United States › North Carolina › Oak Island CITY · 2020 ACS
Oak Island North Carolina · 8,396 residents · 19.3 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Oak Island is home to 8,396 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 60.4, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 82% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 1%. Growth has run 28% since 2000, or 1,825 more people. Households here earn about 26% more than in North Carolina as a whole.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 60.4
US median: 38.8
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 49.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 2000 – 2024
6K 7K 8K 9K 9K 2000 2010 2020 2024 Oak Island Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $71,193
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,496 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $23,964 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Education & health services 4.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing 0.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
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$259,500
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $115,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,097
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $704 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 78.9% in 2000
17.7% rent
from 2.06 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 5.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.6%(6,414)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(49)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 92.7%(7,782)
Hispanic / Latino 1.7%(146)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data from 19.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 87.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 71.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 62.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 33.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 19.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 19.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 18%(141)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.9%(156)
Share of the 785 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Oak Island, North Carolina? Oak Island, North Carolina has about 8,396 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Oak Island, North Carolina? The typical household in Oak Island, North Carolina earns about $71,193 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Oak Island, North Carolina expensive? In Oak Island, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $259,500, and the typical rent is about $1,097 a month.
How educated are people in Oak Island, North Carolina? About 39.6% of adults age 25 and over in Oak Island, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Oak Island, North Carolina? About 8.2% of people in Oak Island, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
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