The Town FilesRichlands, North Carolina
Town in Onslow County · population 2,287 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $248,800
- Household income
- $65,163
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 29.5
Richlands is a town of 2,287 people in Onslow County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $248,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 89% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 79% of North Carolina towns.
How Richlands 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 Richlands is worth $248,800, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $65,163, which is more affordable than 49% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 66.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Richlands | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $248,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $798 | $969 |
| Median household income | $65,163 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 66.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Richlands
| People | Richlands | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 33.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 14.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 34.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 89.5% |
Weather in Richlands
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 31.5°F. About 55.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richlands since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 16, 2011 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 22, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 21, 2000.
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 Richlands itself the ACS puts it at 9.7%.
Public schools in Richlands
4 public schools with 2,954 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richlands High | 9-12 | 1,043 | 18.0 |
| Trexler Middle | 6-8 | 759 | 17.7 |
| Richlands Elementary | K-5 | 620 | 14.4 |
| Heritage Elementary School | K-5 | 532 | 14.4 |
Towns near Richlands
- Half Moon, NC6.7 mi · 7,543 people · home $182,500
- Pumpkin Center, NC12.7 mi · 1,855 people · home $189,600
- Beulaville, NC13.1 mi · 1,116 people · home $147,000
- Jacksonville, NC14.4 mi · 72,723 people · home $210,100
- Piney Green, NC16.5 mi · 14,386 people · home $227,600
- Maysville, NC17.6 mi · 818 people · home $160,500
- Deep Run, NC19.5 mi · 572 people · home $73,400
- Greenevers, NC22.3 mi · 567 people · home $77,100
Richlands questions
Is Richlands, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Richlands scores better for retirees than 7% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 29%. 7.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.5).
How much does a house cost in Richlands?
The median owner-occupied home in Richlands is valued at $248,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,163, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Richlands?
July highs average 89.9°F and January lows 31.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Richlands get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richlands since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 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)