City in Lenoir County, North Carolina · 18.3 sq mi · 1,076 people per sq mi
About 20,000 people live in Kinston. The typical household earns $36,878, and the median resident is 42.9 years old.
2026 projection
From 19,769 in 2020
Poverty rate 27.92%
Men 38.3 · Women 45.6
1800–2026
19,664
2026 projection
0.5% since 2020 (decrease)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts and annual estimates. 2026 is a projection. Values between recorded years are interpolated.
Use the left and right arrow keys to inspect population observations.
1800–2026
19,664
2026 projection
0.5% since 2020 (decrease)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts and annual estimates. 2026 is a projection. Values between recorded years are interpolated.
Use the left and right arrow keys to inspect population observations.
| 2026 | 19,664 | -41 | 0.21% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19,705 | +100 | 0.51% |
| 2024 | 19,605 | +154 | 0.79% |
| 2023 | 19,451 | +128 | 0.66% |
| 2022 | 19,323 | -190 | 0.97% |
| 2021 | 19,513 | -256 | 1.29% |
| 2020 | 19,769 | -299 | 1.49% |
| 2019 | 20,068 | +10 | 0.05% |
| 2018 | 20,058 | -278 | 1.37% |
| 2017 | 20,336 | -225 | 1.09% |
Showing 10 of 34 years.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S0101
Each square is about 1% of residents (roughly 195 people).
Hispanic or Latino residents can be of any race. All other groups exclude Hispanic residents.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table B03002
Half of households earn more, half earn less
Typical yearly pay for a worker 25 or older.
About 1 in 4 residents
27% of residents age 15 and older are married.
| Status | Overall | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Married | 27% | 30% | 25% |
| Never married | 44% | 45% | 44% |
| Divorced | 14% | 15% | 14% |
| Widowed | 11% | 7% | 14% |
| Separated | 3% | 4% | 3% |
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates · Table S1201
10 sources, all from the U.S. Census Bureau