Lenoir County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

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

Lenoir County, North Carolina has a population of 54,919, the 49th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $45,143 and the median home value is $120,500. The poverty rate is 21.9%.

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

Lenoir County Quick Facts

Population 54,919

Median Household Income $45,143

Median Home Value $120,500

Poverty Rate 21.9%

Unemployment Rate 9.0%

Median Age 41.9 years

Homeownership Rate 59.2%

Affordability Ratio 2.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 16.4%

High School Graduation 82.9%

Cities/Places 6

Population 54,919 49th of 100

Median Income $45,143 38% lower than state

Poverty Rate 21.9%

Unemployment 9.0%

How Lenoir 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	54,917	54,919	+0.0%
Median household income	$44,795	$45,143	+0.8%
Median home value	$111,400	$120,500	+8.2%

Median Household Income

Lenoir

$45,143

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Lenoir

$120,500

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 27.2%

$25K-$50K 27.6%

$50K-$100K 27.1%

$100K+ 18.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

7.5%

$10K-$15K

7.3%

$15K-$20K

7.2%

$20K-$25K

5.2%

$25K-$30K

5.3%

$30K-$35K

6.8%

$35K-$40K

5.9%

$40K-$45K

4.7%

$45K-$50K

5.0%

$50K-$60K

5.9%

$60K-$75K

8.5%

$75K-$100K

12.7%

$100K-$125K

5.7%

$125K-$150K

4.5%

$150K-$200K

4.7%

$200K+

3.2%

Employment

9.0% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

56.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 59.2%

Renter 40.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $861/mo 22.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.6%

18-34

19.3%

35-54

22.6%

55-74

26.6%

75+

8.9%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

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 Lenoir County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Kinston	19,505	$36,878	27.9%	$119,300
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

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

Population Overview

Lenoir County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 54,919. It is the 49th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lenoir County is 41.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lenoir County is $45,143. This is 38% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 44% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.9%. This is 68% 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 9.0%. This is 91% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $120,500. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Lenoir County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 59.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lenoir County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 47.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 39.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (39.2% vs 20.0%). The Asian population (0.8%) 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 82.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lenoir 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 Lenoir County, North Carolina?

Lenoir County has a population of 54,919, making it the 49th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Lenoir County?

The median household income in Lenoir County is $45,143 with a poverty rate of 21.9%.

How many cities are in Lenoir County, North Carolina?

Lenoir County contains 6 Census-designated places.