1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lenoir County household earns $45,143, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Lenoir County by the numbers
- Employment and commuting in Lenoir County
- Income in Lenoir County compared with North Carolina
- Rent, home values and ownership in Lenoir County
- Lenoir County and the counties next door
- Places inside Lenoir County
- Who lives in Lenoir County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Lenoir County
- A Lenoir County household budget, worked through
- Checklist for Lenoir County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Lenoir County residents
- More guides for Lenoir County
- Frequently asked questions
Lenoir County by the numbers
With an estimated 54,919 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lenoir County ranks 49th of 100 in North Carolina for population. It covers 399 square miles of land, or about 138 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lenoir County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Kinston is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 19,505 people (36% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Lenoir County
The biggest employer of Lenoir County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Education and health care stands out: 28% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 9.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 9.1% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Lenoir County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.0% | +5.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.8% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.0% | +1.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lenoir County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Lenoir County compared with North Carolina
At $45,143, the typical Lenoir County household income is 31% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Lenoir County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.3% | +16.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.9% | -10.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -7.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 18% of Lenoir County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 22.0%, 9 points higher than the state's 13.0%. A household earning below the $45,143 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Lenoir County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $861 in Lenoir County versus $1,228 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. With a median value of $120,500, a typical Lenoir County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 59% of Lenoir County households own their home and 41% rent. Median construction year: 1978.
| Measure | Lenoir County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $861/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $120,500 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 59% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.3% | 11.0% | n/a |
Lenoir County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Greene County at 17 miles out to Craven County at 32. All of the six report a higher median household income than Lenoir County; Craven County is highest at $65,873 and Greene County lowest at $53,244.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir County | - | $45,143 | $861/mo | 59% |
| Greene County, NC | 17 mi | $53,244 | $853/mo | 67% |
| Jones County, NC | 21 mi | $59,641 | $747/mo | 79% |
| Wayne County, NC | 22 mi | $59,733 | $965/mo | 61% |
| Duplin County, NC | 27 mi | $55,148 | $865/mo | 70% |
| Pitt County, NC | 28 mi | $58,188 | $993/mo | 51% |
| Craven County, NC | 32 mi | $65,873 | $1,110/mo | 68% |
Places inside Lenoir County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Lenoir County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 26,786 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $36,794 in Grifton to $54,602 in Deep Run. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinston | city | 19,505 | $36,878 | $867 | 3 mi |
| La Grange | town | 2,756 | $48,078 | $735 | 10 mi |
| Grifton | town | 2,515 | $36,794 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Jackson Heights | CDP | 794 | $39,403 | $793 | 1 mi |
| Deep Run | CDP | 662 | $54,602 | $780 | 8 mi |
| Pink Hill | town | 527 | $46,635 | $575 | 14 mi |
| Graingers | CDP | 27 | $32,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
Who lives in Lenoir County, in numbers
16% of Lenoir County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Lenoir County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.3% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.1% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.1% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.1% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.0% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.0% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lenoir County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
Before borrowing in Lenoir County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lenoir County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Lenoir County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 21% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Free help first. 22% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A Lenoir County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Lenoir County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Lenoir County: $3,762
- Housing at the median rent of $861 uses 23%
- $456: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $832 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $861, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checklist for Lenoir County applicants
A short checklist for Lenoir County borrowers:
- Price the Lenoir County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the North Carolina license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Lenoir County residents
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks is the place to verify any lender's North Carolina license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on North Carolina: North Carolina personal loans.
More guides for Lenoir County
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lenoir County a high-income county?
Its $45,143 median ranks 95th of 100 North Carolina counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Lenoir County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $861 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Kinston?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Lenoir County, such as La Grange, Grifton, Jackson Heights.
Are Lenoir County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Lenoir County residents?
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks licenses consumer lenders in North Carolina; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.