Kenly, NC Demographics

A map of Kenly's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	1,384	704	58.7%	47.2%
Black	618	503	26.2%	33.7%
Hispanic	331	204	14.0%	13.7%
Multiracial	26	65	1.1%	4.4%
Asian	0	9	0.0%	0.6%
Native American/Other	0	6	0.0%	0.4%

Kenly, North Carolina has an estimated population of 2,359, a dramatic increase from the 1,491 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 58.7% White, 26.2% Black, 14.0% Hispanic, 1.1% Multiracial, 0.0% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kenly, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kenly has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Kenly, that probability was 64.3% in 2020 and 56.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kenly is ranked the 312th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Kenly was ranked the 372nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Kenly's White Population

1,384 residents of Kenly, or 58.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kenly is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Kenly ranks 596th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenly's White population has grown by an estimated 96.6%. White residents' share of Kenly's population has increased from 47.2% to 58.7%.

Kenly is more White than neighboring Micro (58.6% White), Princeton (55.1% White), Lucama (42.5% White), and Selma (25.8% White). Kenly is less White than neighboring Pine Level (70.1% White).

Kenly's Black Population

618 residents of Kenly, or 26.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kenly is higher than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Kenly ranks 164th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenly's Black population has grown by an estimated 22.9%. Black residents' share of Kenly's population has decreased from 33.7% to 26.2%.

Kenly is more Black than neighboring Micro (13.8% Black), Princeton (12.4% Black), and Pine Level (6.1% Black). Kenly is less Black than neighboring Lucama (33.4% Black), and Selma (45.3% Black).

Kenly's Asian Population

0 residents of Kenly, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kenly is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Kenly ranks 401st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenly's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Kenly's population has decreased from 0.6% to 0.0%.

Kenly is less Asian than neighboring Princeton (0.4% Asian), and Selma (0.6% Asian).

Kenly's Hispanic Population

331 residents of Kenly, or 14.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kenly is slightly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Kenly ranks 121st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenly's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 62.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Kenly's population has remained roughly unchanged at 14.0%.

Kenly is more Hispanic than neighboring Pine Level (13.6% Hispanic). Kenly is less Hispanic than neighboring Micro (24.1% Hispanic), Princeton (28.6% Hispanic), Lucama (23% Hispanic), and Selma (23.3% Hispanic).

Kenly's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Kenly, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kenly is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Kenly ranks 625th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenly's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kenly's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Kenly is less Native American/Other than neighboring Micro (0.9% Native American/Other), and Selma (2.6% Native American/Other).

Kenly's Multiracial Population

26 residents of Kenly, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kenly is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Kenly ranks 225th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenly's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 60.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Kenly's population has decreased from 4.4% to 1.1%.

Kenly is less Multiracial than neighboring Micro (2.6% Multiracial), Princeton (3.6% Multiracial), Lucama (1.2% Multiracial), Pine Level (10.2% Multiracial), and Selma (2.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.