At a Glance
Median Income
$35,250
$27,843 per capita
Home Value
$108,300
Zillow: $143,719
Median Rent
$822/mo
28.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
1,807/100K
6,587/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
16.1%
81.2% high school+
Unemployment
6.7%
22.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
46.8%
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)
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.