Checked
Onslow County, NC
9 cities and towns and 13 ZIP codes in Onslow County, North Carolina.
Population
207,906
Land area
762sq mi
People per sq mi
273
ZIP codes
13
Cities and towns in Onslow County
Onslow County at a glance
- It is the 13th most populous of 100 counties in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $68,148 a year, 6% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $236,400 (18% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,265 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Jacksonville (71,279), Piney Green (14,078) and Half Moon (7,378).
Local data for Onslow County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals3
- Emergency Rooms3
- Nursing Homes2
- Schools54
- Colleges2
- Libraries4
- Banks19
- Post Offices16
- Parks59
- Grocery Stores58
- Restaurants538
- Affordable Housing8
- Home Health Agencies3
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers2
- Community Health Centers3
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment12
- Private Schools14
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools2
- Superfund Sites2
- Toxic Release Facilities5
- Historic Places6
Housing and community stats
Onslow County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$68,148
Poverty rate
11.6%
Median home value
$236,400
Prices +2.9% in a year
Median rent
$1,265/mo
Homeownership
63.7%
Bachelor's or higher
26.0%
Median age
27.7
Average commute
22.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (27,537), Irish Americans (27,085), Italian Americans (13,068).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$48,929
53,881 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,450
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2.3B
FY 2026, $11,391 per person
PPP loans
$141M
2,828 loans, 20,692 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$391K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Onslow County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone65.7%
- Carpooled12.1%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked6.9%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.2%
- Worked from home12.8%
Average one-way commute: 22.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Onslow County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
513
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
4,401
6.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 35°F
56.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone6 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Onslow County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.4%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
8.6%
U.S. 12.1% -3.5 pts
Smoking
13.3%
U.S. 12.8% +0.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.7%
U.S. 11.1% +0.6 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Onslow County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Onslow County, NC?
- Jacksonville is the largest city or town in Onslow County, with about 71,279 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Onslow County?
- Onslow County includes 13 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28445, 28454, 28460, 28539, 28540.
- What is the population of Onslow County, NC?
- About 207,906 people live in Onslow County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Onslow County?
- Onslow County borders Carteret County, Pender County, Duplin County, Jones County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023