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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Kinston

North Carolina · 25,295 residents · 18.276 sq mi
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The short version

Kinston has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $18,253. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $53,900. The poverty rate of 25.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 32% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 36.3
US median: 33.0
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
25,295
+7%vs 2000
vs 23,688 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
36.3
−11%vs 2000
vs 40.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K21K22K24K26K1990201020202024Kinston
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.4%(1,619)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.9%(1,747)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.5%(1,906)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.6%(1,935)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.3%(1,334)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.2%(3,591)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415.1%(3,826)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.2%(2,335)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6410.8%(2,722)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 7410.3%(2,596)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845.3%(1,346)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.3%(338)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$18,253
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $26,630 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$10,490
−41%vs 2000
vs $17,779 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
25.2%
+2.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 23.0% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$53,900
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $77,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$281
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $392 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
52.0%
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 52.0% in 2000
48.0% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kinston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic35%(8,290)
Black62.4%(14,792)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(269)
Asian0.6%(133)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic41.7%(10,545)
Black57.9%(14,643)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(58)
Asian0.3%(64)
Other0.2%(43)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican1.7%(323)
Mexican1.1%(211)
Guatemalan0.2%(43)
Dominican0.1%(25)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.5%(100)
Chinese0.4%(84)
Vietnamese0.4%(76)
Cambodian0.1%(26)
Ancestry
English5%(976)
American4.1%(807)
German3.9%(755)
Irish3.6%(699)
Italian0.8%(160)
West Indian0.6%(120)
French0.6%(110)
Canadian0.4%(72)
Scottish0.4%(71)
Dutch0.3%(66)
+ 19 more ancestry groups with data
Romanian0.3%(61)
Ukrainian0.3%(57)
Portuguese0.3%(53)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(53)
Jamaican0.2%(40)
Polish0.2%(37)
Arab0.2%(34)
Egyptian0.2%(34)
British0.2%(31)
Haitian0.1%(28)
Russian0.1%(22)
Greek0.1%(17)
Norwegian0.1%(14)
Nigerian0.1%(11)
Lithuanian0.1%(10)
Swedish0.1%(10)
Welsh0%(8)
Swiss0%(5)
RANKED:Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.4%
−1.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 16.6% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
61.5%
−7.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 68.7% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
4.4%
−0.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 5.1% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.3 min
+4%vs 2000
vs 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married44.9%(3,245)
Married33.3%(2,408)
Widowed6.9%(500)
Divorced14.8%(1,073)
Women 15+
Never married43.8%(3,817)
Married28.7%(2,497)
Widowed13.6%(1,184)
Divorced13.9%(1,215)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Kinston to nearby cities

KINSTON VS
Winterville
Income$83,193+356%
Home value$245,100+355%
Population10,973−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
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Income$48,540+166%
Home value$200,400+272%
Population35,012+78%
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KINSTON VS
Greenville
Income$49,748+173%
Home value$233,500+333%
Population96,443+389%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
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Income$61,031+234%
Home value$240,100+345%
Population34,724+76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kinston, North Carolina?

Kinston, North Carolina has about 25,295 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Kinston, North Carolina?

The typical household in Kinston, North Carolina earns about $18,253 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kinston, North Carolina expensive?

In Kinston, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $53,900, and the typical rent is about $281 a month.

How educated are people in Kinston, North Carolina?

About 15.4% of adults age 25 and over in Kinston, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kinston, North Carolina?

About 25.2% of people in Kinston, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →