1st Advantage MortgageJohnston County households have a median income of $83,384 and median rent of $1,146 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Johnston County at a glance
- Income in Johnston County compared with North Carolina
- Employment and commuting in Johnston County
- What it costs to live in Johnston County
- How Johnston County compares with nearby counties
- Johnston County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at Johnston County's medians
- Johnston County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Johnston County
- Four steps for Johnston County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- More guides for Johnston County
- Frequently asked questions
Johnston County at a glance
Roughly 234,263 residents live in Johnston County, North Carolina, 12th by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. It covers 792 square miles of land, or about 296 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Clayton is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 29,320 people (13% of the county total).
Income in Johnston County compared with North Carolina
Johnston County households have a median income of $83,384 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 11th of 100 in North Carolina.
| Household income | Johnston County | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.4% | -3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.6% | -2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.0% | +8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | -1.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 42% of Johnston County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. 10.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). For a borrower in Johnston County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Johnston County
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 12%. Construction stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 76% drive to work alone and 28% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Johnston County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.1% | -3.4 pts |
| Construction | 12.4% | +5.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.7% | -1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | -1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Johnston County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Johnston County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,146 in Johnston County versus $1,228 statewide. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. With a median value of $305,600, a typical Johnston County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 76%. Half the housing stock was built before 2000.
| Home costs | Johnston County | North Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,146/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $305,600 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.9% | 11.0% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How Johnston County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 23 to 38 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $52,432 in Sampson County to $105,768 in Wake County; 1 of these neighbors top Johnston County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston County | - | $83,384 | $1,146/mo | 76% |
| Wayne County, NC | 23 mi | $59,733 | $965/mo | 61% |
| Wake County, NC | 25 mi | $105,768 | $1,623/mo | 64% |
| Wilson County, NC | 28 mi | $56,423 | $953/mo | 60% |
| Harnett County, NC | 30 mi | $71,287 | $1,112/mo | 71% |
| Sampson County, NC | 36 mi | $52,432 | $834/mo | 74% |
| Nash County, NC | 38 mi | $62,426 | $953/mo | 64% |
Johnston County towns compared
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Johnston County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 67,195 people, so roughly 71% of residents live outside any named place. Archer Lodge has the highest median household income on the list ($91,188) and Selma the lowest ($41,368), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $658 in Smithfield to $1,661 in Clayton. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton | town | 29,320 | $78,822 | $1,661 | 11 mi |
| Smithfield | town | 12,116 | $43,270 | $658 | 1 mi |
| Selma | town | 6,817 | $41,368 | $820 | 5 mi |
| Archer Lodge | town | 5,186 | $91,188 | $1,458 | 12 mi |
| Benson | town | 4,282 | $67,102 | $1,097 | 13 mi |
| Wilson's Mills | town | 2,753 | $62,813 | $1,021 | 5 mi |
| Four Oaks | town | 2,459 | $72,826 | $1,081 | 5 mi |
| Pine Level | town | 2,031 | $75,263 | $804 | 7 mi |
| Princeton | town | 1,658 | $45,500 | $690 | 12 mi |
| Micro | town | 573 | $44,531 | $917 | 10 mi |
Debt-to-income at Johnston County's medians
Here is the Johnston County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Johnston County: $6,949
- Housing at the median rent of $1,146 uses 16%
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,633 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Johnston County's.
Johnston County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Johnston County | North Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.9% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 16.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.0% |
| 60+ min | 12.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Johnston County
A few patterns in the Johnston County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 28% of Johnston County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 13% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 42% of Johnston County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
Four steps for Johnston County borrowers
Steps that save money for Johnston County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Johnston County borrowers answers to the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Johnston County
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Johnston County household make?
About $83,384 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% above the North Carolina median.
What do renters pay in Johnston County?
$1,146 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Johnston County?
By population: Clayton, Smithfield, Selma, Archer Lodge, Benson. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Can Johnston County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every North Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Johnston County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In North Carolina it is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks.