Onslow County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Onslow County, North Carolina has a population of 207,906, the 13th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $68,148 and the median home value is $236,400. The poverty rate is 11.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Onslow County Quick Facts
How Onslow County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 208,537 | 207,906 | -0.3% |
| Median household income | $64,568 | $68,148 | +5.5% |
| Median home value | $219,500 | $236,400 | +7.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Onslow County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 71,279 | $57,697 | 12.7% | $210,100 |
| Piney Green | 14,078 | $72,177 | 10.8% | $227,600 |
| Half Moon | 7,378 | $68,946 | 7.9% | $182,500 |
| Holly Ridge | 4,904 | $104,788 | 0.8% | $360,300 |
| Surf City | 4,396 | $81,433 | 5.5% | $512,300 |
| Swansboro | 3,997 | $114,425 | 14.1% | $378,700 |
| Sneads Ferry | 2,728 | $79,594 | 13.3% | $269,300 |
| Richlands | 2,335 | $65,163 | 11.1% | $248,800 |
| Pumpkin Center | 1,636 | $64,102 | 2.9% | $189,600 |
| North Topsail Beach | 784 | $121,250 | 6.5% | $473,600 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Onslow County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 207,906. It is the 13th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Onslow County is 27.7 years. This is 29% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Onslow County is $68,148. This is 6% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.6%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $236,400. Housing costs are 18% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Onslow County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 64.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 14.0%.
Education
26.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Onslow County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Onslow County, North Carolina?
Onslow County has a population of 207,906, making it the 13th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Onslow County?
The median household income in Onslow County is $68,148 with a poverty rate of 11.6%.
How many cities are in Onslow County, North Carolina?
Onslow County contains 10 Census-designated places.