Jacksonville, Swansboro, Sneads Ferry, Richlands or the beach? Answer 7 quick questions about how you live and we will match you with the Onslow County town that fits.
Every town in the quiz gets a score on seven things people actually weigh when they move here: how close the beach is, how affordable it is, how family friendly it is, how much room you get, the drive to Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River, how close the stores and restaurants are, and how much small-town feel it has. Your answers set what you want on each one, and the quiz ranks the towns by how close they come. It is a starting point, not a verdict, so read up on your top three before you choose.
Onslow County’s hub and home to Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River. Western Boulevard has the shopping and restaurants, the Riverwalk sits on the New River downtown, and you get the widest choice of homes and rentals with the shortest drive to base.
A busy, unincorporated area east of Jacksonville along NC 24, a quick drive to Camp Lejeune’s main gate. Plenty of subdivisions and rentals at prices that are often a little easier than in the city.
A quieter, wooded community between Camp Lejeune and Swansboro, with creeks like Queens Creek and Bear Creek and newer neighborhoods on bigger lots. Swansboro and the Emerald Isle bridge are a short drive away.
The Friendly City by the Sea. A historic waterfront town on the White Oak River with shops and restaurants on Front Street, the Mullet Festival every October and the ferry to Bear Island at Hammocks Beach State Park.
A fishing village on the New River with shrimp boats at the docks and a Shrimp Festival every August. North Topsail Beach is minutes away and the Highway 172 route onto Camp Lejeune is close.
The quiet north end of Topsail Island. Oceanfront homes and condos, wide beaches and few crowds, with storm prep and flood insurance as part of the deal.
A small farm town in northwest Onslow County with bigger lots, newer subdivisions and a strong hometown feel. Jacksonville and the base are about a half hour away, and prices tend to be lower.
A fast-growing town on US 17 in southern Onslow County, about ten minutes from the Topsail Island beaches. Lots of newer neighborhoods, and it was home to Camp Davis during World War II.
If you are on PCS orders, start with the commute. Traffic on NC 24 and Western Boulevard at shift change is real, so a house ten minutes closer to your gate can save hours a week. Visit at the time you would actually drive. If you are looking at the coast, check the flood zone and ask what flood and wind insurance cost before you fall in love with a house. And whatever you choose, budget for the basics that come with a humid coastal climate: a working AC system, a termite bond and a plan for hurricane season.
Before you move in, it pays to have the HVAC checked, a termite inspection done and anything storm-related looked at. Tell us what you need and a local pro serving Onslow County will reach out. No cost and no obligation.