The Town FilesSneads Ferry, North Carolina
Community in Onslow County · population 2,548 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $269,300
- Household income
- $79,594
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 37.9
Sneads Ferry is a community of 2,548 people in Onslow County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $269,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 91% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 72% of North Carolina towns.
How Sneads Ferry 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 Sneads Ferry is worth $269,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $79,594, which is more affordable than 66% of North Carolina towns. 76.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sneads Ferry | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $269,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $79,594 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 76.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.7% | — |
Who lives in Sneads Ferry
| People | Sneads Ferry | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 21.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.6% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Sneads Ferry
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
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sneads Ferry since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 24, 2024 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 21, 1992.
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 Sneads Ferry itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Sneads Ferry
1 public school with 978 students, about 18.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon Middle | 6-8 | 978 | 18.1 |
Towns near Sneads Ferry
- Holly Ridge, NC9.4 mi · 4,171 people · home $360,300
- Jacksonville, NC12.1 mi · 72,723 people · home $210,100
- Surf City, NC12.1 mi · 3,867 people · home $512,300
- Piney Green, NC15.2 mi · 14,386 people · home $227,600
- Swansboro, NC16.8 mi · 3,744 people · home $378,700
- Half Moon, NC19.5 mi · 7,543 people · home $182,500
- Emerald Isle, NC21.1 mi · 3,847 people · home $603,700
- Hampstead, NC25.3 mi · 7,016 people · home $402,100
Sneads Ferry questions
Is Sneads Ferry, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sneads Ferry scores better for retirees than 29% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 49%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Sneads Ferry?
The median owner-occupied home in Sneads Ferry is valued at $269,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,594, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Sneads Ferry?
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 Sneads Ferry get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sneads Ferry since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 24, 2024. 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)