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Oak Island, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Horry County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
8,888 Population 461/sq mi density
$83,483 Median Income $59,851 per capita
$407,400 Home Value $557,249 Zillow
$1,208 Median Rent 40.9% income on rent
65°F Avg Temperature 304 sunny days/yr
182 Violent Crime/100K 1,638 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.6 / 5.0
$83,483 median income, 1.7% unemployment
B+
Affordability
3.9 / 5.0
$407,400 home value, $1,208/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
182 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.4 / 5.0
43.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Oak Island enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 65°F (18°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 304 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 54.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

48°F Jan (9°C) 82°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average65.0°F
20% above US avg
January Average48°F (9°C)
July Average82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days304 days/yr

Geography

Elevation13 ft (4 m)
Area19.9 sq mi (51.6 km²)
Population Density461/sq mi
Coordinates33.9133°N, 78.1198°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyHorry County County
Nearest AirportWilmington International (ILM)
28 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 54.6"
44% above US avg
Wettest Month (Sep) 7.68"
Driest Month (Apr) 2.99"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0446 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.8 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score98.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability65.4 / 100
Community Resilience66.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Very High
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Hurricane History

26 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 121 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 35 km
2019 Dorian Category 3 61 km
2018 Florence Category 2 12 km
2016 Matthew Category 2 25 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 61 km
2011 Irene Category 1 133 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 54 km
2004 Alex Category 2 118 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 171 km
2004 Charley Category 1 55 km
2003 Isabel Category 2 206 km
1999 Irene Category 2 88 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 17 km
1999 Dennis Category 2 123 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 40 km
1996 Fran Category 3 11 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 35 km
1994 Gordon Category 1 210 km
1993 Emily Category 3 276 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980-2026)

Tornado History

245 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 22 fatalities, 310 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Feb 15, 2021 EF3 36 km 3
Nov 16, 2006 EF3 49 km 8
Aug 17, 1965 EF3 52 km 0
Oct 9, 1950 EF3 53 km 0
Aug 7, 2024 EF2 86 km 0
Aug 3, 2020 EF2 17 km 0
Sep 5, 2019 EF2 34 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 93 km 1
Apr 6, 2009 EF2 73 km 0
Mar 28, 2009 EF2 86 km 0
Aug 13, 2004 EF2 58 km 3
Jul 6, 2001 EF2 74 km 0
Nov 7, 1995 EF2 86 km 0
Nov 7, 1995 EF2 67 km 0
Jul 1, 1990 EF2 74 km 0
Jun 2, 1985 EF2 84 km 0
Mar 28, 1984 EF2 81 km 0
Jun 7, 1983 EF2 84 km 0
Sep 26, 1982 EF2 81 km 0
Sep 4, 1979 EF2 52 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (77,768 ac, 1986).

Year Name Acres Distance
1986 UNNAMED 77,768 75 km
2011 JUNIPER ROAD 31,511 79 km
2009 HIGHWAY 31 17,004 68 km
1994 UNNAMED 7,944 89 km
1985 UNNAMED 2,970 82 km
2001 UNNAMED 2,204 61 km
2020 TRAM ROAD/GRASSY ROAD 2,076 73 km
1993 UNNAMED 2,073 5 km
1986 UNNAMED 2,024 52 km
2009 UNNAMED 1,870 99 km
2010 UNNAMED 1,683 100 km
2002 LEGENDS 1,666 83 km
2014 SHAKEN CREEK 1,469 88 km
2016 CLEMMONS ROAD 1,468 11 km
2011 SR8 1,311 90 km
2011 WOLF ISLAND 1,310 69 km
2022 JUNIPER ROAD TWO 1,307 81 km
1993 UNNAMED 1,293 79 km
2008 EDNA BUCK ROAD 1,256 56 km
1988 UNNAMED 1,077 70 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 48°F (9°C) 4.6 in Coldest
February 48°F (9°C) 4.0 in
March 55°F (13°C) 4.3 in
April 62°F (17°C) 3.0 in Driest
May 70°F (21°C) 4.1 in
June 76°F (25°C) 5.2 in
July 82°F (28°C) 6.7 in Warmest
August 79°F (26°C) 7.3 in
September 75°F (24°C) 7.7 in Wettest
October 65°F (18°C) 3.6 in
November 57°F (14°C) 3.3 in
December 49°F (9°C) 3.9 in

Oak Island has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 48°F in January to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 57.8 inches, with September being the wettest month (7.7") and April the driest (3.0").

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