Johnston County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Johnston County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 226,623. It is the 12th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Johnston County is 38.3 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Johnston County is $79,838. This is 14% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 2% higher. The poverty rate stands at 11.2%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $267,600. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Johnston County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 16.5%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

27.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.5%.