If you are choosing a Brunswick County beach town, you are already picturing morning walks by the water and easy days under a Carolina blue sky. The challenge is figuring out which spot truly fits how you want to live. Each town here offers a different pace, access to amenities, and ownership trade-offs.
In this guide, you will compare the feel of Oak Island, Southport, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, Bald Head Island, St. James Plantation, and nearby Calabash. You will also get a simple checklist to focus your search, plus clear answers to the questions buyers ask first. Let’s dive in.
Start with your lifestyle
Before you fall in love with a view, decide how you plan to use your home. Brunswick County blends year-round residents with many retirees and second-home owners, so each town has its own rhythm. Summers are active. Winters are quieter in most beach towns.
- If you want to walk to coffee, shopping and dining, look at downtown Southport and pockets of Oak Island.
- If you want low-key beaches and nature, Holden Beach and Sunset Beach are appealing.
- If you want resort-style amenities and social programming, St. James Plantation is a fit.
- If you want an exclusive, car-free island experience, explore Bald Head Island.
Also consider access and logistics. Many beaches are reached by bridges and causeways that can be busy in peak season. Daily errands, boat access, healthcare, and travel time to the airport should be part of your plan.
Town-by-town snapshots
Oak Island
- Feel: Moderately paced beach town with a mix of year-round residents and second-home owners.
- Convenience: Grocery, dining and services on-island. Some neighborhoods are walkable near the pier and town hubs.
- Homes: Beachfront cottages, duplexes, newer single-family and condo options.
- Best for: A beach-town vibe with more amenities and moderate walkability.
- Watch-outs: Seasonal traffic in popular areas. Confirm flood zones, septic versus sewer, and short-term rental rules by neighborhood.
Holden Beach
- Feel: Quiet, laid-back and family-oriented with a small-town scale.
- Convenience: Limited commercial corridors. Most errands require a short drive.
- Homes: Mostly single-family vacation homes and cottages on narrow lots.
- Best for: A relaxed beach experience with simple, low-key access.
- Watch-outs: Fewer off-season services and nightlife. Plan for island maintenance and storm preparedness.
Southport
- Feel: Historic coastal river town with a true year-round community and marina culture.
- Convenience: Among the most walkable areas in the county. Shops, restaurants, galleries and a waterfront promenade.
- Homes: Historic cottages, in-town homes, riverfront properties, nearby subdivisions and condos.
- Best for: Walkable downtown living with boating and ferry access to nearby islands.
- Watch-outs: Not an oceanfront beach. Sandy beaches are a short drive or ferry ride away.
Ocean Isle Beach
- Feel: Family-friendly resort feel with a mix of seasonal and year-round residents.
- Convenience: Dining and shops near main corridors. Some areas are walkable to clusters of amenities.
- Homes: Beachfront homes, duplexes, condos and nearby master-planned communities.
- Best for: A balance of resort amenities and a community feel.
- Watch-outs: Busier in summer with a more tourist-forward vibe. Review rental regulations before investing.
Sunset Beach
- Feel: Small, conservation-minded and nature-focused with quieter beaches.
- Convenience: Limited commercial area. Residential and low-key by design.
- Homes: Coastal cottages, single-family homes and higher-end properties near marsh and beach.
- Best for: Nature lovers who value quiet and conservation.
- Watch-outs: Fewer services compared to larger towns. Plan for off-season errands on the mainland.
Bald Head Island
- Feel: Car-free, ferry-accessed island focused on beaches, maritime forest and golf.
- Convenience: Walkable within the island. Golf carts serve as primary transport.
- Homes: High-end single-family homes and resort properties with limited inventory.
- Best for: Privacy, nature and a curated island lifestyle.
- Watch-outs: Ownership logistics differ from the mainland, including ferry schedules, deliveries and ongoing costs.
St. James Plantation
- Feel: Large, gated, amenity-rich coastal community with golf, marinas and parks.
- Convenience: Internal amenity clusters and short drives by car or golf cart.
- Homes: Single-family homes and villas oriented to retirees and second-home owners.
- Best for: A resort-style community with built-in recreation and social life.
- Watch-outs: HOA fees, covenants and rules apply. Proximity to the ocean varies by neighborhood.
Calabash and nearby areas
- Feel: An inland hub near the state line known for restaurants and services.
- Convenience: Easy access to dining and retail, with multiple nearby beaches.
- Homes: A range of price points, often lower than direct oceanfront.
- Best for: Value seekers who want services close by and flexible access to multiple beaches.
- Watch-outs: Not a pure beach town. You will drive to the sand.
Practical factors that matter
Climate, storms and insurance
Brunswick County has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Coastal properties face hurricane and tropical storm exposure along with storm surge and flooding risk. Risk varies by parcel elevation and distance to the ocean or river. When you focus on a property, review its flood zone, elevation certificate and potential flood insurance costs. Long-term sea-level rise is an additional planning factor.
Walkability and services
Decide how important it is to walk to everyday needs. Southport offers the strongest downtown walkability. Parts of Oak Island and Bald Head Island are also walkable within their hubs, while most barrier-island neighborhoods are walkable to the beach but not to a wide range of services.
Boating access
If boating is central to your lifestyle, look at riverfront marinas in Southport, community marinas in St. James and canal or intracoastal neighborhoods. Dock permits and navigation channels vary by area. Confirm slip availability and local channel details before you buy.
Rental goals and rules
Short-term rental rules are set by each municipality and can change. Some towns require registration, safety checks and occupancy tax collection. Others limit rentals in certain zones or subdivisions. If rental income matters to your plan, verify rules with the town and any HOA, and ask for typical occupancy and yield ranges for similar properties.
Maintenance and logistics
Barrier-island ownership often means higher maintenance due to wind, salt and sun. Deliveries, construction permitting and service scheduling may take longer in peak season. Budget for routine exterior care and reserve funds for storm-related repairs.
Healthcare and travel
You will find hospitals and outpatient facilities in the county, with more specialized care in nearby Wilmington. Wilmington International Airport is the closest commercial airport for most of the county. Some towns also look to Myrtle Beach for flight options depending on routing and convenience.
Budget and financing
Price and inventory vary widely by town and product type. Lenders may have different requirements for island properties, condos and older structures. If you plan to rent, ask for prior rental performance on comparable homes and confirm that projected income works with your financing and ownership costs.
Your short-list checklist
- Visit in peak summer and again in the off-season to feel traffic, noise and service levels.
- Pull the flood zone and request an elevation certificate to estimate insurance costs.
- Review long-term coastal change and any active beach management in your chosen town.
- Confirm local ordinances for short-term rentals and building rules before you write an offer.
- Read HOA covenants and fee schedules if you are considering a community or condo.
- Talk with local property managers about typical maintenance costs and seasonal needs.
- Confirm utilities, internet options and access routes, including any bridge or causeway constraints.
- Check county tax records for property history and special assessments.
Which town fits you
- You want a classic beach-town feel with services close by: Start with Oak Island. Add Ocean Isle Beach for a resort-forward option.
- You want quiet and nature: Tour Holden Beach and Sunset Beach. Walk the neighborhoods at different tides and times of day.
- You want a walkable downtown and marina culture: Explore Southport and its nearby neighborhoods.
- You want amenities and a social calendar: See St. James Plantation and compare sections by proximity to marinas or gates.
- You want privacy and a car-free island: Visit Bald Head Island and speak with current owners about day-to-day logistics.
As you compare, be honest about your tolerance for seasonal activity and travel time. The right match balances your daily routine with your budget, maintenance appetite and risk comfort.
Next steps
When you are ready to move from exploring to short-listing, pair on-the-ground town visits with property-specific due diligence. If rental income is part of your plan, ask for occupancy patterns and typical yields for similar homes. If retirement is the goal, weigh healthcare access and daily conveniences along with your preferred beach.
If you want a local guide who understands both lifestyle goals and the nuts and bolts of ownership, connect with Better Beach Sales. Our team combines deep market knowledge with an integrated rentals platform that helps second-home buyers and investors make confident, data-informed decisions.
Ready to find your fit in Brunswick County? Reach out to the team at Better Beach Sales to start a tailored search.
FAQs
Which Brunswick County town is most walkable?
- Southport offers the strongest downtown walkability, while parts of Oak Island and Bald Head Island are walkable within their hubs.
Where is the best boating access in Brunswick County?
- Southport’s riverfront marinas, St. James community marinas and intracoastal or canal neighborhoods provide the best access, subject to local permits and channels.
How do hurricane and flood risks affect buying at the beach?
- Risk varies by parcel; review flood zones, elevation and insurance options to budget properly and plan for storm preparedness.
Which areas offer more beach for the money?
- Non-oceanfront intracoastal or canal homes often provide more space for the price than direct oceanfront, depending on market conditions.
What should I know about short-term rental rules?
- Rules are municipal and can change; verify registration, safety and tax requirements with the town and any HOA before you buy.
Is winter quiet in Brunswick County beach towns?
- Yes, many beach towns are quieter in winter due to seasonal population swings, while services generally expand in the summer months.
