Oak Island

Background Image

Oak Island, NC

Area Guide

Share Guide

A calm, low-key beach town on the coast of the Carolinas

Beach Scenic Fishing Great Location Peaceful

Oak Island is a small beach town on the southern coast of North Carolina, about 40 minutes southwest of Wilmington. Spread across miles of shoreline, Oak Island features sandy beaches, fishing piers, boat ramps, and marinas, making it the ultimate location for watersports from fishing to boating. Along with relaxing on the beach, residents play mini-golf or ride their bikes to grab an ice cream on a summer day. When you move into your beach house or waterfront apartment, be sure to check out the Oak Island Nature Center to see some interesting displays on fossils and more. After a day of fun, try one of the local eateries serving up casual fare like hamburgers and fried seafood. Oak Island has been attracting tourists since the 19th century, but beaches here tend to be uncrowded, great for renters looking for a coastal oasis without constant excitement.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Oak Island, NC is $1,391 for one bedroom, $1,753 for two bedrooms, and $1,937 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Oak Island has decreased by -4.3% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,391/month
806 Sq Ft
House
$2,421/month
957 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Oak Island, NC

Transportation

46

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

38

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Oak Island Nature Center
  • North Carolina Maritime Museum-Southport

Airports

  • Wilmington International

Top Apartments in Oak Island

Houses for Rent in Oak Island

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.