RANK #388 / 1001 NAT · #21 / 51 NC · POP 207,906
1YR FORECAST: +1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +30%
Onslow County, North Carolina, distinguishes itself with its extensive coastline and the historic town of Swansboro, known as the "Friendly City by the Sea." Located in the southeastern coastal plain, approximately 50 miles north of Wilmington and 120 miles east of Raleigh, the county offers a blend of coastal living and rural landscapes. The community provides numerous outdoor recreation opportunities, including over 30 miles of beaches, bike trails, and parks like Hammocks Beach State Park, accessible by ferry to Bear Island. Life in Onslow County is shaped by its significant military presence, with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River located within its borders. This contributes to a younger average age in the area and a strong sense of community. The public school system serves over 27,000 students across 43 facilities and is considered above average. Recent economic developments show growth in the tourism industry, with visitor spending reaching record levels and supporting local jobs. The county is also seeing investment in various sectors, including efforts to reduce retail and service sector leakage.
Onslow County is one of 35 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.5% runs above the profile's typical +1.4%.
See all 35 Secondary Market Surge counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 18.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Cypress Creek Renewables Solar Farm (Richlands)
Cypress Creek Renewables
|
$100M | Proposed |
|
Camp Lejeune Battery Energy Storage System & Solar Facility
Duke Energy
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Project Frontier Industrial Park
Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development (JOED)
|
$50M | Completed |
|
OAJ Ellis General Aviation expansion and new entrance road
Onslow County
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Community Resource Hub & Indoor Recreation Facility
Onslow County
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 61/100, Onslow County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $68,148 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in NC.
Housing in Onslow County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $236,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $1,265/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Onslow County are both close to flat — population -0.3% YoY and jobs -0.5%. Home values shifted +3.5% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.58% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Onslow County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.