The Town FilesJacksonville, North Carolina
City in Onslow County · population 72,723 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,100
- Household income
- $57,697
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 23.4
Jacksonville is a city of 72,723 people in Onslow County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $210,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 88% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 88% of North Carolina towns.
How Jacksonville ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jacksonville is worth $210,100, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $57,697, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,321 a month. 38.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jacksonville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,321 | $969 |
| Median household income | $57,697 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 38.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Jacksonville
| People | Jacksonville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.4 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 20.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 15.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Jacksonville
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 43 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jacksonville since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 1.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 130 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 29, 2008.
Severe weather in Onslow County since 1996
Onslow County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, biological, severe storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 19, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4837: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Onslow County
Onslow County had 54,121 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,885 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Jacksonville itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Jacksonville
25 public schools with 15,798 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville High | 9-12 | 1,449 | 19.8 |
| White Oak High | 9-12 | 1,226 | 19.5 |
| Northside High | 9-12 | 1,074 | 18.5 |
| Jacksonville Commons Middle | 6-8 | 970 | 17.3 |
| Hunters Creek Middle | 6-8 | 888 | 17.4 |
| Morton Elementary | PK-5 | 741 | 16.5 |
| Southwest Elementary | PK-5 | 740 | 13.7 |
| Southwest High | 9-12 | 685 | 16.7 |
| Northwoods Park Middle | 6-8 | 643 | 17.9 |
| Carolina Forest Elementary | K-5 | 631 | 14.7 |
| Hunters Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 627 | 14.3 |
| Clear View Elementary | K-5 | 579 | 16.1 |
Towns near Jacksonville
- Piney Green, NC5.8 mi · 14,386 people · home $227,600
- Half Moon, NC7.9 mi · 7,543 people · home $182,500
- Sneads Ferry, NC12.1 mi · 2,548 people · home $269,300
- Swansboro, NC14.9 mi · 3,744 people · home $378,700
- Holly Ridge, NC17.6 mi · 4,171 people · home $360,300
- Emerald Isle, NC21.1 mi · 3,847 people · home $603,700
- Surf City, NC21.7 mi · 3,867 people · home $512,300
- River Bend, NC27.2 mi · 2,902 people · home $266,100
Jacksonville questions
Is Jacksonville, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jacksonville scores better for retirees than 2% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 3%. 7.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.4).
How much does a house cost in Jacksonville?
The median owner-occupied home in Jacksonville is valued at $210,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,697, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,321 a month.
What is the weather like in Jacksonville?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Jacksonville get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jacksonville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)