Kinston, NC
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Kinston, North Carolina Summary

Life in Kinston research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Kinston over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Kinston:

  • The population in Kinston is 19,576.

  • The median home value in Kinston is $137,932.

  • The median income in Kinston is $35,250.

  • The cost of living in Kinston is 85 which is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Kinston is $822.

  • The unemployment rate in Kinston is 13.2%.

  • The poverty rate in Kinston is 28.9%.

  • The average high in Kinston is 72.9° and the average low is 50.3°.

Kinston SnackAbility

2
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
5
Affordability
5
Diversity
8.5
Safety
2
Amenities
8
Education
5
Commute
9

Kinston, NC Crime Report

Crime in Kinston summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Kinston. Key points include:

  • There were 1,143 total crimes in Kinston in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Kinston is 5,922.9 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Kinston is 958.6 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Kinston is 4,964.2 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Kinston is 179.48% above the national average.

1,143
Total Crimes
179.48%
Above National Average

Crime In Kinston Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Kinston
/ 100k People
North Carolina
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 1,143 5,922.9 2,343.9 2,119.2
Violent Crime 185 958.6 375.8 359.0
Murder 4 20.7 7.5 5.0
Robbery 16 82.9 50.2 61.0
Aggravated Assault 150 777.3 290.1 256.0
Property Crime 958 4,964.2 1,968.1 1,760.0
Burglary 192 994.9 323.9 229.0
Larceny 719 3,725.8 1,390.2 1,272.0
Car Theft 47 243.5 254.1 259.0

Kinston, NC Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Kinston summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Kinston. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around North Carolina. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Kinston is 85 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Kinston is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Kinston is $137,932.

  • The median income in Kinston is $35,250.

85
Kinston's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Kinston Comparison Table

Living Expense Kinston North Carolina National Average
Overall 85 92 100
Services 100 100 100
Groceries 96 99 100
Health 114 106 100
Housing 58 86 100
Transportation 95 93 100
Utilities 98 95 100

Kinston, NC Weather

  • The average high in Kinston is 72.9° and the average low is 50.3°.

  • There are 74.8 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 49.1 inches of precipitation each year with 1.4 inches of snow.

StatKinston
Average Annual High72.9
Average Annual Low50.3
Annual Precipitation Days74.8
Average Annual Precipitation49.1
Average Annual Snowfall1.4
72.9°
Average High
74.8
Days of Rain

Kinston, NC Photos

Peebles House
Source: Wikipedia User Tradewinds | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Kinston in North Carolina

Locations Around Kinston

Map Of Kinston, NC

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1

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3

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5

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6

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7

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9

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10

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Kinston Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Kinston

The current population in Kinston is 19,576. The population has decreased -11.0% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 19,576 -0.6%
2022 19,704 -0.9%
2021 19,888 -1.4%
2020 20,173 -1.1%
2019 20,398 -1.3%
2018 20,659 -1.6%
2017 21,004 -1.8%
2016 21,393 -0.7%
2015 21,540 -0.2%
2014 21,589 -0.5%
2013 21,693 -0.2%
2012 21,746 -0.4%
2011 21,835 -0.7%
2010 21,998 -

Race / Ethnicity in Kinston

White
23.9% (4,682)
African American
65.8% (12,876)
American Indian
0.2% (32)
Asian
1.5% (301)
Hawaiian
0.2% (48)
Other
0.6% (123)
Two Or More
4.9% (959)
Hispanic
2.8% (555)

Kinston is:

  • 23.9% White with 4,682 White residents.

  • 65.8% African American with 12,876 African American residents.

  • 0.2% American Indian with 32 American Indian residents.

  • 1.5% Asian with 301 Asian residents.

  • 0.2% Hawaiian with 48 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.6% Other with 123 Other residents.

  • 4.9% Two Or More with 959 Two Or More residents.

  • 2.8% Hispanic with 555 Hispanic residents.

Race Kinston NC USA
White 23.9% 60.6% 58.2%
African American 65.8% 20.3% 12.0%
American Indian 0.2% 0.8% 0.5%
Asian 1.5% 3.1% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.2% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.6% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 4.9% 3.7% 3.9%
Hispanic 2.8% 10.9% 19.0%

Gender in Kinston

Female
53.2% (10,423)
Male
46.8% (9,153)
  • Kinston is 53.2% female with 10,423 female residents.

  • Kinston is 46.8% male with 9,153 male residents.

Gender Kinston NC USA
Female 53.2% 51.1% 50.5%
Male 46.8% 48.9% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Kinston for adults over 25

  • 3.0% of adults in Kinston completed < 9th grade.

  • 14.0% of adults in Kinston completed 9-12th grade.

  • 35.0% of adults in Kinston completed high school / ged.

  • 22.0% of adults in Kinston completed some college.

  • 9.0% of adults in Kinston completed associate's degree.

  • 9.0% of adults in Kinston completed bachelor's degree.

  • 6.0% of adults in Kinston completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Kinston completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Kinston completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
3.0% (587)
9-12th Grade
14.0% (2,740)
High School / GED
35.0% (6,851)
Some College
22.0% (4,306)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (1,761)
Bachelor's Degree
9.0% (1,761)
Master's Degree
6.0% (1,174)
Professional Degree
1.0% (195)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (195)
Education Kinston NC USA
< 9th Grade 3.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 14.0% 6.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 35.0% 25.0% 26.0%
Some College 22.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 10.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 9.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 6.0% 9.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Kinston, North Carolina

  • 11.1% of households in Kinston earn Less than $10,000.

  • 11.5% of households in Kinston earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 10.8% of households in Kinston earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 16.4% of households in Kinston earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 14.4% of households in Kinston earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 14.7% of households in Kinston earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 10.3% of households in Kinston earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 6.6% of households in Kinston earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 2.4% of households in Kinston earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 1.9% of households in Kinston earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
11.1% (216,673)
$10,000 to $14,999
11.5% (224,878)
$15,000 to $24,999
10.8% (212,016)
$25,000 to $34,999
16.4% (320,463)
$35,000 to $49,999
14.4% (282,318)
$50,000 to $74,999
14.7% (287,862)
$75,000 to $99,999
10.3% (201,149)
$100,000 to $149,999
6.6% (128,407)
$150,000 to $199,999
2.4% (47,016)
$200,000 or more
1.9% (36,814)
Income Kinston NC USA
Less than $10,000 11.1% 5.0% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 11.5% 3.9% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 10.8% 7.6% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 16.4% 7.8% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 14.4% 12.0% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 14.7% 17.0% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 10.3% 13.0% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 6.6% 16.5% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 2.4% 7.8% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 1.9% 9.5% 12.6%

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