What are the schools like in Swansboro, NC?

Swansboro is served primarily by Onslow County Schools. The district operates 22 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 8 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1.

What is the median household income in Swansboro?

The median household income in Swansboro, NC is $105,779 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Swansboro, NC?

Swansboro has an average high temperature of 55.0°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 64.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.6 inches.

Swansboro, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Swansboro, NC affordable or expensive?

Swansboro's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Swansboro is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $315,600 and the median rent is $1,029 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Swansboro, NC?

Swansboro has a violent crime rate of 46.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1872.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Swansboro, NC a Good Place to Live?

Swansboro is a small town of 3,759 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $105,779 . Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Swansboro stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Swansboro is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Swansboro city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.6

Swansboro's overall cost of living index is 91.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Swansboro costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Swansboro, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$315,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,029	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$105,779	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Swansboro's violent crime rate is 46.8 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

46.8 /100k

Property Crime

1872.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Swansboro is served primarily by Onslow County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Swansboro, NC	National Avg
School District	Onslow County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	22	—
Middle Schools	8	—
High Schools	8	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	42.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Swansboro sees average highs of 55.0°F in January and 87.5°F in July, with 64.3 inches of annual precipitation and 0.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Swansboro, NC
Average High — January	55.0°F
Average High — July	87.5°F
Annual Precipitation	64.3"
Annual Snowfall	0.6"

Demographics

Metric	Swansboro, NC	National Avg
Population	3,759	—
Median Age	39.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	32.8%	22.2%
65 and over	21.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cedar Point, NC 3 mi Cape Carteret, NC 4 mi Peletier, NC 4 mi Bogue, NC 6 mi Emerald Isle, NC 6 mi

Swansboro vs Other Cities

Swansboro, NC vs Cedar Point, NC Swansboro, NC vs Cape Carteret, NC Swansboro, NC vs Peletier, NC Swansboro, NC vs Bogue, NC Swansboro, NC vs Emerald Isle, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Swansboro, NC affordable or expensive?

Swansboro's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Swansboro roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $315,600 and median rent is $1,029/month.

What is the crime rate in Swansboro, NC?

Swansboro's violent crime rate is 46.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1872.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Swansboro?

Public schools in Swansboro are operated by Onslow County Schools. The district has 22 elementary, 8 middle, and 8 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 42.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Swansboro, NC a good place to live?

Swansboro, NC has a population of 3,759, a median household income of $105,779, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Swansboro?

Swansboro averages 55.0°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 64.3 inches with about 0.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Swansboro?

The population of Swansboro, North Carolina is 3,759 with a median age of 39.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Swansboro?

Key numbers for living in Swansboro: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $315,600, median household income $105,779, crime index 43 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Swansboro side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.