The Town FilesSwansboro, North Carolina
Town in Onslow County · population 3,744 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $378,700
- Household income
- $114,425
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 44.7
Swansboro is a town of 3,744 people in Onslow County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $378,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more seaside character than 92% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 81% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Swansboro 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 Swansboro is worth $378,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $114,425, which is more affordable than 69% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,106 a month. 72.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swansboro | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $378,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,106 | $969 |
| Median household income | $114,425 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Swansboro
| People | Swansboro | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 16.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Swansboro
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 60.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swansboro since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 5, 2019 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 15, 2024.
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 Swansboro itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Swansboro
5 public schools with 4,103 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swansboro High | 9-12 | 1,192 | 18.1 |
| Swansboro Middle | 6-8 | 958 | 16.8 |
| Queens Creek Elementary | PK-5 | 760 | 14.6 |
| Swansboro Elementary | K-5 | 633 | 15.1 |
| Sand Ridge Elementary | K-5 | 560 | 13.7 |
Towns near Swansboro
- Emerald Isle, NC6.2 mi · 3,847 people · home $603,700
- Piney Green, NC10.7 mi · 14,386 people · home $227,600
- Jacksonville, NC14.9 mi · 72,723 people · home $210,100
- Newport, NC15.4 mi · 4,364 people · home $233,600
- Sneads Ferry, NC16.8 mi · 2,548 people · home $269,300
- Havelock, NC20.0 mi · 16,621 people · home $207,700
- Half Moon, NC20.7 mi · 7,543 people · home $182,500
- Morehead City, NC22.6 mi · 9,556 people · home $357,400
Swansboro questions
Is Swansboro, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swansboro scores better for retirees than 72% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 55%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Swansboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Swansboro is valued at $378,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $114,425, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,106 a month.
What is the weather like in Swansboro?
July highs average 87.5°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Swansboro get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swansboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 5, 2019. 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)