Oak Island, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
The Oak Island, NC area STR market averaged $460/night at 74.9% occupancy in June 2026, up 2.4% in revenue.
Quick Answer: Oak Island, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Wilmington market area is 75%. average monthly revenue in the Wilmington market area is $8,822. average daily rate in the Wilmington market area is $460. the top operator in the Wilmington market area is Vacasa with 776 listings. market score is 63/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Wilmington regional market, which includes Oak Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Oak Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Oak Island is a beach destination on the southern North Carolina coast in Brunswick County, with a population of 9,322. It sits within the Brunswick Islands, whose tourism was a $1.22 billion industry in 2024, ranking sixth of NC’s 100 counties and up 4.8% over 2023, directly supporting about 5,838 jobs. Oak Island’s draw is heavily beach and water-based: more than 10 miles of sand, 60 to 100-plus public beach access points, the most of any NC coastal town, two Atlantic fishing piers, a marina, and kayak and boat ramps. Visitors skew toward multi-night vacationers and repeat summer renters rather than day-trippers, with peak demand running late spring through early fall. The StaySTRA STR series for this area is tracked at a shared submarket level covering Oak Island and nearby Brunswick Islands communities rather than uniquely for this town, so the figures below describe the Oak Island, NC area STR market.
The Oak Island, NC area STR market posted an average daily rate of $460.25 and 74.90% occupancy in June 2026, with a trailing average revenue per listing of about $8,821.70, among the higher per-listing revenue figures in this batch. Year over year, revenue is up 2.39% even as occupancy is down 2.12% and ADR is down 1.81%, meaning the revenue gain is coming from a mix shift rather than higher average bookings or rates. Average booking lead time is 85.62 days, nearly three months out, and average length of stay is 4.63 nights.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 55% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 60% |
| Jun | 76% |
| Jul | 81% |
| Aug | 69% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 47% |
| Nov | 39% |
| Dec | 34% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Oak Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Wilmington market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Wilmington market as a whole, which includes Oak Island, so these counts are not Oak Island-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 776 | 18,259 | ★ 4.46 |
| 2 | Oak Island Accommodations | 469 | 2,489 | ★ 4.43 |
| 3 | Better Beach Rentals | 445 | 3,724 | ★ 4.37 |
| 4 | Evolve | 332 | 12,283 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Carolina Retreats by Vtrips | 317 | 3,785 | ★ 4.54 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Oak Island?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Oak Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 21.3% |
| vrbo | 16.9% |
| both | 61.8% |
Home Value Trends (Oak Island)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Oak Island are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Oak Island — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Oak Island is considered investor-friendly for short-term rentals. As of mid-2026, the town has no dedicated STR permit or licensing ordinance, no cap on the number of rental nights per year, and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. The primary compliance obligation is registering for and remitting the town’s accommodations (occupancy) tax through the Oak Island Finance Department.
The town levies a 5% occupancy tax on rentals of fewer than 90 continuous days, composed of a 3% tourism tax and a 2% beach protection and re-nourishment tax; Brunswick County adds a 1% room occupancy tax, for roughly 6.0% total occupancy tax on top of North Carolina and Brunswick County sales tax on accommodations. Tax reports and payments are due monthly by the 20th of the following month; if a rental agency manages the property, it typically handles reporting and remittance. North Carolina’s Vacation Rental Act (G.S. 42A) governs rental agreements of 30 days or less. Owners should still confirm their zoning district allows rental use and that any HOA or condo covenants permit STRs. Enforcement is minimal on the permitting front, since there is no registry to audit, though standard noise, parking, occupancy, and code rules apply. A statewide bill (SB 291, introduced March 2025) that would limit how far local governments can regulate STRs had not advanced as of January 2026.
Market Comparison
The Oak Island, NC area’s $460.25 ADR runs far above the roughly $220 national median ADR, about 109% higher, and its 74.90% occupancy also runs well above the commonly cited US short-term rental median of about 55%. That combination places Oak Island among the stronger-performing markets in this batch on both rate and fill, consistent with its position as a premium Brunswick Islands beach destination.
Property-manager-level data for this market is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Oak Island, so this profile omits it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oak Island, North Carolina
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