© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Jacksonville.
About
Life in Jacksonville
Jacksonville's identity is inseparable from Camp Lejeune and the military presence, which fundamentally shapes the city's demographics, economy, and community character. This means a young, transient population, affordable housing relative to many coastal areas, and a job market tied to defense spending—but also frequent military moves and less established civic traditions. Housing is reasonably priced with a median home value around $210,100 and median rent at $1,321, which helps offset a median household income of $57,697 that's below state averages.
Jacksonville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
23.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.7%
Foreign-Born
6.6%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
+0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.6% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Jacksonville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Jacksonville, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (11.5%), and 11.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.2%
of residents
65 and Older
7.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.1%
of households
Married Couples
51.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.31
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 8% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Jacksonville
In Jacksonville, rent runs 8% above the NC average, and home values are 27% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,870
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
38.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $261,539 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts above NC average
Unemployment in Jacksonville
Unemployment in Jacksonville is 1.3 percentage points higher than the NC average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Jacksonville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15 min avg
How Jacksonville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Jacksonville, most residents drive alone to work (54%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Albert J Ellis Airport (OAJ)
Regional airport · few flights156k passengers boarded in 2025
- 109 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 31% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Jacksonville runs 31% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
227.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,725.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Jacksonville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Onslow County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Onslow County, which includes Jacksonville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 12 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 11 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 7 | Hail | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Onslow County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lenoir County, NC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 38 miles from Jacksonville) is typically good — 239 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
239
per year
Moderate Days
6
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Lenoir County, NC (38 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Jacksonville has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
56.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.6"
Hot Days/Year
44
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
43
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 35°F | 3.96" |
| Feb | 59°F | 38°F | 3.50" |
| Mar | 66°F | 43°F | 3.79" |
| Apr | 74°F | 52°F | 3.35" |
| May | 80°F | 61°F | 4.20" |
| Jun | 87°F | 69°F | 5.24" |
| Jul | 89°F | 73°F | 6.18" |
| Aug | 88°F | 71°F | 7.48" |
| Sep | 83°F | 67°F | 7.45" |
| Oct | 75°F | 55°F | 4.13" |
| Nov | 66°F | 44°F | 3.55" |
| Dec | 59°F | 38°F | 3.68" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Jacksonville
Jacksonville has 3 hospitals, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
9.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Onslow Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nmc Camp Lejeune
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available
Brynn Marr Hosp
Psychiatric · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Jacksonville
Jacksonville's student/teacher ratio is 16.1:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 26.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
11
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Jacksonville
Coastal Carolina Community College
Public · 2-year · 2,724 students · in-state tuition $2,512 · 33% graduate · median earnings $43,014 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Moores Creek National Battlefield, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Jacksonville
Jacksonville has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Moores Creek National Battlefield (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
45 mi awayCape Lookout National Seashore
National Seashore
60 mi awayPublic Libraries in Jacksonville
Onslow County Public Library
58 Doris Avenue E, Jacksonville
Cities Near Jacksonville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Jacksonville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Jacksonville FAQ
Is Jacksonville, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Jacksonville's median rent is $1,321/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $57,697/year. Median home value is $210,100.
Is Jacksonville, North Carolina safe?⌄
Jacksonville's violent crime rate was 228 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1725 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Jacksonville, North Carolina?⌄
Jacksonville has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Jacksonville, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Jacksonville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,321/month and median household income is $57,697/year. The median home value is $210,100. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Jacksonville, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Jacksonville is 15 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from