Oak Island

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Oak Island, NC Area 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 2026, the average apartment rent in Oak Island, NC is $1,356 for one bedroom, $1,605 for two bedrooms, and $1,802 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Oak Island has decreased by -4.2% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,356/month
805 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Oak Island, NC

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Oak Island, NC is for everyday living.

Not walkable

Walkability

10 / 100

Exceptionally drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Somewhat bikeable

Bikeability

30 / 100

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

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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 2026.