HomeNorth CarolinaOnslow County
Onslow County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Onslow County, North Carolina had an estimated 212,954 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 204,588, across 763 square miles. County output reached $12.50 bn in 2024, 3,080 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 128 7(a) approvals worth $99.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Onslow County
How many people live in Onslow County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024207,906
- Households75,265
- Average household size2.76
- Median household income$68,148
- Median age27.7
- Median gross rent$1,265 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$236,400
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income22.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher26.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over114,320
- Population under 1851,514
- Share under 1824.8 percent
- Population 65 and over21,189
- Share 65 and over10.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64135,203
- Civilian labor force73,934
- Unemployment rate5.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over47.3 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties13th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included337th of 3,222
Onslow County is the 13th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.8 percent against 10.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Onslow County
Is Onslow County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024212,954
- Census 2020 base population204,588
- Population change since the 2020 census base4.09 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,770
- Births, 20243,884
- Deaths, 20241,609
- Natural change, 20242,275
- Net domestic migration, 2024-918
- Net international migration, 2024427
- Total net migration, 2024-491
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-2,030
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents673rd of 3,144
The county has grown 4.09 percent since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 by more than net migration took away, so the population grew even though more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Onslow County
Where are people moving to Onslow County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving11,127
- People arriving, from those returns22,317
- Tax returns filed by households leaving10,226
- Net household movement901
- Adjusted gross income arriving$616.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$90.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$55,358
- Average income of a leaving household$51,374
- Largest single originSan Diego County (488 households)
- Largest single destinationSan Diego County (391 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego County | 488 | 1,278 | $30.8 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 373 | 1,075 | $26.4 m |
| New Hanover County | 283 | 486 | $15.4 m |
| Carteret County | 280 | 517 | $16.1 m |
| Pender County | 255 | 506 | $18.3 m |
| Craven County | 248 | 462 | $12.0 m |
| Wake County | 222 | 402 | $18.2 m |
| San Bernardino County | 160 | 392 | $8.7 m |
Households arriving report $3,984 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is San Diego County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Onslow County
What is the Onslow County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$12.50 bn
- County GDP, 2023$11.74 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.5 percent
- GDP change over five years34.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes14th of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes373rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$60,132
Output grew 6.5 percent in the latest year and 34.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Onslow County
Employment by industry in Onslow County
- Covered employment, annual average54,121
- Establishments reporting4,377
- Average annual pay$46,885
- Average weekly wage$902
- Accommodation and food services, employment9,105
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,011
- Retail trade, employment8,264
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,373
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,961
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$49,391
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment3,667
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$45,057
- Construction, employment3,052
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment2,774
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 9,105 | 467 | $22,011 |
| Retail trade | 8,264 | 610 | $35,373 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,961 | 440 | $49,391 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 3,667 | 354 | $45,057 |
| Construction | 3,052 | 443 | $61,803 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,774 | 540 | $63,968 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,405 | 323 | $38,442 |
| Finance and insurance | 956 | 214 | $74,061 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 9,105 jobs, 16.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Onslow County
How many businesses are in Onslow County?
- Establishments, all industries3,080
- Employment at those establishments38,655
- Annual payroll$1.45 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents14.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Onslow County
Building permits in Onslow County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,246
- Declared construction value permitted$297.4 m
- Single family units authorized1,213
- Multifamily units authorized33
- Multifamily share of units2.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$238,685
- Units authorized per 1,000 households16.6
Single-family homes are 97.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Onslow County
SBA loans in Onslow County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded128
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$99.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$774,838
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- 10th percentile approval$49,580
- 90th percentile approval$1,986,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,067
- Jobs per approval16.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active48
- Distinct industries receiving approvals64
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer28.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms36
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter80
- Franchise loans39
- Franchise share of approvals30.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (21)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (16)
- 504 approvals recorded21
- 504 gross approval dollars$17.5 m
- Average 504 approval$831,286
- Median 504 approval$681,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval12.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.2
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (15)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$116.6 m
The average approval of $774,838 sits well above the median of $350,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 28.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Onslow County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Onslow County
Do SBA loans in Onslow County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded25
- Paid in full23
- Charged off2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure83
- Status: Paid in full23
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Cancelled14
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Only 25 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Onslow County
SBA lending by place in Onslow County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending13
- Jacksonville, approvals68
- Sneads Ferry, approvals15
- Holly Ridge, approvals15
- Surf City, approvals8
- Swansboro, approvals7
- Hubert, approvals5
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 68 | $68,245,700 |
| Sneads Ferry | 15 | $7,633,600 |
| Holly Ridge | 15 | $5,982,400 |
| Surf City | 8 | $9,198,600 |
| Swansboro | 7 | $1,953,000 |
| Hubert | 5 | $2,462,000 |
| Richlands | 3 | $250,000 |
| Peletier | 2 | $600,000 |
| 5 other borrower cities | 5 | $2,853,900 |
Jacksonville accounts for 68 approvals against 15 in Sneads Ferry. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Onslow County
How large is Onslow County?
- Land area763 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties12th of 100
- Width, east to west32.3 mi
- Height, north to south36.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land272
- Establishments per square mile4.04
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Onslow County
Flood risk in Onslow County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Onslow County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370340
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Onslow County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Onslow County (community 370340), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Onslow County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Onslow County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Onslow County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024207,906
- Households75,265
- Average household size2.76
- Median household income$68,148
- Median age27.7
Common questions
Onslow County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Onslow County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 212,954 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 207,906, in 75,265 households, ranking 13th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Onslow County's population growing?
The population has grown 4.09 percent since the 2020 census base of 204,588, to 212,954 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,884 births against 1,609 deaths, with net migration of -491. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Onslow County?
$68,148. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $236,400, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,265 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Onslow County?
3,080 establishments, employing 38,655 people with an annual payroll of $1.45 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Onslow County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 9,105 jobs, 16.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 54,121 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,885, or $902 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Onslow County?
128 7(a) approvals totaling $99.2 m since FY2020, across 48 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 21 504 approvals worth $17.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Onslow County?
1,246 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $297.4 m. Multifamily was 2.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Onslow County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Onslow County come from?
The largest single origin is San Diego County, with 488 households. Arriving households report an average income of $55,358 against $51,374 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Onslow County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Onslow County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Onslow County
Cities and places in Onslow.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Onslow County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | city | 71,279 | 68 | Wholly in this county |
| Piney Green | CDP | 14,078 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Half Moon | CDP | 7,378 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Holly Ridge | town | 4,904 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Surf City | town | 4,396 | 8 | 5.4 percent here, 94.6 percent Pender County |
| Swansboro | town | 3,997 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Sneads Ferry | CDP | 2,728 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Richlands | town | 2,335 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Pumpkin Center | CDP | 1,636 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| North Topsail Beach | town | 784 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 12 of the county's 128 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Onslow County, the largest being Hubert (5), Peletier (2), Leland (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.