Kinston, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Kinston, North Carolina - Basic Facts

The City of Kinston had a population of 19,164 as of July 1, 2025.

The primary coordinate point for Kinston is located at latitude 35.2627 and longitude -77.5816 in Lenoir County. The formal boundaries for the City of Kinston encompass a land area of 18.35 sq. miles and a water area of 0.18 sq. miles. Lenoir County is in the Eastern time zone (GMT -5).

The City of Kinston has a C1 Census Class Code which indicates an active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent. It also has a Functional Status Code of "A" which identifies an active government providing primary general-purpose functions.

The City of Kinston is located within Township of Kinston, a minor civil division (MCD) of Lenoir County.

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Kinston, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION
Total Population	19,164 (100%)
Population in Households	18,470 (96.4%)
Population in Families	13,706 (71.5%)
Population in Group Quarters¹	694 ( 3.6%)
Population Density	1,049
Diversity Index²	52


INCOME
Median Household Income	$37,263
Average Household Income	$55,988
% of Income for Mortgage⁴	20%
Per Capita Income	$25,303
Wealth Index⁵	39
Socioeconomic Status Index⁶	Low (36.8)

HOUSING
Total HU (Housing Units)	10,447 (100%)
Owner Occupied HU	3,811 (36.5%)
Renter Occupied HU	4,794 (45.9%)
Vacant Housing Units	1,842 (17.6%)
Median Home Value	$119,730
Average Home Value	$161,641
Housing Affordability Index³	110

HOUSEHOLDS
Total Households	8,605
Average Household Size	2.15
Family Households	4,690
Average Family Size	3.00

HOUSING

Total HU (Housing Units)

10,447 (100%)

Owner Occupied HU

3,811 (36.5%)

Renter Occupied HU

4,794 (45.9%)

Vacant Housing Units

1,842 (17.6%)

Median Home Value

$119,730

Average Home Value

$161,641

Housing Affordability Index³

110

HOUSEHOLDS

Total Households

8,605

Average Household Size

2.15

Family Households

4,690

Average Family Size

3.00

NOTES

Group Quarters - a place where people live or stay in a group living arrangement. Includes college residents halls, nursing facilities, military barracks, and correctional facilities.
The Diversity Index is a scale of 0 to 100 that represents the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different races or ethnic groups. If an area's entire population belongs to one race AND one ethnic group, then the area has zero diversity. An area's diversity index increases to 100 when the population is evenly divided into two or more race/ethnic groups.
The Housing Affordability Index base is 100 and represents a balance point where a resident with a median household income can normally qualify to purchase a median price home. Values above 100 indicate increased affordability, while values below 100 indicate decreased affordability.
The % of Income for Mortgage quantifies the percentage of median household income dedicated to mortgage payments on a home priced at the median value (assuming a 30-year mortgage and a 20% down payment).
The Wealth Index is based on a number of indicators of affluence including average household income and average net worth, but it also includes the value of material possessions and resources. It represents the wealth of the area relative to the national level. Values above or below 100 represent above-average wealth or below-average wealth compared to the national level.
The Socioeconomic Index ranges from zero (lowest relative status) to 100 (highest relative status). This measure quantifies disparities in social position of an area's inhabitants and is built from a broad range of demographic, housing, and socioeconomic inputs. More information on this measure can be found in Esri's SEI tutorial.

GROWTH RATE / YEAR	2020-2025	2025-2030
Population	-0.69%	-0.36%
Households	-0.15%	-0.08%
Families		-0.32%
Median Household Income		1.45%
Per Capita Income		1.50%
Owner Occupied HU		0.44%

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

2020-2025

2025-2030

Population

-0.69%

-0.36%

Households

-0.15%

-0.08%

Families

-0.32%

Median Household Income

1.45%

Per Capita Income

1.50%

Owner Occupied HU

0.44%

Kinston, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

The table below compares Kinston to the other 776 incorporated cities, towns and CDPs in North Carolina by rank and percentile using July 1, 2025 data. The location Ranked # 1 has the highest value. A location that ranks higher than 75% of its peers would be in the 75th percentile of the peer group.

Variable Description	Rank	Percentile
Total Population	# 55	93rd
Population Density	# 199	74th
Median Household Income	# 724	7th
Housing Affordability Index	# 558	72nd
Per Capita Income	# 634	18th
Diversity Index	# 431	44th

Variable Description

Rank

Percentile

Total Population

# 55

93rd

Population Density

# 199

74th

Median Household Income

# 724

7th

Housing Affordability Index

# 558

72nd

Per Capita Income

# 634

18th

Diversity Index

# 431

44th

North Carolina Census Data Comparison Tool

Kinston, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Kinston, North Carolina - Basic Facts

Kinston, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION

INCOME

HOUSING

HOUSEHOLDS

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

Kinston, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

Kinston, NC - Most Popular Things to Do

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Lenoir County