Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
59% of residents are 65 or older in Ocean Isle Beach, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 18% and U.S. towns at 18%. Only 2 of the 291 North Carolina towns we compare have a higher median age than Ocean Isle Beach. Ocean Isle Beach’s trail density is 1.0 miles per square mile, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 0.2 and U.S. towns at 0.4. The biggest park or preserve is Enr Esturine Preserve, at 87 acres. Ocean Isle Beach has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Ocean Isle Beach beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2001.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ocean Isle Beach, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Ocean Isle Beach.
97% of households own their home in Ocean Isle Beach. The typical Ocean Isle Beach home is worth about $530,000, up 2.2% in a year, 60% above the North Carolina typical home.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Most working residents leave Ocean Isle Beach for work: only 7% work in town. 5.3% of Ocean Isle Beach residents live below the poverty line. Jobs based in Ocean Isle Beach grew to 742 in 2023, 304 more than in 2013.
| Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 13% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $97,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 93% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 1,287 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Ocean Isle Beach.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Ocean Isle Beach has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 89°, January nights drop to 36° and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Town Center Park | 0.3 mi | 2 |
| 2. Enr Esturine Preserve | — | 87 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Ocean Isle Beach's reported crime rate is above North Carolina's. Ocean Isle Beach’s property crime rate is 30.4 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 30.4 per 1,000 residents | 24 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 1 per 1,000 residents | 3.1 | 1.7 |
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Among 290 North Carolina towns, just 1 have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Ocean Isle Beach. Ocean Isle Beach beats the North Carolina average on 19 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. Among 290 North Carolina towns, just 2 have a lower share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Ocean Isle Beach.
| Ocean Isle Beach | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 17% | 17% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 33% | 33% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 87% | 80% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 34% | 36% |
| What stands out | Ocean Isle Beach | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 4.9% | 15.2% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 4% | 12.2% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 15.2% | 7.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Ocean Isle Beach; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Ocean Isle Beach residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
Where Ocean Isle Beach’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in North Carolina, United States
Ocean Isle Beach (or simply Ocean Isle, or OIB) is a small seaside town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. It was incorporated as a town in 1959 and is part of the Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 867 at the 2020 census. Located at the southern end of North Carolina's Atlantic coastline, along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Ocean Isle Beach has private homes, seasonal rentals, and tourist attractions.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Ocean Isle Beach has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.