Kinston

Population: 19,576
Median household income: $35,250
Median home value: $108,300

Located in Lenoir County, North Carolina, Kinston is a community with a population of 19,576. The median household income of $35,250 is below the Lenoir County median ($44,795).

From 2019 to 2023, Kinston's population declined 4.0% from 20,398 to 19,576, while its median home value rose 6.4% from $101,800 to $108,300.

The typical home was built around 1968. 28.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 19,576
Median age: 42.9 yrs
Median household income: $35,250
Median home value: $108,300
Median gross rent: $822
Housing units: 10,653
Homeownership rate: 42.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 16.1%
Unemployment rate: 13.2%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

20,39819,576

Median household income

$33,066$35,250

Median home value

$101,800$108,300

Median gross rent

$703$822

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	20,398	$33,066	$101,800	$703
2020	20,173	$32,094	$98,200	$699
2021	19,888	$33,280	$97,400	$714
2022	19,704	$35,653	$101,000	$800
2023	19,576	$35,250	$108,300	$822

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.8%

5 to 1717.9%

18 to 247.8%

25 to 3410.0%

35 to 4410.9%

45 to 5411.0%

55 to 6412.5%

65 to 7412.3%

75 and over11.8%

	Count	Share
Under 5	1,137	5.8%
5 to 17	3,502	17.9%
18 to 24	1,536	7.8%
25 to 34	1,954	10.0%
35 to 44	2,131	10.9%
45 to 54	2,153	11.0%
55 to 64	2,441	12.5%
65 to 74	2,406	12.3%
75 and over	2,316	11.8%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	4,682	23.9%
Black or African American	12,876	65.8%
American Indian & Alaska Native	32	0.2%
Asian	301	1.5%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	48	0.2%
Some other race	123	0.6%
Two or more races	959	4.9%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	555	2.8%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma18.8%

High school graduate34.6%

Some college or associate's30.5%

Bachelor's degree9.3%

Graduate or professional degree6.8%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	2,516	18.8%
High school graduate	4,643	34.6%
Some college or associate's	4,084	30.5%
Bachelor's degree	1,251	9.3%
Graduate or professional degree	907	6.8%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 20 min

Drove alone79.6%

Carpooled14.2%

Public transit0.2%

Walked3.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home2.1%

Other means0.8%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	5,123	79.6%
Carpooled	915	14.2%
Public transit	12	0.2%
Walked	195	3.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	133	2.1%
Other means	54	0.8%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	3,158	50.1%
15 to 29 min	1,468	23.3%
30 to 44 min	939	14.9%
45 to 59 min	425	6.7%
60+ min	309	4.9%

Households

Average household size: 2.13
Poverty rate: 28.9% (5,462 of 18,905)

	Count	Share
Family households	4,220	47.8%
Nonfamily households	4,607	52.2%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1968

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	8,827	82.9%
Vacant	1,826	17.1%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	3,724	42.2%
Renter-occupied	5,103	57.8%

1-unit, detached61.1%

1-unit, attached3.4%

2 to 4 units12.9%

5 to 19 units13.0%

20 or more units6.5%

Mobile home & other3.1%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	6,513	61.1%
1-unit, attached	366	3.4%
2 to 4 units	1,370	12.9%
5 to 19 units	1,380	13.0%
20 or more units	691	6.5%
Mobile home & other	333	3.1%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3735920
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 18 sq mi
Water area: 0.15 sq mi
Center point: 35.2751, -77.5934