Kinston, NC Demographics

A map of Kinston's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	13,170	13,615	67.5%	68.4%
White	4,422	4,854	22.7%	24.4%
Multiracial	868	527	4.5%	2.6%
Hispanic	624	603	3.2%	3.0%
Asian	286	208	1.5%	1.0%
Native American/Other	135	93	0.7%	0.5%

Kinston, North Carolina has an estimated population of 19,505, a slight decrease from the 19,900 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 67.5% Black, 22.7% White, 4.5% Multiracial, 3.2% Hispanic, 1.5% Asian, and 0.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kinston, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kinston has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably 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 Kinston, that probability was 47.1% in 2020 and 48.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kinston is ranked the 53rd 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). Kinston was ranked the 48th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Kinston's White Population

4,422 residents of Kinston, or 22.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kinston is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Kinston ranks 727th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kinston's White population has declined by an estimated 8.9%. White residents' share of Kinston's population has decreased from 24.4% to 22.7%.

Kinston is less White than neighboring Jackson Heights (76.7% White), Graingers (100% White), Hookerton (37.7% White), Dover (37.1% White), and Deep Run (86.1% White).

Kinston's Black Population

13,170 residents of Kinston, or 67.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kinston is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Kinston ranks 25th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kinston's Black population has declined by an estimated 3.3%. Black residents' share of Kinston's population has decreased from 68.4% to 67.5%.

Kinston is more Black than neighboring Jackson Heights (17.6% Black), Graingers (0% Black), Hookerton (30.9% Black), Dover (56.9% Black), and Deep Run (0% Black).

Kinston's Asian Population

286 residents of Kinston, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kinston is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Kinston ranks 258th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kinston's Asian population has grown by an estimated 37.5%. Asian residents' share of Kinston's population has increased from 1.0% to 1.5%.

Kinston is more Asian than neighboring Jackson Heights (0% Asian), Graingers (0% Asian), Hookerton (0% Asian), Dover (0% Asian), and Deep Run (0% Asian).

Kinston's Hispanic Population

624 residents of Kinston, or 3.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kinston is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Kinston ranks 609th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kinston's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 3.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Kinston's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.2%.

Kinston is more Hispanic than neighboring Jackson Heights (0.4% Hispanic), Graingers (0% Hispanic), and Dover (0.2% Hispanic). Kinston is less Hispanic than neighboring Hookerton (24.8% Hispanic), and Deep Run (8.2% Hispanic).

Kinston's Native American/Other Population

135 residents of Kinston, or 0.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kinston is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Kinston ranks 594th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kinston's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 45.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kinston's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Kinston is more Native American/Other than neighboring Jackson Heights (0% Native American/Other), Graingers (0% Native American/Other), Dover (0% Native American/Other), and Deep Run (0% Native American/Other). Kinston is less Native American/Other than neighboring Hookerton (4.9% Native American/Other).

Kinston's Multiracial Population

868 residents of Kinston, or 4.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kinston is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Kinston ranks 613th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kinston's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 64.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Kinston's population has increased from 2.6% to 4.5%.

Kinston is more Multiracial than neighboring Graingers (0% Multiracial), and Hookerton (1.7% Multiracial). Kinston is less Multiracial than neighboring Jackson Heights (5.3% Multiracial), Dover (5.7% Multiracial), and Deep Run (5.7% 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.