RANK #422 / 996 · POP 55,071 · NC
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.0%
Lenoir County, North Carolina, is perhaps best known for Kinston, its county seat, a city with a notable Civil War history, including the CSS Neuse, a recovered Confederate ironclad gunboat available for tours. Located in the Coastal Plain region of eastern North Carolina, Lenoir County is approximately an hour and a half drive from Raleigh. The community offers a quieter pace of life. Residents primarily rely on personal vehicles for commuting, though Lenoir County Transit provides demand-response services for various needs, including work and medical appointments. The Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department maintains 16 parks and offers a range of activities.
Life in Lenoir County is characterized by a small-town feel, with many residents owning their homes. The public school system, Lenoir County Public Schools, serves over 8,000 students across 17 schools and is recognized for its early college high school and STEM programs. Recent economic developments include expansions by companies like Electrolux, investing over $23 million and adding jobs in Kinston, and Cardon Rehabilitation and Medical Equipment USA establishing its U.S. headquarters there. The local economy is supported by sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and education.
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.0x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Lenoir County has a Boom Town Index score of 58/100, ranking #422 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.3% and a median household income of $43,063, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Lenoir County is $101,600 with median rent at $792/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4238, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.3%. Home values changed +2.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.41% of Lenoir County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.