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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS

Kinston Micro

Kinston, NC · 1 counties · 55,122 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 $39,923. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $94,000. The poverty rate of 22.0% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
55,122
−8%since 2000
from 59,648 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
138 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 149 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
43.1
+13%since 2000
from 38.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
54K56K57K59K60K1990201020202024Kinston
202455K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.4%(2,980)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(3,339)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.8%(3,740)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(3,442)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(2,998)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.2%(6,185)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.9%(6,030)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.8%(6,528)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.1%(8,340)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.3%(6,777)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.2%(3,409)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(1,354)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,923
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,191 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,894
+49%since 2000
from $16,744 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
23.4%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
22.0%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 16.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.5%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.7%
Information8.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction3.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$94,000
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $69,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$707
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $405 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
60.1%
−6.9 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
39.9% rent
Afford Score
2.4
−17%since 2009
from 2.8 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-Hispanic55.5%(33,075)
Black40.3%(24,016)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(1,891)
Asian0.3%(199)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic48.2%(26,582)
Black40%(22,034)
Hispanic / Latino7.9%(4,365)
Asian0.6%(332)
Other4.5%(2,466)
Segregation Score
39
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican6.2%(3,488)
Puerto Rican0.7%(396)
Guatemalan0.4%(231)
Honduran0.1%(62)
Panamanian0.1%(61)
Chilean0.1%(39)
Dominican0.1%(34)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(77)
Chinese0.1%(48)
Filipino0.1%(31)
Malaysian0%(27)
Pakistani0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English8.7%(4,930)
American8.7%(4,906)
Irish5.6%(3,157)
German5.2%(2,930)
Italian1.6%(916)
Scottish1.4%(777)
French0.9%(484)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(483)
West Indian0.4%(253)
Polish0.4%(237)
British0.4%(220)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch0.4%(199)
Swedish0.3%(169)
Welsh0.3%(156)
Jamaican0.2%(122)
Hungarian0.2%(112)
Russian0.2%(103)
Slovak0.2%(91)
Romanian0.1%(75)
Austrian0.1%(64)
Lebanese0.1%(63)
Norwegian0.1%(53)
Palestinian0.1%(36)
Danish0.1%(33)
Portuguese0.1%(32)
Barbadian0.1%(29)
Haitian0%(16)
Ukrainian0%(15)
Moroccan0%(14)
Greek0%(14)
Nigerian0%(13)
Czech0%(8)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
81.1%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 71.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+50%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.5%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
9.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.9%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 11.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
57.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
30.7%
−29.9 ptssince 2009
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
51.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.2%
−69.8 ptssince 2013
from 81.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married37.6%(7,920)
Married45.2%(9,503)
Widowed5.1%(1,068)
Divorced12.1%(2,548)
Women 15+
Never married34.5%(8,214)
Married40.3%(9,584)
Widowed12.6%(2,993)
Divorced12.6%(3,006)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

KinstonCENTRAL19,705La Grange2,947Grifton2,539Jackson Heights794Deep Run662Pink Hill459Graingers27
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+22%
Home value$137,300+46%
Population52,501−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
Bogalusa
Income$45,380+14%
Home value$155,700+66%
Population44,937−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
Douglas
Income$49,338+24%
Home value$120,851+29%
Population52,861−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KINSTON VS
Eagle Pass
Income$49,568+24%
Home value$158,700+69%
Population58,823+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kinston, NC?

Kinston, NC has about 55,122 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kinston, NC?

The typical household in Kinston, NC earns about $39,923 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 $94,000, and the typical rent is about $707 a month.

How educated are people in Kinston, NC?

About 15.5% 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 22.0% 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 2,152 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 →