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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Kinston Micro

Kinston, NC · 1 counties · 59,495 residents · 399.087 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 $33,625. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $91,900. The poverty rate of 22.7% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 41.0
US median: 37.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
59,495
Unchangedsince 2000
from 59,648 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
149 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2000
from 149 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
41.0
+8%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
54K56K57K59K60K1990201020202024Kinston
202455K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$33,625
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,191 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,017
+14%since 2000
from $16,744 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
17.3%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
22.7%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.458
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade17.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Information9.2%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade7.9%
US avg: 7.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction3.5%
US avg: 1.4%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 7%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$91,900
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$622
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $405 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
37.4%
−29.5 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
37.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
27.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.7
+24%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic51.3%(30,492)
Black40.3%(23,968)
Hispanic / Latino6.6%(3,917)
Asian0.4%(256)
Other1.3%(768)
Diversity Score71.1%(42,328)
Diversity Score
71
+9%since 2000
from 65 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
76.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 71.9% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.3 min
+42%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
76.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
16.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
10.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
17.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
27.5%
−33.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
52.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
12.3%
−33.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+45%
Home value$137,300+49%
Population52,501−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
Bogalusa
Income$45,380+35%
Home value$155,700+69%
Population44,937−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
Douglas
Income$49,338+47%
Home value$120,851+32%
Population52,861−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
Eagle Pass
Income$49,568+47%
Home value$158,700+73%
Population58,823+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kinston, NC?

Kinston, NC has about 59,495 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kinston, NC?

The typical household in Kinston, NC earns about $33,625 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 $91,900, and the typical rent is about $622 a month.

How educated are people in Kinston, NC?

About 14.5% 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 22.7% of people in Kinston, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Kinston, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Kinston, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,221 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

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