Population 8,954 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ocean Isle Beach
Household size in Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.26 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.04 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Ocean Isle Beach are small: just 2.32 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 crept up from 2.28 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.3 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 57.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 61.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 60.3 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.1 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 60.3, Ocean Isle Beach is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 51.3 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only five of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people 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 Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Ocean Isle Beach: 3.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 5.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other North Carolina city with 5,000+ people has a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Ocean Isle Beach
Renters in Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −10.8 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Ocean Isle Beach is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 11.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly four in ten owners (38.4%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 10.8 points from 2006–10, 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 Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 46.1% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.4% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −11.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 34.4% of the housing in Ocean Isle Beach, 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. Vacancy has fallen 11.0 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1990 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1993 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1996 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2000 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +6 |
Ocean Isle Beach has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 2000, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1990 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $672 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $932 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,025 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,075 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$403 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Ocean Isle Beach pays $1,075 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $403 a month from 2006–10, a 60% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 35.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northeast.
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 Ocean Isle Beach
Bachelor's degrees in Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.2% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.6% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 44.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.7 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Ocean Isle Beach (44.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 11.7 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast 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 Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.2% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.7% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.5% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Ocean Isle Beach: 95.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.7 points, as it has nationally. Ocean Isle Beach has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of North Carolina cities.
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 Ocean Isle Beach
| Period | Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 21.0% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.5% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Ocean Isle Beach has been low: just 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 25 have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 4.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Ocean Isle Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Isle Beach | 2.32 | 60.3 | 3.1% | 11.3% | 34.4% | 2000 | $1,075 | 44.2% | 95.5% | 2.4% |
| Sunset Beach | 1.98 | 64.6 | 3.8% | 12.2% | 43.6% | 2001 | $950 | 37.9% | 96.7% | 2.4% |
| Grissettown | 2.21 | 41.2 | 5.3% | 25.0% | 24.4% | 2003 | $1,000 | 17.9% | 81.7% | 1.4% |
| Shallotte | 2.18 | 48.7 | 13.5% | 21.5% | 20.3% | 1997 | $1,205 | 21.3% | 90.3% | 3.9% |
| Carolina Shores | 1.98 | 64.2 | 3.2% | 7.6% | 15.5% | 2001 | $1,483 | 27.3% | 95.3% | 4.8% |
| Calabash | 1.96 | 64.2 | 4.7% | 14.3% | 19.5% | 2002 | $1,436 | 33.9% | 96.2% | 5.0% |
| Longwood | 2.58 | 37.3 | 7.6% | 29.1% | 11.6% | 1996 | $756 | 27.3% | 96.4% | 0.2% |
| Ash | 2.37 | 46.7 | 5.7% | 20.3% | 14.9% | 1995 | $1,096 | 24.3% | 95.7% | 2.5% |
| Holden Beach | 2.00 | 65.5 | 1.5% | 5.4% | 81.2% | 1992 | $1,475 | 66.9% | 98.9% | 2.3% |
| Supply | 2.22 | 46.8 | 17.0% | 21.9% | 38.9% | 1994 | $1,015 | 16.1% | 85.6% | 6.2% |
| Regan | 2.50 | 36.2 | 17.3% | 21.6% | 22.7% | 1990 | $1,122 | 10.3% | 88.3% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: New Market, TN · Nibley, UT · Newton Highlands, MA · Newport, WA · Newland, NC · Newfield, NJ · Newcomerstown, OH · Newcastle, CA · New Windsor, MD · New Wilmington, 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 Ocean Isle Beach. 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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