Town · North Carolina
Oak Island, North Carolina
Oak Island, town, in Brunswick County, North Carolina. Oak Island had 9,337 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 11.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 8,396 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 9,030 (±24). GEOID 3748345.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,337
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,396 · ACS 2020-2024: 9,030 ±24
Median household income
$85,872
±$7,281 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$456,500
±$23,101 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,339
±$148 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Oak Island and what county is it in?
Oak Island is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It covers 19.3 square miles of land, 436 residents per square mile in 2020.
Oak Island is in the Wilmington, NC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Oak Island, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 9,337 people lived in Oak Island on July 1, 2025, up 11.2% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 8,396 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 9,030 (±24).
| Measure | Oak Island | Brunswick County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 9,030 ±24 | 152,568 | +1,179 |
| Households | 4,602 ±258 | 69,124 | +940 |
| Average household size | 1.96 ±0.11 | 2.19 | −0.18 |
| Housing units | 10,805 ±371 | 99,077 | +1,384 |
Oak Island's population since 2000
From 6,571 in 2000 to 9,337 in 2025: up 42.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Oak Island as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Oak Island?
The median resident of Oak Island is 62.3 years old; 7.1% are under 18 and 42.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.6%. 1.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Oak Island | Brunswick County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.3 ±1.3 | 56.4 | +2.5 |
| Under 18 years | 7.1% ±2.3 pts | 14.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 42.0% ±3.8 pts | 33.8% | – |
| Male | 47.5% ±2.3 pts | 48.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.1% ±0.8 pts | 5.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.1% ±1.8 pts | 80.8% | −4.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±1.6 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.8% ±0.8 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.8% ±0.8 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 12.6% ±2.3 pts | 10.8% | – |
| With a disability | 14.8% ±3.1 pts | 15.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.0% ±1.8 pts | 7.5% | −5.5 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.8% ±2.2 pts | 93.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 43.6% ±3.8 pts | 34.7% | +5.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.2% ±3.4 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.6% ±3.3 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.3% ±2.0 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Oak Island earn?
Half of Oak Island's 4,602 households earn less than $85,872 a year (±$7,281), against $77,024 in Brunswick County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $89,620 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Oak Island | Brunswick County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,872 ±$7,281 | $77,024 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $123,118 ±$12,566 | $100,289 | – |
| Per capita income | $64,025 ±$7,545 | $45,985 | +$9,839 |
| People below the poverty line | 8.7% ±3.1 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.4% ±11.2 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.1% ±2.3 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.6% ±1.4 pts | 96.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.7% ±2.3 pts | 93.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Oak Island?
Owners occupy 89.7% of Oak Island's occupied homes and renters 10.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $456,500 by its owner (±$23,101). The median renter pays $1,339 a month including utilities, and 60.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Oak Island | Brunswick County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $456,500 ±$23,101 | $349,800 | +$141,565 |
| Median gross rent | $1,339 ±$148 | $1,351 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 60.0% ±19.8 pts | 46.3% | +33.3 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,968 ±$154 | $1,673 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 89.7% ±3.3 pts | 84.6% | +7.3 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 10.3% ±3.3 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Housing units | 10,805 ±371 | 99,077 | +1,384 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.4% ±2.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 70.0% ±8.5 pts | 27.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 86.7% ±2.3 pts | 69.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.5% ±2.2 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.9% ±1.3 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 22.8% ±3.6 pts | 22.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.5% ±2.4 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Oak Island building?
Builders took permits for 139 new housing units in Oak Island in 2025 (139 in single-family houses), 14.9 per 1,000 residents against 7.7 across North Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Oak Island work and get to work?
66.9% of Oak Island's workers drive alone and 24.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.4 minutes.
| Measure | Oak Island | Brunswick County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 44.1% ±3.9 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.0% ±2.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 66.9% ±7.3 pts | 74.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.4% ±3.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3% ±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±1.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 24.9% ±6.2 pts | 14.7% | +15.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.4 min ±3.2 | 25.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Oak Island?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Oak Island, and 7 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $73,900 (Tract 203.15) to $92,266 (Tract 203.13).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 203.13Brunswick County | 2,644 | $92,266 |
| Tract 203.08Brunswick County | 2,619 | $89,271 |
| Tract 203.15Brunswick County | 2,144 | $73,900 |
| Tract 203.04Brunswick County | 10,293 | $99,871 |
| Tract 203.14Brunswick County | 545 | $89,125 |
| Tract 203.05Brunswick County | 3,402 | $79,193 |
| Tract 203.12Brunswick County | 1,496 | $76,360 |
| Tract 203.16Brunswick County | 804 | $118,750 |
| Tract 206.03Brunswick County | 4,403 | $70,427 |
| Tract 202.04Brunswick County | 6,751 | $61,643 |
| Tract 204.05Brunswick County | 3,545 | $64,900 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Oak Island) · Census block assignment files
How does Oak Island compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Oak Island is the 3,366th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 99th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Oak Island ranks 108th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 99th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 60th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 379th | 443 |
| Median household income | 108th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 30th | 443 |
| Median home value | 52nd | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 95th | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 260th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 100th | 421 |
| Median age | 12th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 39th | 443 |
| Work from home | 48th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 250th | 439 |
Oak Island's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Oak Island with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Oak Island?
13 of the 57 figures for Oak Island on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Oak Island are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Oak Island.