Brunswick County · Relocation
Relocating to Brunswick County, NC
Moving in from out of the area, with a local guide to the neighborhoods and the timing around your move.
A Quick Note
This page is general information, not legal, insurance, or lending advice. Rules and rates change, so please confirm what applies to you with your lender, your insurance agent, your closing attorney, and the agencies named here. I am a real estate professional, and my part is the search and the move.
Plan My Move to Brunswick County
Relocating to Brunswick County, an Island or the Mainland
Relocating to Brunswick County starts with a choice between living on one of the six island beaches and living on the mainland, in a town like Leland, Southport, Shallotte, or Calabash or out in the county. The state demographer counted it as North Carolina's fastest-growing county from April 2020 to July 2024, so new neighborhoods keep appearing. Local to Coastal Realty walks houses for you, sends video, and sets up live video tours. We sign a written buyer agreement before any touring, in person or by video, as the National Association of REALTORS has required of MLS participants since August 17, 2024.
How the Towns Compare
The islands. On the county's 2026 table, Ocean Isle Beach totals 0.472 per $100, Holden Beach 0.482, Sunset Beach 0.502, Caswell Beach 0.532, and Oak Island 0.542. Bald Head Island totals 0.928 before its service district zones, and it is reachable only by ferry or private boat, with no cars allowed, which shapes every errand.
The mainland. Leland totals 0.592, Southport and Shallotte 0.652, St. James 0.392, and Calabash 0.44. Unincorporated county pays 0.342. Brunswick County's government center is in Bolivia, where the county offices, including the tax office and Veterans Services, sit.
Schools, Insurance, and the 2027 Values
Brunswick County Schools lists North Brunswick, South Brunswick, and West Brunswick high schools along with its Early College High School, and its "What school will my child attend?" lookup gives the assignment for an exact address. Lenders require flood insurance on a federally backed loan for a building in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association writes windstorm and homeowners coverage in the state's eligible coastal counties, so I get the flood zone and quotes early and you compare real monthly costs between towns. Finally, every value in the county resets on January 1, 2027, and the new rates follow.
Signing From Away, and Your First Weekends
North Carolina closings run through an attorney, and whether you can sign remotely depends on your lender, your closing attorney, and the documents, so ask early. If you are selling inland to make this move, I am licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina and run both sides. Then climb the Oak Island Lighthouse with a reservation, walk the Shallotte Riverwalk, or visit Brunswick Town and Fort Anderson State Historic Site. My Brunswick County guide has more. Read buying a home in Brunswick County, then call me with your move date.
Sources
The facts above come from these sources, checked in October 2026. Confirm current details with your lender, insurance agent, and closing attorney.
- Brunswick County, tax rates
- Brunswick County, 2027 revaluation
- Brunswick County Veterans Services, Bolivia
- NC State Demographer, Brunswick County fastest growing county
- North Carolina's Brunswick Islands, first-timer's guide
- Brunswick County Schools
- Brunswick County Schools, what school will my child attend
- FEMA, flood risk and lending requirements
- North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association, coverage
- National Association of REALTORS, settlement FAQs, practice changes effective August 17, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Brunswick County island has the lowest property tax?
On the county's 2026 table, Ocean Isle Beach has the lowest island total at 0.472 per $100, then Holden Beach at 0.482.
Can I live on Bald Head Island without a car?
You have to. Bald Head Island is reachable only by ferry or private boat, and cars are not allowed on the island.
Can I buy without visiting first?
That is your call. I walk every home, send video, and run live video tours, and we sign the buyer agreement first.
Brunswick County
What relocation looks like in Brunswick County
45 miles of Brunswick Islands coast, six island beaches from Oak Island to Sunset Beach, in the fastest-growing county in North Carolina.
Brunswick County's islands are Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Caswell Beach, Sunset Beach, and Bald Head Island, six island beaches along 45 miles of coast.
Oak Island runs 12 miles long with a 10-mile beach, two ocean piers, a nature center, and the Oak Island Lighthouse at Caswell Beach, and seven designated paddle trails wind through the waterways behind Oak Island and Holden Beach.
The method
How we do it in Brunswick County
Relocation: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Local to Coastal Realty?