County profile · North Carolina
Onslow County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Onslow County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 217,175
- +6.0% since 2020
- Households
- 75,265
- Median household income
- $68,148
- +35.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $236,400
- Jobs located here
- 48,126
- Highest market score
- 86
- Insurance agencies, #109 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Onslow County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Onslow County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 217,175 people live in Onslow County, in 75,265 households. Population estimates show Onslow County grew 6.0% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Onslow County is $68,148 a year, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 35.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Onslow County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (63).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Onslow County are for insurance agencies (86), gas stations (79) and electricians (78). Onslow County ranks #109 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Onslow County is part of the Jacksonville metro area. For its number of households, Onslow County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for barbershops (92% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for chiropractors (63% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Onslow County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Onslow County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 86 | #109 of 2,272 | 53 | 7.0 | $3.6M | 288 | 47 |
| Gas stations | 79 | #166 of 2,358 | 61 | 8.1 | $3.7M | 153 | 64 |
| Electricians | 78 | #61 of 1,160 | 12 | 1.6 | $17M | 142 | 29 |
| Chiropractors | 78 | #76 of 1,490 | 15 | 2.0 | $5.2M | 219 | 7 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 72 | #173 of 1,327 | 16 | 2.1 | $4.3M | 138 | 15 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 68 | #230 of 1,302 | 18 | 2.4 | $4.4M | 139 | 11 |
| Convenience stores | 68 | #496 of 2,261 | 65 | 8.6 | $6.7M | 85 | 14 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 67 | #353 of 1,886 | 52 | 6.9 | $1.5M | 154 | 35 |
| Grocery stores | 67 | #486 of 2,070 | 44 | 5.8 | $9.9M | 107 | 25 |
| Laundromats | 66 | #198 of 785 | 9 | 1.2 | $14.5M | 116 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 66 | #568 of 2,402 | 143 | 19.0 | $3M | 90 | 39 |
| Veterinarians | 64 | #410 of 1,485 | 26 | 3.5 | $2.4M | 87 | 18 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 64 | #417 of 1,889 | 46 | 6.1 | $5.7M | 137 | 40 |
| Home repair trades | 63 | #467 of 2,057 | 94 | 12.5 | $2.2M | 90 | 91 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 62 | #437 of 1,493 | 49 | 6.5 | $2.1M | 73 | 49 |
| Pet stores | 61 | #300 of 974 | 14 | 1.9 | $4.4M | 97 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 61 | #470 of 1,707 | 47 | 6.2 | $4.4M | 91 | 58 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 61 | #490 of 1,656 | 40 | 5.3 | $2M | 110 | 61 |
| Funeral homes | 60 | #490 of 1,472 | 13 | 1.7 | $533K | 79 | 5 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 60 | #756 of 2,394 | 346 | 46.0 | $227K | 149 | 135 |
| Roofing and gutters | 59 | #396 of 1,177 | 35 | 4.7 | $5.8M | 69 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 59 | #504 of 1,451 | 33 | 4.4 | $2.1M | 82 | 7 |
| Pest control | 58 | #245 of 699 | 9 | 1.2 | $11.6M | 113 | 14 |
| Child care and preschools | 57 | #636 of 1,611 | 33 | 4.4 | $863K | 86 | 37 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 56 | #202 of 479 | 6 | 0.8 | $11.4M | 83 | 5 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 56 | #265 of 777 | 11 | 1.5 | $4.2M | 104 | 18 |
| Physical therapy | 56 | #560 of 1,422 | 33 | 4.4 | $2.4M | 99 | 21 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 54 | #864 of 2,063 | 73 | 9.7 | $3.6M | 97 | 35 |
| Auto repair shops | 53 | #1,077 of 2,378 | 175 | 23.3 | $390K | 88 | 59 |
| Auto repair and car care | 53 | #1,109 of 2,401 | 287 | 38.1 | $238K | 89 | 89 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 52 | #789 of 1,771 | 82 | 10.9 | $1.3M | 76 | 105 |
| Home inspectors | 51 | #193 of 415 | 5 | 0.7 | Index only | 82 | 5 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 51 | #1,141 of 2,405 | 384 | 51.0 | $681K | 103 | 129 |
| Pet businesses | 50 | #1,107 of 2,200 | 94 | 12.5 | $656K | 75 | 49 |
| Gyms | 49 | #967 of 1,792 | 47 | 6.2 | $992K | 76 | 18 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 49 | #1,168 of 2,210 | 137 | 18.2 | $956K | 109 | 58 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 48 | #1,133 of 2,087 | 104 | 13.8 | $1.3M | 99 | 51 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 47 | #1,315 of 2,405 | 709 | 94.2 | $369K | 100 | 342 |
| Hair salons | 47 | #1,344 of 2,339 | 188 | 25.0 | $335K | 78 | 26 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 46 | #511 of 887 | 29 | 3.9 | Index only | 95 | 15 |
| House cleaning | 45 | #521 of 847 | 24 | 3.2 | $4.3M | 68 | 42 |
| Property management | 44 | #565 of 910 | 30 | 4.0 | Index only | 65 | 29 |
| Tire shops | 44 | #940 of 1,530 | 38 | 5.0 | $1.8M | 72 | 16 |
| Nail salons | 43 | #894 of 1,328 | 49 | 6.5 | $1.3M | 77 | 14 |
| Pizza | 43 | #1,315 of 2,090 | 66 | 8.8 | $4M | 78 | 175 |
| Spas and skin care | 41 | #1,214 of 1,769 | 69 | 9.2 | $913K | 104 | 21 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 40 | #971 of 1,461 | 39 | 5.2 | $1.6M | 62 | 25 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 39 | #1,530 of 2,088 | 97 | 12.9 | $481K | 73 | 36 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 37 | #1,617 of 2,222 | 118 | 15.7 | $2.2M | 73 | 175 |
| Barbershops | 36 | #1,010 of 1,356 | 77 | 10.2 | $818K | 43 | 5 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 36 | #1,927 of 2,385 | 390 | 51.8 | $162K | 76 | 66 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 35 | #1,049 of 1,334 | 39 | 5.2 | $1.2M | 59 | 18 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 35 | #1,868 of 2,176 | 275 | 36.5 | Index only | 72 | 106 |
| Real estate | 35 | #1,890 of 2,229 | 339 | 45.0 | Index only | 74 | 168 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.3 | $65.5M | Too few | 4 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Onslow County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $68.2M | $907 | 95 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $222.9M | $2,962 | 114 |
| Food away from home | $261.7M | $3,477 | 85 |
| Groceries | $435.8M | $5,790 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $63M | $837 | 83 |
| Child care and other personal services | $28.5M | $378 | 65 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $46.6M | $619 | 63 |
| Medical and dental services | $78.6M | $1,044 | 81 |
| Pets | $61.7M | $819 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $130.9M | $1,739 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $191.5M | $2,544 | 130 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $204.6M | $2,718 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $104.1M | $1,383 | 98 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.1B | $14,353 | 86 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Onslow County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 217,175+6.0% since 2020
- Households
- 75,265
- Median age
- 30.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 64%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 762 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 273
- Median household income
- $68,148+35.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $85,766
- Median home value
- $236,400
- Jobs located here
- 48,126
- Daytime population
- 192,000Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Onslow County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Onslow County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Jones County, NC9,302 people
- Pender County, NC65,550 people
- Craven County, NC102,612 people
- Carteret County, NC69,148 people
- Duplin County, NC49,335 people
- Lenoir County, NC54,919 people
- Pamlico County, NC12,390 people
- New Hanover County, NC235,229 people
Questions
How fast is Onslow County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Onslow County at 217,175 people in 2025, up 6.0% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 75,265 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 35.5%, before inflation.
How much do households in Onslow County, NC spend?
Households in Onslow County spend about $1.1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $435.8M on groceries and $261.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Onslow County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (63).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Onslow County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Onslow County, insurance agencies (86), gas stations (79) and electricians (78) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #109 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Onslow County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Onslow County is $68,148, 16% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 6.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $236,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for barbershops (92% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for chiropractors (63% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 54 of the 56 business types have a score in Onslow County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Onslow County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Onslow County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Onslow County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.