Brunswick County · Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach · population 9,322
Where Oak Island stands
At or near all-time high. averaging 8.7% annual growth over 5 years. population growing 2.7% per year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent vs buy
At a 22.5 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Oak Island. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Oak Island has been growing population at 2.7% per year while home values compounded +8.7% annually. Demand-driven appreciation — the kind that persists as long as people keep showing up, which they currently are.
Oak Island's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Oak Island
Oak Island is a city in Brunswick County, North Carolina, with an estimated population of 9,322. It anchors the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach metro area. The population has grown 2.7% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Oak Island is $572,756 as of 2026-04, up 1.5% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +8.7% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Oak Island average $2,123 per month. The composite momentum score is 79 of 100 (Hot). Buyers should expect competition and limited negotiation room in this market.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
Playbook
Expect competition, escalation clauses, and pressure to waive inspections. Make your strongest offer up front — Hot markets reward decisiveness, not negotiation. If you can't write a clean offer, you may not be the best fit for this market right now.
Price slightly above recent comps and let multiple offers work. Days-on-market should be short. Don't accept the first offer in the first 48 hours unless it's significantly above ask.
Cap rates will look ugly in a Hot market — your thesis has to be appreciation, not yield. Don't expect cash flow; expect to ride the trend and exit before it stalls.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Brunswick County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Brunswick County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Oak Island
Run the numbers for Oak Island
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Oak Island listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Oak Island
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.