Outer Banks Year-Round Rentals | Outer Banks, NC (2024)

FAQs

Can you live in the Outer Banks year-round? ›

Considering moving to the Outer Banks? Rest assured year-round living on the Outer Banks remains the same — simply incredible. Review our local insights below and make your dream a reality!

Today, the Outer Banks are some of the most popular yet pristine beach resorts on the Atlantic coast. A bit more than 35,000 people make the barrier islands their permanent home. But close to a half-million visit our sandy shores during the summer high season.

Low prices, extremely low interest rates and record vacation rental income have made purchasing Outer Banks homes much more affordable. The rental income of many vacation rental homes is coming very close to paying for these properties that are selling today.

Compared to other popular beach destinations on the east coast, the Outer Banks is an incredibly affordable place to live. For example, our area's cost of living is lower than towns such as Charleston, SC, Santa Barbara, CA, and the Florida Keys.

Many people dream of living on the oceanfront and for good reason, nothing, in my opinion, can beat eating breakfast watching the surf break, but the reality is the overwhelming majority of Outer Banks full-time residents live on the west side of the island.

Along with its exceptional beaches, Nags Head is home to a rich history and friendly communities. Situated right in the middle of the Outer Banks, retiring in Nags Head provides convenient access to the surrounding towns and islands.

Kitty Hawk is arguably one of the best places to live in the Outer Banks. This year-round location is known for its first flight namesake, kiteboarding, surfing, boating, kayaking, golf, and maritime forests.

The south side, also called the Cut, is where lower income people live; it's where John B (Chase Stokes), JJ (Rudy Pankow) and Pope (Jonathan Daviss) live. This is where you'll find people called Pogues. Simply put, a Pogue is someone who lives in the Cut.

Some locals say it's a tall tale made up by time-share companies; others say he did shop for a house here many years ago but never bought. Either way, the story took on a life of its own. Despite the fact that sightings pop up on message boards every year, it's unlikely that Tom Cruise owns a house in the Outer Banks.

The “off” season brings the Outer Banks winter weather. Winters on the Banks are usually mild with temperatures averaging in the low to mid 50's. Rarely, we do see an inch or two snow and cold weather into the 30's. The Outer Banks in the winter is the polar opposite of summer.

What's it like living in the Outer Banks? ›

The Outer Banks remains one of the most beautiful and unique places to live in the US. The area has gorgeous beaches, unique ecosystems, and abundant wildlife. Living on the Outer Banks means accessing world-class outdoor recreation opportunities, including swimming, surfing, fishing, kayaking, and more.

Sitting on the edge of the stage, Stokes told the crowd that they were the first to know that “Outer Banks has been renewed for a fourth season!” He took a moment to thank the fans for sticking with John B, the Pogues, and even the Kooks for three and a half years. “This is an incredible moment for all of us,” he said.

When Is the Outer Banks Off-Season? Naturally, fewer people visit the beach during the colder months. The Outer Banks off-season typically runs from about mid-November to mid-March.

Based on our Nags Head cost of living calculator, Nags Head is 2% more expensive than the national average and 11% more expensive to live in than the average city in North Carolina.