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City · 19,505 residents · Lenoir County, North Carolina

Kinston , North Carolina

In Kinston, a typical home is worth $119,300 and typical rent is $867 a month. Compared with all of Lenoir County, typical household income is 18% lower and the share of households that own their home is 17 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $119,300

    About the same as the county

    59% below North Carolina

    • Kinston
    • Lenoir
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $867a month

    About the same as the county

    29% below North Carolina

    • Kinston
    • Lenoir
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $36,878a year

    18% below the county

    49% below North Carolina

    • Kinston
    • Lenoir
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    43%

    17 points below the county

    24 points below North Carolina

    • Kinston
    • Lenoir
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$144,821
3.7% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,181 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Kinston is in Lenoir County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lenoir County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Kinston apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Kinston has the 3rd lowest typical home value of the 166 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($119,300).

  2. Kinston has the 5th lowest typical household income of the 165 cities in North Carolina with more than 5,000 people ($36,878).

  3. 43% of households in Kinston own their home, against 59% in Lenoir County.

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Kinston rose 3.7%; in North Carolina, it barely changed.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Kinston

What homes there are in Kinston, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is the most common home in Kinston: 63% of homes, near the figure in Lenoir County (61%).

Year built

Homes in Kinston are older: the typical year built is 1966; in Lenoir County, 1978.

Homes in Kinston are smaller: 56% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Lenoir County, 65%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

About 69% of rented homes in Kinston cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Lenoir County ($1,012).

With a mortgage

$1,403 a month

Lenoir County: $1,237 a month

Without a mortgage

$523 a month

Lenoir County: $460 a month

Owners with a mortgage

42%

Lenoir County: 45%

In Kinston, 42% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,403 a month, against $1,237 in Lenoir County. Without one it drops to $523.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Kinston did not change clearly: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

The typical rent in Kinston rose 23% over the same time; in Lenoir County, it rose 20%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureKinstonLenoir CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.9%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.112.302.442.53
Drive alone 80%82%72%69%
Carpool 15%12%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home 3%3%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Kinston has 2.11 people, fewer than in Lenoir County (2.30).

In Kinston, 80% of workers drive alone to work; in Lenoir County, 82%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Kinston?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Kinston, worth $119,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Kinston, which is $36,878 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $42,874 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lenoir County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Kinston. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,176 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,000

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$117,139
Total interest
$168,535
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,015 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $860 a month

  • Tight

    $860 to $1,106 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,106 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Kinston ($36,878 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,000
Principal & interest$794
Property tax$104
Home insurance$50
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$53

You need at least $4,176 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Kinston and Lenoir County

Kinston is in Lenoir County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Kinston's own numbers

Typical home value
$119,300
Typical monthly rent
$867
Typical yearly household income
$36,878
Households that own their home
43%
Effective property tax rate
1.05%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lenoir County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,012
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+62%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
4.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lenoir County.

Everything about Lenoir County

Buying

Buying a home in Kinston

A typical home in Kinston is worth $119,300: about the same as the county and 59% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Kinston ($36,878 a year), a typical home costs 3.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Kinston 3.2 years
  • Lenoir 2.7 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lenoir County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lenoir County rose 78% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lenoir County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.1% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +62% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +78% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Kinston next to Lenoir County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Kinston $119,300
  • Lenoir $120,500
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Kinston $867
  • Lenoir $861
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Kinston $36,878
  • Lenoir $45,143
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Kinston next to Lenoir County and North Carolina
Measure Kinston Lenoir County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $119,300 $120,500 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $867 $861 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $36,878 $45,143 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 43% 59% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,258 $1,015 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.05% 0.84% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 46% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lenoir County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Kinston

For a typical $119,300 home in Kinston, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Kinston's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,000a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,176
    Cash to close
    $7,755
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $53

  • Conventional, 5% down $979a month

    Down payment
    $5,965
    Cash to close
    $9,544
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $57

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $801a month

    Down payment
    $23,860
    Cash to close
    $27,439
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $911a month

    Down payment
    $17,895
    Cash to close
    $21,474
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Kinston and for Lenoir County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Kinston

1.05%of the home’s value each year

$1,258 a year for the typical owner in Kinston.

  • Kinston 1.05%
  • Lenoir 0.84%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Lenoir County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lenoir County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
4.8%
1,188
Of those, with NFIP insurance
18%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 4.8% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 18% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Kinston

Typical rent in Kinston is $867 a month: about the same as the county. In Kinston, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lenoir County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,012 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.46 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lenoir County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $783 $15.06 $31,320
1 bedroom $788 $15.15 $31,520
2 bedrooms $1,012 $19.46 $40,480
3 bedrooms $1,273 $24.48 $50,920
4 bedrooms $1,508 $29.00 $60,320

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Kinston

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Kinston has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,050 in 28504 to $1,080 in 28501.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Lenoir County ($1,012).

  • 28501 $1,080$1,440
  • 28504 $1,050$1,320

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Kinston when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Kinston

HUD lists 27 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Kinston. These are the largest.

  • Kinston Towers I 511 N Queen St, Kinston 28501 148 low-income homes · For older adults (252) 523-1195
  • Simon Bright Kinston 28501 144 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Kinston · Average payment: $243 a month · Average wait: 4 months (252) 523-1195
  • Jack Roundtree 709 Marilyn Dr, Kinston 28501 125 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Kinston · Average payment: $319 a month · Average wait: 3 months (252) 523-1195
  • Carver Courts 15A Carver Cts, Kinston 28501 122 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Kinston · Average payment: $266 a month · Average wait: 6 months (252) 523-1195
  • Six Churches Plaza-Kinston Towersii 107 E Peyton Ave, Kinston 28501 110 low-income homes · For older adults (252) 527-7984

See all 33 buildings in Lenoir County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Kinston

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lenoir County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Kinston

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Kinston or Lenoir County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Kinston the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Kinston

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Kinston, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Wilson Community Improvement Association, Inc.

    504 Green St E, Wilson · 36 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    252-243-4855x214

  • City of Jacksonville

    815 New Bridge St, Jacksonville · 38 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (910) 938-6551

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rocky Mount, NC

    901 Authority Dr, Rocky Mount · 47 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (252) 977-3141

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Kinston

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Kinston

HUD’s record names them for Kinston or Lenoir County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Kinston Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (252) 523-1195

All housing agencies in North Carolina Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Kinston, with the typical home value.

Everything about Lenoir County Housing in North Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Lenoir County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Kinston.

All guides
A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

Questions

Housing questions about Kinston

Short answers with the numbers for Kinston and all of Lenoir County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Kinston?

The typical home value in Kinston is $119,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lenoir County it is $120,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Kinston?

Typical rent in Kinston is $867 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lenoir County is $1,012.

What is the FHA loan limit in Kinston?

Kinston uses the FHA limit for all of Lenoir County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Kinston?

The typical homeowner in Kinston pays $1,258 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.05% of the home’s value; in Lenoir County, the rate is 0.84%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Kinston?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lenoir County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).