The Town FilesOak Island, North Carolina
Town in Brunswick County · population 8,396 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $456,500
- Household income
- $85,872
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 62.3
Oak Island is a town of 8,396 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $456,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 93% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 92% of North Carolina towns.
How Oak Island ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Oak Island is worth $456,500, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $85,872, which is more affordable than 13% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,339 a month. 89.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oak Island | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $456,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,339 | $969 |
| Median household income | $85,872 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 89.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 44.8% | — |
Who lives in Oak Island
| People | Oak Island | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 7.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 24.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Oak Island
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 35.5°F. About 54.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oak Island since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 3, 2020 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 5, 2017.
Severe weather in Brunswick County since 1996
Brunswick County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 3, 2025 | Fire | FM-5582: Sunset Drive Fire |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
Jobs and pay in Brunswick County
Brunswick County had 41,268 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,701 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Oak Island itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Towns near Oak Island
- St. James, NC2.3 mi · 6,529 people · home $636,800
- Southport, NC6.5 mi · 3,971 people · home $437,700
- Varnamtown, NC6.9 mi · 525 people · home $293,800
- Boiling Spring Lakes, NC8.7 mi · 5,943 people · home $292,300
- Holden Beach, NC11.6 mi · 921 people · home $658,900
- Kure Beach, NC13.4 mi · 2,191 people · home $735,100
- Carolina Beach, NC15.3 mi · 6,564 people · home $566,200
- Shallotte, NC15.6 mi · 4,185 people · home $349,500
Oak Island questions
Is Oak Island, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oak Island scores better for retirees than 89% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 93%. 42.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.3).
How much does a house cost in Oak Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Oak Island is valued at $456,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,872, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $1,339 a month.
What is the weather like in Oak Island?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 35.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Oak Island get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oak Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 3, 2020. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)