Cost of Living in Onslow County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Onslow County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Onslow County ranks #2,676 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 15%)
Sourced county brief
Onslow County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,265 Per Month
Median gross rent in Onslow County was estimated at $1,265 per month, a figure that is $288 higher than the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $977. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.4%. This official GRAPI value is 1.5 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 28.9%. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,269, while the state unweighted county mean for this metric was $927. The median home value in the county was $236,400, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $235,312. Among renter-occupied households, the median income was $48,623. All reported figures are based on the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates and are provided for snapshot analysis rather than relocation guidance. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Onslow County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.4% of renter household income in Onslow County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,265 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,269. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $50,600 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Onslow County's $1,265 median is 29.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Onslow County
Rent Burden
22.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,590
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.3%
of gross income
The median home in Onslow County may be a stretch
Median home value is $236,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,887 vs. your max of $1,590.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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