1st Advantage MortgageA Onslow County household at the $68,148 median has about one-twelfth of that to cover rent near $1,265, debts and everything else each month. Borrow only for a defined cost, compare APR and dollar fees on at least three offers, and never pay an upfront fee to a lender, licensed in North Carolina or not.
On this page
- The basics on Onslow County
- How people in Onslow County earn a living
- Age, schooling and housing in Onslow County
- The job market around Onslow County
- Monthly budget benchmarks in Onslow County
- Reading the Onslow County data as a borrower
- Where Onslow County ranks
- About Onslow County
- Before you borrow in Onslow County
- Other guides in the area
- Onslow County communities by size
- What kind of homes Onslow County has
- Onslow County income ladder
- How Onslow County compares with the counties next door
- Ranking Onslow County against other North Carolina counties
- Frequently asked questions
The basics on Onslow County
Numbers come from the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 ACS for Onslow County. Treat them as estimates.
How people in Onslow County earn a living
Count the jobs held by Onslow County residents and education and health care comes out on top (21%), followed by retail at 14% and arts, entertainment, lodging and food service at 11%. One lean worth noting: arts, entertainment, lodging and food service, which employs 11% of Onslow County residents compared with 8% in the median place. If your pay varies from month to month, plan the payment around the leaner months and keep a small buffer.
Households in Onslow County are spread across the income scale: 22% earn under $35,000, 50% earn between $35,000 and $100,000, and 29% earn $100,000 or more. Onslow County beats the typical place in our set by 2.1 points at the top of the scale and undercuts it by 7.4 at the bottom. The Gini index for the area is 0.42, on a scale where higher means a wider gap.
Age, schooling and housing in Onslow County
Onslow County has a median age of 27.7 and a bachelor's-or-higher rate of 26% among adults 25 and older. Relative to our Carolina county medians: -14.6 years on age, +2 points on degrees. Building a clean payment record matters more than any local average.
The housing stock in Onslow County breaks down as 65% detached houses, 9% apartments in larger buildings and 12% mobile homes, per the ACS. That is -3 points against the Carolina county median on detached houses and +5 on large buildings. Match the loan amount to a written estimate or quote rather than to what a lender is willing to offer.
The job market around Onslow County
The Bureau of Labor Statistics put the unemployment rate in Onslow County at 3.4% for September 2026 (not seasonally adjusted, preliminary), down 0.4 points from 3.8% a year earlier.
Monthly budget benchmarks in Onslow County
Before taxes, the median Onslow County household takes in about $5,679 a month. Typical rent of $1,265 is 22% of it, compared with the 30% rule of thumb of $1,704. If a lender capped total monthly debt at 36% of gross income, a common benchmark, the median household's ceiling would be about $2,044 a month. The price-to-income ratio for housing is roughly 3.5. Put your own numbers in the DTI calculator, because most households sit well above or below the median.
Reading the Onslow County data as a borrower
Onslow County's housing is relatively new, with a median build year of 1998. Newer housing can mean fewer big repairs, so loans here lean toward consolidation and moving costs more than emergency fixes.
Only 64% of Onslow County households own their home, so most local borrowers rent. Renters cannot borrow against home equity, so the choice is usually between an unsecured loan, a card and help from creditors.
Commutes are comparatively short in Onslow County: only 11% of workers travel 45 minutes or more, in the lower third of the 146 Carolina county places we cover. Shorter trips usually mean lower transportation costs, which can help if you are sizing a loan payment.
Where Onslow County ranks
In the 146 Carolina county places in our dataset, Onslow County has a median household income of $68,148 (38th highest of 146), a median gross rent of $1,265 (17th highest of 146), and a median home value of $236,400 (56th highest of 146).
Two comparable North Carolina places in our set are Iredell County ($81,419 income, $1,252 rent), where Onslow County runs 16% below on income and 1% above on rent and Johnston County ($83,384 income, $1,146 rent), where Onslow County runs 18% below on income and 10% above on rent.
About Onslow County
Jacksonville has its own guide; The Census Bureau lists 9 places in Onslow County. By population the biggest are Jacksonville, Piney Green, Half Moon, Holly Ridge. Residents of Jacksonville or anywhere else in Onslow County who do not see a city guide can use this page.
Before you borrow in Onslow County
- Look the lender up with the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks and file any complaint there. North Carolina does not allow payday storefronts.
- Ask each lender for the same four numbers: amount financed, APR, fees and total repayment.
- Line up three offers for Onslow County and compare APR, fees and total repayment in the side-by-side calculator.
- Sleep on it. Pressure to sign today is a reason to walk away.
- Stress-test the payment: could you still make it after one bad month?
Other guides in the area
Onslow County communities by size
Onslow County contains 9 Census places, 5 of them incorporated. Home values differ sharply: $378,700 in Swansboro against $182,500 in Half Moon.
| Place | Status | Residents | Share of county | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | incorporated city | 71,279 | 34.3% | $210,100 |
| Piney Green | unincorporated (CDP) | 14,078 | 6.8% | $227,600 |
| Half Moon | unincorporated (CDP) | 7,378 | 3.5% | $182,500 |
| Holly Ridge | incorporated town | 4,904 | 2.4% | $360,300 |
| Swansboro | incorporated town | 3,997 | 1.9% | $378,700 |
| Sneads Ferry | unincorporated (CDP) | 2,728 | 1.3% | $269,300 |
| Richlands | incorporated town | 2,335 | 1.1% | $248,800 |
| Pumpkin Center | unincorporated (CDP) | 1,636 | 0.8% | $189,600 |
| North Topsail Beach | incorporated town | 784 | 0.4% | $473,600 |
What kind of homes Onslow County has
12% of homes in Onslow County are mobile homes (11% statewide), and 9% are in buildings of five or more units. Housing type matters for repair costs in Onslow County: manufactured homes, older detached houses and condos each bring different bills.
| Kind of building | Share in Onslow County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family detached | 65.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Townhouse or attached | 9.8% | +5.0 pts |
| 2 to 4 units | 4.2% | -0.5 pts |
| 5 to 19 units | 4.8% | -3.4 pts |
| 20 or more units | 4.4% | -1.6 pts |
| Mobile home | 11.5% | +0.6 pts |
Onslow County income ladder
Eight income steps for Onslow County: the largest group, 20% of households, is in the $50,000 to $74,999 band. For the 22% of Onslow County households under $35,000, free help and payment plans usually beat borrowing (no-cost options).
| Yearly income step | Onslow County households | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $15,000 | 7.6% | -1.1 pts |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 6.0% | -1.0 pts |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 8.1% | +0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 13.8% | +2.1 pts |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 19.8% | +3.1 pts |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 16.1% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 16.2% | -0.4 pts |
| $150,000 or more | 12.3% | -6.3 pts |
How Onslow County compares with the counties next door
Neighboring Carolina counties, nearest first (20 to 34 miles), with population, median age, degree share and poverty rate.
| County | How far | People | Median age | Degree holders | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onslow County | - | 207,906 | 27.7 | 26% | 12% |
| Jones County, NC | 20 mi | 9,302 | 47.2 | 20% | 18% |
| Duplin County, NC | 27 mi | 49,335 | 40.7 | 18% | 20% |
| Pender County, NC | 28 mi | 65,550 | 41.6 | 31% | 10% |
| Lenoir County, NC | 34 mi | 54,919 | 41.9 | 16% | 22% |
| Craven County, NC | 34 mi | 102,612 | 38.8 | 28% | 14% |
Ranking Onslow County against other North Carolina counties
- Onslow County: 27.7 years for age, #1 lowest of 100 in North Carolina. Thin credit files are common; a credit union can help.
- Rent puts Onslow County at #11 of 100 among North Carolina counties ($1,265 a month). Rent this high squeezes debt-to-income room.
- On long commutes (11%), Onslow County ranks #18 lowest of 100 statewide, against 17% for the middle Carolina county. Shorter drives mean fewer repair surprises.
- Onslow County: 64% for owner share, #18 lowest of 100 in North Carolina. Most borrowers have no equity to fall back on.
| Measure | Onslow County | Rank in North Carolina | Middle Carolina county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 27.7 years | #1 lowest of 100 | 42.3 years |
| Rent | $1,265 a month | #11 of 100 | $896 a month |
| Long commutes | 11% | #18 lowest of 100 | 17% |
| Owner share | 64% | #18 lowest of 100 | 73% |
Frequently asked questions
Can Onslow County owners borrow against a $236,400 home?
Many can. A home-equity loan or line is secured by the house, while a personal loan usually is not; 64% of Onslow County households face that choice.
Does living in Onslow County change what I qualify for?
No. Everyone, in Onslow County or not, answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points: amount, credit range, income and payments. Lenders make their own decisions under fair-lending law.
Who licenses lenders that serve Onslow County?
Start with the Commissioner of Banks, which licenses small-loan lenders and takes complaints. If someone asks for a fee before funding, treat it as a scam and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How long does a loan decision take for Onslow County residents?
It depends on the lender and verification, from minutes for a prequalification to several days for funding. Speed is worth asking about, but never pay extra for it up front.