Kenly town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Kenly town is a small community located in North Carolina. The total population is 2,351. It ranks as the 314th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kenly town is 34.8 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kenly town is $46,229. This is 34% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 41% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 7.8%. This is 61% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $183,300. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 52.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kenly town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 27.6%.

Education

7.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% 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 84.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kenly town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.