United States › North Carolina › Kenly CITY
Kenly North Carolina · 1,722 residents (2025 est.) · 1.88 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Kenly is home to 2,359 people in North Carolina. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 8% of adults. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 790 people. Owners hold 54% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $205,200, having roughly tripled since 2000. Median rent is $787 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 81%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 1,569 in 2000
1,722 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,255 / sq mi
+52%since 2009
from 824 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 36.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K 2K 2K 2K 3K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Kenly Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $57,045
+50%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,865 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $14,181 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 25.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.447 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 4.1%
Transportation & warehousing 1%
Public administration 0.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.3%
Education & health services 0%
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$205,200
+81%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$787
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $410 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 47.4% in 2000
45.8% rent
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.65 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 51.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 54.5%(855)
Hispanic / Latino 3.6%(56)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 58.7%(1,384)
Hispanic / Latino 14%(331)
from 67 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 67.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 20.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 80.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 16.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 55.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 56.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 15.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 18.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 39.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 79.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 92.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 83.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 11.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 41.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 9.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 38.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 47.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 46.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 21.3%(17)
Share of the 80 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Kenly, North Carolina? Kenly, North Carolina has about 2,359 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Kenly, North Carolina? The typical household in Kenly, North Carolina earns about $57,045 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Kenly, North Carolina expensive? In Kenly, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $205,200, and the typical rent is about $787 a month.
How educated are people in Kenly, North Carolina? About 7.9% of adults age 25 and over in Kenly, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Kenly, North Carolina? About 14.4% of people in Kenly, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Kenly, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Kenly, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 797 residents, a change of about 51 percent over that period.
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