1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Onslow County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $68,148. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Onslow County
- Paychecks and income spread in Onslow County
- Jobs and commutes in Onslow County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Onslow County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Onslow County
- Debt-to-income at Onslow County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Onslow County
- Who lives in Onslow County, in numbers
- Steps before you apply in Onslow County
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Onslow County
Onslow County is home to about 207,906 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 13th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. Packed into 762 square miles, that is close to 273 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Jacksonville, NC metropolitan area. Of the 9 Census places inside Onslow County, Jacksonville leads by population with about 71,279; 5 of the 9 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Onslow County
Half of Onslow County households take in less than $68,148 a year and half take in more, 6% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
| Yearly household income | Onslow County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.7% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.8% | +8.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.0% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -4.8 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.6% of Onslow County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.420 here. For a borrower in Onslow County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Onslow County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward public administration (8% against 4%). The survey's unemployment rate for Onslow County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Onslow County | Gap to North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.5% | +3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.0% | -1.7 pts |
| Public administration | 8.3% | +4.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +0.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Onslow County
Renters in Onslow County pay a median of $1,265 a month, 3% above the North Carolina figure of $1,228. By the Census definition, 51% of Onslow County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $236,400, or 3.5 years of median income. 64% of Onslow County households own their home and 36% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1998.
| Cost | Onslow County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,265/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $236,400 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.5% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 13% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Neighboring counties at a glance
Jones County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, New Hanover County, is 45 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Onslow County; Pender County is highest at $80,396 and Lenoir County lowest at $45,143.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onslow County | - | $68,148 | $1,265/mo | 64% |
| Jones County, NC | 20 mi | $59,641 | $747/mo | 79% |
| Duplin County, NC | 27 mi | $55,148 | $865/mo | 70% |
| Pender County, NC | 28 mi | $80,396 | $1,106/mo | 83% |
| Lenoir County, NC | 34 mi | $45,143 | $861/mo | 59% |
| Craven County, NC | 34 mi | $65,873 | $1,110/mo | 68% |
| New Hanover County, NC | 45 mi | $75,166 | $1,417/mo | 61% |
Places inside Onslow County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Onslow County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 109,119 residents, leaving about 48% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. North Topsail Beach has the highest median household income on the list ($121,250) and Jacksonville the lowest ($57,697), counting places with at least 500 residents. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | city | 71,279 | $57,697 | $1,321 | 6 mi |
| Piney Green | CDP | 14,078 | $72,177 | $1,202 | 11 mi |
| Half Moon | CDP | 7,378 | $68,946 | $1,210 | 5 mi |
| Holly Ridge | town | 4,904 | $104,788 | $1,315 | 19 mi |
| Swansboro | town | 3,997 | $114,425 | $1,106 | 21 mi |
| Sneads Ferry | CDP | 2,728 | $79,594 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Richlands | town | 2,335 | $65,163 | $798 | 10 mi |
| Pumpkin Center | CDP | 1,636 | $64,102 | n/a | 8 mi |
| North Topsail Beach | town | 784 | $121,250 | $1,268 | 19 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Onslow County's medians
Onslow County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Onslow County: $5,679
- Less median rent of $1,265, which is 22% of it
- $723: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,291 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Onslow County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Onslow County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Onslow County borrowers.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Who lives in Onslow County, in numbers
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.5%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Onslow County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.7 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.0% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.7% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Steps before you apply in Onslow County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Onslow County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Onslow County, check the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: North Carolina guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Onslow County a high-income county?
Its $68,148 median ranks 26th of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Onslow County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,265 against $1,228 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Onslow County?
By population: Jacksonville, Piney Green, Half Moon, Holly Ridge, Swansboro. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Are Onslow County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Onslow County?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.