exact parcel. Don't go by the mailing address.
Pull the actual tax bill and compare it with other homes you're considering.
Confirm school assignment with the right district for the exact address.
Check water and sewer: county water, a private well, or septic. Ask for a recent utility bill.
Look up the flood zone and get an insurance quote before you offer.
Read the HOA covenants, including rental, boat and fence rules.
See where the Hampstead Bypass and planned commercial projects sit relative to the property.
Drive US-17 at rush hour, including any left turns you'd need to make.

Keep looking

Questions people ask

Is Scotts Hill in New Hanover County or Pender County?

Both. The county line runs through the Scotts Hill area along US-17. Check the tax record for the exact parcel to know which county a property is in.

Why does my Pender County home have a Wilmington address?

Mailing addresses follow post office ZIP codes, not county lines. Many Pender County homes in Scotts Hill use a Wilmington, NC 28411 address.

Are property taxes lower in Pender County or New Hanover County?

The tax rates are different, but so are the ways each county assesses values. Compare the actual tax bills for the properties you're considering instead of the rates alone.

Which schools serve Scotts Hill?

It depends on the county. The New Hanover side is served by New Hanover County Schools and the Pender side by Pender County Schools. Confirm the assignment for the exact address with the district.

Is there a hospital near Scotts Hill?

Yes. Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Center opened in June 2026 right in the area.