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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Kinston Micro

Kinston, NC · 1 counties · 55,837 residents (2025 est.) · 399.087 sq mi
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#43Fastest shrinkingof 918-7.4%
The short version

Kinston has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $45,143. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $120,500. The poverty rate of 22.0% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
54,919
−8%since 2000
from 59,648 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
138 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 149 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.9
+10%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:55,837 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
54K56K57K59K60K1990201020202024Kinston
202455K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,143
−21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,191 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,431
+76%since 2000
from $16,744 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.8%
+15.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.0%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.479
+5%since 2010
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$120,500
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$861
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $405 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
59.2%
−7.8 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
40.8% rent
Vacancy rate
13.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.7%
−8.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+21%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
4
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kinston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic55.5%(33,075)
Black40.3%(24,016)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(1,891)
Asian0.3%(199)
Other0%
Diversity Score65.2%(38,916)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic47.3%(25,969)
Black39.2%(21,540)
Hispanic / Latino8.8%(4,843)
Asian0.7%(410)
Other3.9%(2,157)
Diversity Score76.6%(42,095)
Segregation Score40.4%(22,168)
Diversity Score
77
+17%since 2000
from 65 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
40
+3%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.3%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.9%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 71.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.3 min
+55%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.4%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 11.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.1%
−29.5 ptssince 2009
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
52.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.3%
−37.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2012
from 19.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.1%
−70.9 ptssince 2013
from 81.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.3%
+10.1 ptssince 2017
from 71.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2016
from 92.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 6.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

KinstonCENTRAL19,705
What's inside

1 component county

Lenoir CountyCENTRAL55,837
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Kinston

Carbondale
Pop 52,501
Bogalusa
Pop 44,937
Douglas
Pop 52,861
Eagle Pass
Pop 58,823
Places similar to Kinston
Head to head

Compare Kinston side by side

KINSTON VS
Carbondale
Income$48,763+8%
Home value$137,300+14%
Population52,501−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
Bogalusa
Income$45,380+1%
Home value$155,700+29%
Population44,937−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
Douglas
Income$49,338+9%
Home value$120,851same
Population52,861−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
Eagle Pass
Income$49,568+10%
Home value$158,700+32%
Population58,823+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kinston, NC?

Kinston, NC has about 54,919 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kinston, NC?

The typical household in Kinston, NC earns about $45,143 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Kinston, NC expensive?

In Kinston, NC, the median home is worth about $120,500, and the typical rent is about $861 a month.

How educated are people in Kinston, NC?

About 16.3% of adults age 25 and over in Kinston, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Kinston, NC?

About 22.0% of people in Kinston, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kinston, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Kinston, NC has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,355 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →