Keener, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 271, Keener's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Keener is a small community located in North Carolina, within Sampson County. The total population is 271. It ranks as the 674th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Keener is 29.5 years. This is 25% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. With 28.8% of the population under 18, Keener has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 19.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Keener is $39,299. This is 46% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Keener. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Keener, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $139,200. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 53.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Keener is Black or African American, making up 49.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 43.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (49.8% vs 20.0%).

Education

14.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% 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 95.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Keener, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.