ZIP 28539 · Swansboro, NC

Three governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 28539: the state, county, city or town and school district, and where each one's money comes from and goes.

Each government is shown for its own newest fiscal year on file, so the years differ. Figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, the government's own report or, for North Carolina governments, the North Carolina Local Government Commission, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 28539?
28539 is served by the State of North Carolina, Onslow County and the Town of Swansboro. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of North Carolina spent $89.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Onslow County spent $513 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Town of Swansboro spent $9.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 28539?
Of the governments serving 28539, Onslow County collected $79.7 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Town of Swansboro collected $2.6 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 28539.

See another ZIP code

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

See the full budget for: Onslow County and Swansboro

Why not this year? North Carolina governments with newer filings show figures from the North Carolina Local Government Commission (for 2025). Each other figure is the newest year the U.S. Census Bureau has published for that government, so the years differ and are not the current year. Most governments post their current budget on their own website.

Where property tax goes in 28539

Onslow County$79.7 million

14% of its $589 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Town of Swansboro$2.6 million

38% of its $6.8 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

These are each government's total property tax collections, not your bill. Your own bill is split by each government's tax rate, shown on your property tax bill.

Your county

Public schools here are run by Onslow County, so school money is part of its budget.

Onslow County

$513 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State tax money48%Fees for services (hospital bills, liquor stores)32%County taxes14%Federal tax money2.9%Fines and other2.4%Local tax money1.0%

What stands out

32%

of Onslow County's money comes from fees for services such as water, sewer and parking.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 11%.

Full Onslow County breakdown

County taxes14%

Property tax
14%$79.7 million
Other taxes
0.2%$1.3 million
What's in other taxesAlcoholic beverage taxes
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$1.3 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services32%

Fees for services
32%$188 million
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; liquor stores and 4 more
  • Hospital bills$157 million
  • Liquor stores$22.3 million
  • College tuition$4.1 million
  • School lunches$2.9 million
  • University housing and dining$1.7 million
  • School tuition and transportation$18 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.9%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
2.9%$16.9 million

State tax money48%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
48%$283 million

Local tax money1.0%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
1.0%$6.0 million

Fines and other2.4%

Interest, rents and other
2.3%$13.3 million
Fines
0.1%$650 thousand
Onslow County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges80%Health and hospitals14%Water, sewer, trash and utilities4.0%Interest on debt0.9%Sent to other local governments0.8%

What stands out

80%

of Onslow County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Onslow County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
80%$410 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities and 2 more
  • Elementary and secondary schools$371 million
  • Colleges and universities$35.2 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$2.4 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.0 million
Health and hospitals
14%$73.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$73.8 million
  • Public health$77 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
4.0%$20.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesLiquor stores
  • Liquor stores$20.5 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$4.4 million
Sent to other local governments
0.8%$4.3 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$4.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
<0.1%$55 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice
  • Police$55 thousand
Onslow County page →

Your town

Town of Swansboro

$9.5 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the North Carolina Local Government Commission.

About 34% of this ZIP is in Swansboro.

Where the money comes from

Town taxes71%Fees for services9.5%County and local tax money9.1%Fines and other8.4%State tax money2.4%
Full Swansboro breakdown

Town taxes71%

Property tax
38%$2.6 million
Sales tax
23%$1.6 million
Other taxes
7.6%$520 thousand
Tourism taxes
1.8%$123 thousand

Fees for services9.5%

Fees for services
9.5%$645 thousand

State tax money2.4%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
2.4%$160 thousand

County and local tax money9.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
9.1%$623 thousand

Fines and other8.4%

Interest, rents and other
8.4%$575 thousand
Swansboro page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs39%Police, fire, courts and jails28%Roads, transit and parking11%Housing and community development8.0%Water, sewer, trash and utilities6.1%All other spending7.3%
Full Swansboro breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
39%$3.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
28%$2.7 million
Roads, transit and parking
11%$1.1 million
Housing and community development
8.0%$756 thousand
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
6.1%$582 thousand
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.8%$364 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.5%$327 thousand
Swansboro page →

Your state

State of North Carolina

$89.8 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes45%Federal tax money36%Fees for services (hospital bills, university housing and dining)10%Fines and other7.3%Local tax money1.4%
Full North Carolina breakdown

What stands out

19%

of North Carolina's money comes from a personal income tax.A typical state government gets 14%.

State taxes45%

Individual income tax
19%$16.7 billion
Sales tax
14%$12.2 billion
Other taxes
10%$8.75 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; other selective sales taxes and 15 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$2.49 billion
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.32 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$1.23 billion
  • Motor vehicle licenses$1.02 billion
  • Corporation licenses$882 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$599 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$422 million
  • Tobacco taxes$262 million
  • Driver's licenses$139 million
  • Public utility taxes$128 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$111 million
  • Other licenses$52.1 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$41.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$30.5 million
  • Public utility licenses$23.6 million
  • Severance taxes$2.0 million
  • Amusement licenses$184 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
1.8%$1.56 billion

Fees for services10%

Fees for services
10%$8.93 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; university housing and dining and 16 more
  • Hospital bills$2.92 billion
  • University housing and dining$2.26 billion
  • College tuition$2.15 billion
  • Other service charges$1.01 billion
  • Road charges$216 million
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$104 million
  • Housing$73.7 million
  • Ports and waterways$64.4 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$61.4 million
  • Parks and recreation$39.5 million
  • Transit fares$22.1 million
  • Airport$3.9 million
  • Other education charges$3.8 million
  • Water$1.7 million
  • Parking$1.7 million
  • Other school charges$1.3 million
  • Garbage collection$284 thousand
  • Sewer$169 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money36%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
36%$31.4 billion

Local tax money1.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
1.4%$1.26 billion

Fines and other7.3%

Interest, rents and other
6.5%$5.65 billion
Fines
0.8%$702 million
North Carolina page →

Where the money goes

Social services35%Sent to local governments23%Schools and colleges16%Roads, transit and parking7.9%Police, fire, courts and jails5.2%All other spending13%

What stands out

35%

of North Carolina's spending goes to social services.A typical state government spends 31%.

Full North Carolina breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
35%$31.2 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$30.9 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$165 million
  • Welfare institutions$55.5 million
  • Veterans' services$17.8 million
Sent to local governments
23%$20.7 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools; sent to local governments: colleges and universities and 17 more
  • Sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools$14.0 billion
  • Sent to local governments: colleges and universities$1.77 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$1.31 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$1.06 billion
  • Sent to local governments: public health$893 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$523 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$312 million
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$248 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$159 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$92.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$76.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$51.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$50.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$50.7 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$33.4 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$21.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$18.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$1.3 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$466 thousand
Schools and colleges
16%$14.8 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; college housing, dining and bookstores and 3 more
  • Colleges and universities$8.31 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$3.02 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$2.02 billion
  • Elementary and secondary schools$761 million
  • Other education$664 million
Roads, transit and parking
7.9%$7.12 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; toll roads and bridges and 4 more
  • Roads and highways$6.48 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$342 million
  • Ports and harbors$181 million
  • Public transit$104 million
  • Airports$14.9 million
  • Parking$1.7 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
5.2%$4.65 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$2.15 billion
  • Courts and legal services$1.34 billion
  • Police$623 million
  • Inspections and regulation$284 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$255 million
Health and hospitals
4.9%$4.43 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$3.40 billion
  • Public health$1.04 billion
Running the government and other costs
4.8%$4.30 billion
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$1.99 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.65 billion
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$411 million
  • Other government administration$194 million
  • Government buildings$48.2 million
Environment and natural resources
1.0%$863 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$863 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$765 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.6%$557 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$547 million
  • Libraries$10.4 million
Housing and community development
0.6%$516 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$16.9 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$14.6 million
  • Water supply$1.6 million
  • Sewer systems$700 thousand
North Carolina page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of North Carolina. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Onslow County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Town of Swansboro. North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, Local Government Commission, Annual Financial Information Report (AFIR), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.

How these figures are counted. Revenue and spending are the figures that a North Carolina government reported to the North Carolina Local Government Commission in its Annual Financial Information Report, which restates the government's audited financial statements into one schedule, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. The report covers the general, special revenue, capital projects and debt service funds and the enterprise (utility) funds. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds and depreciation are not counted. Fiscal years end June 30.

Debt payments. The report lists principal and interest on both general and utility debt, so the "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest. The Census figures leave principal out, so spending can be higher than the Census figure for the same government.

Separate entities. Some city utilities and authorities are separate entities and are not in these figures.

How a ZIP is matched. A ZIP code is not a government boundary, so we match it to the cities, counties and school districts that overlap it, using Census Bureau geography. Where a ZIP crosses several, each one is shown with its share of the ZIP. Each government's money covers its own operations only; the others listed here are separate.

Not shown. Part of this ZIP is also served by Camp Lejeune Schools, which are not matched to a finance record here.

Latest recorded year. The year differs by government: each block shows the newest fiscal year on file. A Census survey year covers fiscal years ending July 1 of the year before through June 30 of that year.