Signals
Kinston
Goldsboro
Opportunity
26 · Bottom 4%
vs28 · Bottom 5%
Climate
74 · Top 35%
vs74 · Top 35%
Physical resilience
25 · Bottom 21%
vs30 · Bottom 24%
Housing affordability
74 · Bottom 39%
vs74 · Bottom 39%
Schools
16 · Bottom 6%
vs23 · Bottom 14%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs90 · Bottom 43%
Economic stability
22 · Bottom 2%
vs31 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Kinston | Goldsboro | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,505 | 34,383 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $36,878 | $48,540 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,087 | $30,497 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,067/sq mi | 1,203/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $119,300 | $200,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $867 | $971 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 42.5% | 36.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | -3.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 21.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 27.9% | 22.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 91°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 52.3" | 52.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 19.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.9 | 36.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 24 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.18 | 17.46 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 22.6% | 28.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 29.4% | 37.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 98.9% | 97.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Kinston
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Goldsboro
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Kinston, NC · Goldsboro, NC · How this is calculated: methodology