Oak Island is a somewhat small coastal town (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of North Carolina. With a population of 9,480 people and four associated neighborhoods, Oak Island is the 112th largest community in North Carolina.

Oak Island home prices are not only among the most expensive in North Carolina, but Oak Island real estate also consistently ranks among the most expensive in America.

Also of interest is that Oak Island has more people living here who work in computers and math than 95% of the places in the US.

One interesting thing about the economy is that relatively large numbers of people worked from their home: 22.12% of the workforce. While this number may seem small overall, as a fraction of the total workforce this is high compared to the rest of the county. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.

Another notable thing is that Oak Island is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Oak Island’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live.

Residents will find that the town is relatively quiet. This is because it is not over-populated, and it has fewer college students, renters, and young children - all of whom can be noisy at times. So, if you're looking for a relatively peaceful place to live, Oak Island is worth considering.

One of the nice things about Oak Island is that it is nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Because of this, visitors and locals will often go to these areas to take in the scenery or to enjoy waterfront activities.

Oak Island is one of the most well-educated cities in the nation. 40.80% of adults in Oak Island have at least a bachelor's degree. Compare that to the average community in America, which has just 21.84% with a bachelor's degree or higher.

The per capita income in Oak Island in 2022 was $56,481, which is wealthy relative to North Carolina and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $225,924 for a family of four. However, Oak Island contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

The people who call Oak Island home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Oak Island residents report their race to be White, followed by Asian. Important ancestries of people in Oak Island include English, German, Irish, Italian, and Scottish.

The most common language spoken in Oak Island is English. Other important languages spoken here include Italian and Polish.