Population 8,693 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Oak Island
Household size in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.04 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.09 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.11 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.00 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Oak Island are small: just 2.00 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.04 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only four have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 58.4 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 61.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +11.1 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 61.6, Oak Island is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 50.5, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only four are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.0% of households in Oak Island, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.8 points, even as the national share fell. Oak Island has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of North Carolina cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Oak Island
Renters in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.8% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −15.7 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Oak Island is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 9.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 38.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 15.7 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 53.5% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 57.5% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 57.7% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 51.9% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 51.9% of the housing in Oak Island, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Oak Island has the highest vacancy rate of any North Carolina city with 5,000+ people.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1998 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +7 | +6 |
Oak Island has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1998, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1986 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Oak Island has newer homes than at least four in five North Carolina cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $969 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,008 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,065 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,535 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$566 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Oak Island costs $1,535 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in North Carolina overall ($1,317). Rent has climbed $566 a month since 2006–10, up 58%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 43.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Oak Island
Bachelor's degrees in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.2% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.4% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +19.5 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Oak Island than nationally: 43.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 19.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.3% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.8% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.3% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Oak Island: 96.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 6.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 15 have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Oak Island
| Period | Oak Island | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Oak Island has been low: just 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only ten of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.9 points, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Oak Island compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Island | 2.00 | 61.6 | 7.0% | 9.3% | 51.9% | 1998 | $1,535 | 43.2% | 96.9% | 1.8% |
| St. James | 2.00 | 67.7 | 2.0% | 4.6% | 15.9% | 2010 | $1,391 | 66.4% | 97.9% | 8.3% |
| Caswell Beach | 2.04 | 65.9 | 4.6% | 4.7% | 53.8% | 1995 | $1,283 | 65.1% | 98.1% | 1.8% |
| Varnum | 2.19 | 55.8 | 9.2% | 4.3% | 26.8% | 2000 | $1,637 | 31.2% | 87.1% | 3.1% |
| Southport | 2.14 | 63.5 | 7.8% | 14.8% | 20.5% | 1999 | $1,340 | 34.6% | 94.1% | 4.7% |
| Varnamtown | 2.29 | 60.5 | 4.6% | 4.8% | 21.6% | 1996 | $866 | 28.7% | 92.5% | 4.8% |
| Bolivia | 2.42 | 52.2 | 14.1% | 14.2% | 17.4% | 2003 | $1,634 | 26.6% | 91.1% | 6.6% |
| Lennon Crossroads | 2.38 | 59.0 | 8.0% | 12.5% | 17.0% | 2006 | $1,626 | 27.5% | 93.3% | 9.6% |
| Bald Head Island | 1.81 | 67.8 | 4.9% | 1.9% | 90.6% | 2002 | $1,352 | 86.4% | 100.0% | 4.2% |
| Holden Beach | 2.00 | 65.5 | 1.5% | 5.4% | 81.2% | 1992 | $1,475 | 66.9% | 98.9% | 2.3% |
| Boiling Spring Lakes | 2.16 | 46.1 | 8.4% | 18.6% | 11.7% | 1999 | $1,444 | 23.8% | 94.8% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Parkville, MO · Pelham, NY · Pelham, GA · Pea Ridge, AR · Pawcatuck, CT · Paulsboro, NJ · Pauls Valley, OK · Patterson, LA · Pascoag, RI · Parkville, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Oak Island. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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