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City Report · NC

Kinston

Pop. 19,505·124th most expensive in North Carolina·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,076/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+8.1%
vs US Median
-$889
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Kinston · $1,076
More affordable than 96% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo
Affordability
35% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,076/mo, rent takes about 35% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$43,000/yr
Local median income
$36,878/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Kinston's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$840
1 BR
$850
2 BR
$1,110
3 BR
$1,500
4 BR+
$1,880
Research median
$1,110/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$12,912/yr
At $1,076/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +8.1% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Kinston, NC is majority renter-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 16.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
19,505
Median income
$36,878
Median age
42.9
Renters
57.5%
Age distribution
21.8%
19.8%
20.5%
13.4%
24.5%
Under 1821.8%
18–3419.8%
35–5420.5%
55–6413.4%
65+24.5%
Gender
46%
54%
Male46%
Female54%
Race & ethnicity
23.4%
67.6%
White23.4%
Black67.6%
Hispanic3.2%
Asian1.5%
Other4.3%
Education (25+)
17.2%
34.4%
32%
16.4%
No HS diploma17.2%
HS diploma34.4%
Some college32%
Bachelor's+16.4%
Housing tenure
42.5%
57.5%
Owner42.5%
Renter57.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Kinston, NC has changed in 5 years

Income
$33,280 → $36,878
up 10.8%
Population
19,888 → 19,505
down 1.9%
Renter share
59.1% → 57.5%
-1.6 pts
Bachelor's+
14.7% → 16.4%
+1.7 pts
Median age
44.6 → 42.9
-1.7 yrs

Median household income rose from $33,280 to $36,878 between 2021 and 2024, a 10.8% shift. The population has contracted by 1.9% since 2021, moving from about 19,888 residents to roughly 19,505. Renters now make up 57.5% of households, compared with 59.1% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about Kinston

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View Kinston rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Kinston on your salary?

At $1,076/mo, how Kinston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Kinston rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Kinston. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Kinston

About renting in Kinston, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Kinston is $1,076/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $840/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,110/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $850/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,500/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($36,878/yr), Kinston ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Kinston an affordable city for renters?

Kinston is considered moderate for renters. At $1,076/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($36,878/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Kinston slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Kinston?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $43,000/year (~$21/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,076/mo in Kinston. The local median household income is $36,878/yr, meaning the typical Kinston household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Kinston?

Rent in Kinston has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Kinston rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Kinston is one of the more affordable cities in North Carolina for rent, ranking #124 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,076/mo.

What percentage of Kinston residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 57.5% of Kinston households are renters, while 42.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Kinston has a strong rental market.

How does Kinston rent compare to the national average?

Kinston's median rent of $1,076/mo is $889 (45%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #124 out of 126 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
35%
MODERATE

At $1,076/mo, rent takes ~35% of Kinston's median household income ($36,878/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Kinston 35%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Run the Kinston affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Kinston, NC

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