City

Kinston, NC

4 ZIP codes  ·  Lenoir County  ·  North Carolina

👥38,437Population
💰$42,721Median HH Income▼ 44% below avg
🎂42.0Median Age
🏠$102,871Median Home Value▼ 63% below avg
🎓30.2%College Grads▼ 22% below avg
📊7.9%Unemployment▲ 61% above avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 47.4% Female 52.6% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 43.4%Hispanic: 5%Black: 46.5%Asian: 0.8%Other: 3.6%Race
White43.4%
Hispanic5.0%
Black46.5%
Asian0.8%
Other3.6%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
5%
5–17
17%
18–24
8%
25–44
22%
45–64
26%
65+
9%

Key Indicators

Median Age42.0 yrs
Avg HH Size2.28
Below Poverty23.4% ▲ 134% above avg
College Grads30.2% ▼ 22% below avg
Unemployment7.9% ▲ 61% above avg
No HS Diploma470 (2%)
HS Graduate7,860 (33.7%)
Some College3,874 (16.6%)
Associates4,027 (17.2%)
Bachelors3,157 (13.5%)
Graduate Degree3,970 (17%)

Education

No HS: 2%HS Grad: 33.7%Some College: 16.6%Associates: 17.2%Bachelors: 13.5%Graduate: 17%Edu
No HS2.0%
HS Grad33.7%
Some College16.6%
Associates17.2%
Bachelors13.5%
Graduate17.0%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 55.7%Renter: 44.3%Tenure
Owner55.7%
Renter44.3%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
19%
$50k–$100k
25%
$100k–$150k
23%
$150k–$200k
15%
$200k–$300k
12%
$300k–$500k
4%
Over $500k
1%

Financials

Median HH Income$42,721 ▼ 44% below avg
Median Home Value$102,871 ▼ 63% below avg
Home/Income Ratio2.4x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$816/mo
Total Housing Units19,251
Vacant Units2,803

Income Distribution

Under $25k
30%
$25k–$50k
24%
$50k–$75k
17%
$75k–$100k
12%
$100k–$150k
10%
$150k–$200k
4%
Over $200k
3%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
95%
Public Transit
0%
Walked
2%
Work From Home
3%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
41%
15–30 min
32%
30–45 min
13%
Over 45 min
14%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
2%
1940s–1950s
14%
1960s–1970s
18%
1980s–1990s
13%
2000+
53%
About Kinston, NC

Kinston is a city in North Carolina, located in Lenoir County. The city spans 4 ZIP codes and is home to approximately 38,437 residents. It is a middle-aged city, with a median age of 41.97 years.

Economically, Kinston is a working-class community. The median household income of $42,720 is below the national average. Approximately 23.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 7.9%, significantly above the national average.

The real estate market in Kinston is one of the more affordable housing markets in the country. Median home values stand at $102,871, which is well below the national average. Renters typically pay around $816 per month.

The population of Kinston is moderately educated. 30.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average. The community is racially diverse, with Black as the largest group at 46.5%.

Kinston, NC offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within North Carolina. Spread across 4 ZIP codes, the city's neighborhoods vary in character, density, and demographics — explore each ZIP code below for a detailed breakdown.

ZIP Codes in Kinston
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
28501 18,112 $33,823 $78,600 $717 9.4% 25.1% 48.8%
28504 20,325 $50,650 $124,500 $905 6.6% 34.8% 61.9%