Johnston County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Johnston County, North Carolina has a population of 234,263, the 12th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $83,384 and the median home value is $305,600. The poverty rate is 10.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Johnston County Quick Facts
How Johnston County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 226,623 | 234,263 | +3.4% |
| Median household income | $79,838 | $83,384 | +4.4% |
| Median home value | $267,600 | $305,600 | +14.2% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Johnston County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield | 12,116 | $43,270 | 27.4% | $242,500 |
| Selma | 6,817 | $41,368 | 24.7% | $171,600 |
| Archer Lodge | 5,186 | $91,188 | 17.4% | $324,500 |
| Benson | 4,282 | $67,102 | 14.4% | $279,800 |
| Wilson's Mills | 2,753 | $62,813 | 31.9% | $241,800 |
| Four Oaks | 2,459 | $72,826 | 15.3% | $253,700 |
| Kenly | 2,359 | $57,045 | 14.4% | $205,200 |
| Pine Level | 2,031 | $75,263 | 8.0% | $221,000 |
| Princeton | 1,658 | $45,500 | 9.7% | $215,400 |
| Micro | 573 | $44,531 | 22.9% | $170,700 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Johnston County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 234,263. It is the 12th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Johnston County is 38.1 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Johnston County is $83,384. This is 15% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.6%. This is 18% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $305,600. Housing costs are 6% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 76.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Johnston County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.8%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
28.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Johnston County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Johnston County, North Carolina?
Johnston County has a population of 234,263, making it the 12th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Johnston County?
The median household income in Johnston County is $83,384 with a poverty rate of 10.6%.
How many cities are in Johnston County, North Carolina?
Johnston County contains 10 Census-designated places.