Kinston, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Kinston, North Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

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High PovertyPoverty rate of 27.9% is well above the state average

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Kinston, North Carolina had a total population of 19,505, the 53rd largest city in North Carolina, with a median household income of $36,878, which is 49% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 27.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 49% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (27.9%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Unemployment rate of 16.2% is notably above the national average.

Kinston Quick Facts

Population 19,505

Median Household Income $36,878

Median Home Value $119,300

Poverty Rate 27.9%

Unemployment Rate 16.2%

Median Age 42.9 years

Homeownership Rate 42.5%

Affordability Ratio 3.2x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.4%

High School Graduation Rate 82.8%

Diversity Index 49/100

Population 19,505 53rd of 772

Median Income $36,878 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 27.9% 124% higher than national

Median Home Value $119,300 bottom 20%

How Kinston 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	19,576	19,505	-0.4%
Median household income	$35,250	$36,878	+4.6%
Median home value	$108,300	$119,300	+10.2%

How Kinston Compares

Median Household Income

Kinston

$36,878

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Kinston

$119,300

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 32.0%

$25K-$50K 30.9%

$50K-$100K 24.5%

$100K+ 12.6%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

10.3%

$10K-$15K

8.6%

$15K-$20K

8.5%

$20K-$25K

4.6%

$25K-$30K

5.9%

$30K-$35K

8.7%

$35K-$40K

6.9%

$40K-$45K

4.6%

$45K-$50K

4.8%

$50K-$60K

5.5%

$60K-$75K

7.6%

$75K-$100K

11.4%

$100K-$125K

4.6%

$125K-$150K

2.7%

$150K-$200K

2.9%

$200K+

2.4%

Employment

16.2% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

52.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 42.5%

Renter 57.5%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $867/mo 28.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.8%

18-34

19.8%

35-54

20.5%

55-74

26.2%

75+

11.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Kinston Rankings in North Carolina

#53 Population of 772

#648 Median Income of 716

#514 Education of 772

#610 Home Value of 725

Explore North Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Lenoir County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
La Grange	2,756	$48,078	32.0%	$83,800
Jackson Heights	794	$39,403	11.7%	$133,500
Deep Run	662	$54,602	11.9%	$73,400
Pink Hill	527	$46,635	24.9%	$99,300
Graingers	27	$32,750	0.0%	N/A

Cities Similar to Kinston

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Lexington	19,690	$43,128	$179,900	12.9%	27.8%
Lumberton	18,859	$42,877	$152,600	19.2%	30.8%
Boone	20,032	$30,065	$411,100	56.8%	51.2%
Elizabeth City	18,871	$52,141	$187,700	27.2%	13.3%
Lenoir	18,299	$49,910	$179,400	21.2%	14.6%

Population Overview

Kinston is a small city located in North Carolina, within Lenoir County. The total population is 19,505. It ranks as the 53rd most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kinston is 42.9 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 11.7% 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 Kinston is $36,878. This is 49% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 54% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.9%. This is 114% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 16.2%. This is 242% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $119,300. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 42.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kinston is Black or African American, making up 67.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 22.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (22.7%) is well below the state average of 60.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (67.5% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

16.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% 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 82.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kinston, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Kinston, North Carolina?

Kinston, North Carolina has a population of 19,505 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Kinston, NC?

The median household income in Kinston is $36,878, which is 54% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Kinston, NC?

The poverty rate in Kinston is 27.9%. This means approximately 5,277 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Kinston, North Carolina?

Kinston's population is 22.7% White, 67.5% Black, 3.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Kinston, NC?

The median home value in Kinston is $119,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x.

How educated is Kinston, North Carolina?

16.4% of adults (25+) in Kinston hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.