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CITY · 2020 ACS

Kinston

North Carolina · 19,900 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 $32,094. Population has fallen 16% since 2000, a loss of 3,788 residents. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $98,200. The poverty rate of 27.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 43% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 16%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,900
−16%since 2000
from 23,688 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
43.5
+7%since 2000
from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K21K22K24K26K1990201020202024Kinston
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.9%(1,170)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(1,218)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.4%(1,282)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(1,232)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.3%(1,064)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.4%(2,259)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.1%(2,018)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.5%(2,093)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.6%(3,097)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.9%(2,576)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.3%(1,245)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.2%(646)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$32,094
−20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,630 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,176
+47%since 2000
from $17,779 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
16.0%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
27.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 23.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade20.8%
US avg: 10%
Information8.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$98,200
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$699
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $392 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
42.7%
−9.3 ptssince 2000
from 52.0% in 2000
57.3% rent
Afford Score
3.1
−17%since 2009
from 3.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic24.4%(4,854)
Black68.4%(13,615)
Hispanic / Latino3%(603)
Asian1%(208)
Other4.6%(920)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.9%(180)
Guatemalan0.6%(115)
Puerto Rican0.4%(82)
Panamanian0.3%(61)
Chilean0.2%(39)
Asian origin
Korean0.2%(40)
Chinese0.1%(27)
Malaysian0.1%(27)
Filipino0.1%(19)
Pakistani0.1%(11)
Ancestry
Subsaharan African10.8%(2,179)
English5.9%(1,183)
American5.2%(1,042)
Irish3.7%(748)
German3.4%(694)
Italian1.1%(223)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(181)
West Indian0.9%(178)
French0.9%(172)
Polish0.6%(124)
Hungarian0.5%(105)
Scottish0.5%(101)
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data
Slovak0.4%(84)
Romanian0.4%(75)
Russian0.3%(69)
Jamaican0.3%(63)
British0.3%(61)
Barbadian0.1%(29)
Swedish0.1%(18)
Haitian0.1%(16)
Moroccan0.1%(14)
Nigerian0.1%(13)
Dutch0.1%(12)
Greek0%(10)
Danish0%(8)
Welsh0%(5)
RANKED:Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
80.1%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 68.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.1%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 5.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.3 min
+26%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.1%
+11.5 ptssince 2009
from 70.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
17.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 14.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
52.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 53.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
29.6%
−35.0 ptssince 2009
from 64.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
Female
52.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.4%
−70.9 ptssince 2013
from 80.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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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Compare Kinston to nearby cities

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KINSTON VS
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KINSTON VS
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KINSTON VS
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Income$61,031+90%
Home value$240,100+145%
Population34,724+76%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Kinston, North Carolina?

Kinston, North Carolina has about 19,900 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Kinston, North Carolina earns about $32,094 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 $98,200, and the typical rent is about $699 a month.

How educated are people in Kinston, North Carolina?

About 16.7% 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 27.4% of people in Kinston, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kinston, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Kinston, North Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 5,395 residents, a change of about -21 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →