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Kinston, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Lenoir County County

2.6 /5.0
C+ Fair
19,576 Population 1,071/sq mi density
$35,250 Median Income $27,843 per capita
$108,300 Home Value $143,719 Zillow
$822 Median Rent 28.8% income on rent
64°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
1,807 Violent Crime/100K 6,587 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.2 / 5.0
$35,250 median income, 6.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$108,300 home value, $822/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
1,807 violent crimes/100K (376% above avg)
C
Education
2.3 / 5.0
16.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Kinston, NC

At a Glance

Median Income
$35,250
53% below
$27,843 per capita
Home Value
$108,300
62% below
Zillow: $143,719
Median Rent
$822/mo
29% below
28.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
1,807/100K
376% above
6,587/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
16.1%
52% below
81.2% high school+
Unemployment
6.7%
86% above
22.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
46.8%
46% above
22.5% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
64°F
301 sunny days/yr

How Kinston Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Kinston's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
47%
Home Value
38%
Rent
71%
Poverty
182%
Bachelor's
48%
Unemployment
186%
Crime
476%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Kinston a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.6 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Kinston residents earn a median household income of $35,250 , which is 53% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $27,843. The unemployment rate stands at 6.7% (86% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 22.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,412 business establishments, including 98 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Kinston is $108,300 , 62% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $143,719. Median rent is $822/month, with 28.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1967.

Safety & Crime

Kinston reports 1,807 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 376% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 6,587/100K. The murder rate is 23.1/100K.

Education

16.1% of adults in Kinston hold a bachelor's degree or higher (52% below the national average). 81.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.7/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Kinston has an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 52.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Data Overview

People

Population19,576
Median Age42.9 yrs
Density1,071/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans10.0%

Economy

C
Median Income$35,250
Per Capita$27,843
Unemployment6.7%
Poverty22.6%
County GDP$3,627M
Avg Weekly Wage$963

Housing

A+
Home Value$108,300
Rent$822
Ownership42.2%
Zillow$143,719
Housing Units10,703
Rent Burden28.8%

Crime

F
Violent1,807/100K
Property6,587/100K
Murder23.1/100K
Assault1,502/100K
Burglary1,507/100K

Health

Obesity46.8%
Diabetes17.0%
Smoking22.5%
Heart Disease7.4%
Premature Death14,785/100K

Climate

Avg Temp64°F
Sunny Days301/yr
Rain52.9 in/yr
AQI40 (Good)
Elevation83 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+16.1%
High School+81.2%
Graduate+5.2%
School Score4.7/10

Community

2024 VoteR 53% / D 46%
Commute20 min
Broadband76.0%
Internet Speed56 Mbps
EV Stations7
Libraries4

Did You Know?

Kinston was founded in 1762.
The median home in Kinston was built in 1967.
The nearest airport is Kinston Regional Jetport At Stallings Field (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.467 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
29.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 7 fatal vehicle crashes.