Onslow County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Onslow County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Onslow County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Onslow County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $68,395 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,969 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.0% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.5% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Onslow County is about 6% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Onslow County (4.9%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Onslow County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Onslow County, North Carolina grew by 64.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $68,395 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Onslow County
| Metric | Onslow County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.513 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $43,935 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,986 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -6.9% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Onslow County, it is 0.513, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Women's income is about 7% more than men's income in Onslow County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 7% wage gap accumulates to roughly $106,785 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Onslow County, North Carolina has widened from about -2% to -7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 11% in 2015, and in 2023 women out-earned men by 8%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,467 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Onslow County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.8% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 3,967 people are unemployed in Onslow County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Onslow County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Onslow County, North Carolina has fallen from 6.5% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.8% in 2013.
Onslow County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Onslow County, NC is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 207,702 residents against a local median of 54,882. Where Onslow County, NC breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 26% below the local median of 4.7% at 3.5%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.9%/yr against a local median of 5.8%/yr, 16% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Onslow County, NC is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 5.2% on unemployment, so Onslow County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Onslow County, NC has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onslow County, NC | 207,702 | $68,395 #2/6 | 4.9%/yr #4/6 | 3.5% #1/6 | 0.513 #1/6 |
| Jones County, NC | 9,300 | $59,628 | 7.4%/yr | 4.3% | 0.521 |
| Pender County, NC | 65,530 | $80,638 | 7.2%/yr | 4.7% | 0.549 |
| Craven County, NC | 102,613 | $65,003 | 3.9%/yr | 3.7% | 0.523 |
| Duplin County, NC | 49,292 | $55,498 | 5.8%/yr | 5.3% | 0.515 |
| Lenoir County, NC | 54,882 | $45,135 | 2.6%/yr | 9.0% | 0.535 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Onslow County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Onslow County, North Carolina.
How Wealthy Is Onslow County, North Carolina?
Onslow County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $68,395, about 6% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Onslow County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Onslow County, North Carolina rose 64%, from $41,690 to $68,395. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +64% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Onslow County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Onslow County, North Carolina was $64,903, up 8% from $59,973 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Onslow County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Onslow County, North Carolina was $51,917. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $68,395.
Is unemployment high in Onslow County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Onslow County, North Carolina is only 3.5%, well below the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Onslow County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Onslow County is 0.513. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Onslow County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Onslow County, North Carolina has widened from about -2% to -7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 11% in 2015, and in 2023 women out-earned men by 8%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,467 since 2009.
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