What are the schools like in Oak Island, NC?

Oak Island is served primarily by Brunswick County Schools. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.3:1.

What is the median household income in Oak Island?

The median household income in Oak Island, NC is $85,513 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

What is the weather like in Oak Island, NC?

Oak Island has an average high temperature of 60.0°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 57.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.9 inches.

Oak Island, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Oak Island, NC affordable or expensive?

Oak Island's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Oak Island is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $348,600 and the median rent is $1,285 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Oak Island, NC?

Oak Island has a violent crime rate of 186.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1110.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Oak Island, NC a Good Place to Live?

Oak Island is a small town of 8,564 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $85,513 and a 4.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Oak Island stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Oak Island is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Oak Island city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.7

Oak Island's overall cost of living index is 98.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Oak Island costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Oak Island, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$348,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,285	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	86.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$85,513	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Oak Island's violent crime rate is 186.2 per 100,000 residents — 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

186.2 /100k

Property Crime

1110.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Oak Island is served primarily by Brunswick County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Oak Island, NC	National Avg
School District	Brunswick County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Oak Island sees average highs of 60.0°F in January and 91.6°F in July, with 57.0 inches of annual precipitation and 0.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Oak Island, NC
Average High — January	60.0°F
Average High — July	91.6°F
Annual Precipitation	57.0"
Annual Snowfall	0.9"

Demographics

Metric	Oak Island, NC	National Avg
Population	8,564	—
Median Age	60.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	8.3%	22.2%
65 and over	37.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

St. James, NC 2 mi Caswell Beach, NC 4 mi Southport, NC 7 mi Varnamtown, NC 7 mi Bald Head Island, NC 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Oak Island

Oak Island, NC is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

28422 28465

Oak Island vs Other Cities

Oak Island, NC vs St. James, NC Oak Island, NC vs Caswell Beach, NC Oak Island, NC vs Southport, NC Oak Island, NC vs Varnamtown, NC Oak Island, NC vs Bald Head Island, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oak Island, NC affordable or expensive?

Oak Island's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Oak Island roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $348,600 and median rent is $1,285/month.

What is the crime rate in Oak Island, NC?

Oak Island's violent crime rate is 186.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1110.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Oak Island?

Public schools in Oak Island are operated by Brunswick County Schools. The district has 10 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 40.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Oak Island, NC a good place to live?

Oak Island, NC has a population of 8,564, a median household income of $85,513, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Oak Island?

Oak Island averages 60.0°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.0 inches with about 0.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Oak Island?

Oak Island, NC is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 28422, 28465.

What is the population of Oak Island?

The population of Oak Island, North Carolina is 8,564 with a median age of 60.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Oak Island?

Key numbers for living in Oak Island: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $348,600, median household income $85,513, crime index 51 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oak Island side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.