Median Age
43 Years
Largest Age Group
60-69 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
24%
Kinston
Kinston, NC Area Guide
Avg Rent
$744
Population
20,900
Renter Mix
59% Rent
Experience the rich history of Lenoir County
Suburban
•
Affordable
•
Historic
•
Quaint
•
Close-Knit
•
Diverse
•
Riverside
•
Active
•
Convenient
•
Accessible
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Kinston is a historic city located in the Coastal Plain region of eastern North Carolina, with roots dating back to the late 18th century. Kinston residents enjoy access to a number of historical attractions like the First Battle of Kinston and Battle of Wyse Fork battlefields as well as the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center.
Kinston offers a wide variety of things to do—from experiencing automotive thrills at the Kinston Drag Strip to lounging on the lazy river at Lions Water Adventure Park and everything in between. Downtown Kinston contains a bevy of quaint shops, tasty eateries, and cozy cafes to explore in historic buildings along Queen Street as well.
Destinations such as Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Emerald Isle are all about an hour’s drive away from Kinston. Convenience to several major highways makes getting around from Kinston a breeze.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$32,592
Average: $49,948
Education
2,744
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
8,102
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Kinston has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
59%
Non-Renters
41%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
10%
Other Education
90%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Kinston, NC is $778 for a studio, $744 for one bedroom, $910 for two bedrooms, and $1,106 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Kinston has increased by 0.1% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$744/month
676 Sq Ft
House
$1,175/month
693 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Kinston, NC is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
70
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
389 Students
Public
Grades K-5
478 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
462 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
442 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
859 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
577 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
466 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
859 Students
Public
Grades K-8
155 Students
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades 9-12
213 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
713 Students
Public
Grades K-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Exchange Nature Center
- Health & Science Museum
- Edenton National Fish Hatchery
Airports
- Pitt-Greenville
- Albert J Ellis
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Houses for Rent in Kinston
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.