The Town FilesHalf Moon, North Carolina
Community in Onslow County · population 7,543 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,500
- Household income
- $68,946
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 28.3
Half Moon is a community of 7,543 people in Onslow County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $182,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 79% of North Carolina towns.
How Half Moon 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 Half Moon is worth $182,500, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $68,946, which is more affordable than 88% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,210 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Half Moon | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,500 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,210 | $969 |
| Median household income | $68,946 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Half Moon
| People | Half Moon | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 22.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Half Moon
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 32.4°F. About 58.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Half Moon since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 16, 2011 about 8.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 139 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.50 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 Half Moon itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Half Moon
- Jacksonville, NC7.9 mi · 72,723 people · home $210,100
- Piney Green, NC10.0 mi · 14,386 people · home $227,600
- Sneads Ferry, NC19.5 mi · 2,548 people · home $269,300
- Swansboro, NC20.7 mi · 3,744 people · home $378,700
- Holly Ridge, NC23.0 mi · 4,171 people · home $360,300
- River Bend, NC24.1 mi · 2,902 people · home $266,100
- Brices Creek, NC25.7 mi · 3,542 people · home $338,700
- Emerald Isle, NC26.8 mi · 3,847 people · home $603,700
Half Moon questions
Is Half Moon, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Half Moon scores better for retirees than 20% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 4%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.3).
How much does a house cost in Half Moon?
The median owner-occupied home in Half Moon is valued at $182,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,946, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,210 a month.
What is the weather like in Half Moon?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 32.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Half Moon get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Half Moon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 16, 2011. 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)