Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 27542: Kenly, NC
ZIP code 27542 uses the postal name Kenly, North Carolina and lies mostly in Johnston County (64% of its land), reaching into Wilson County and Wayne County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 9,900 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $66,038 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 2% of its land lies in Kenly; 98% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Kenly · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Johnston County (64%); Wilson County (27%); Wayne County (8%)
- Census places
- Kenly
- Metro area
- Raleigh-Cary, NC
- House districts
- NC-13 (64%), NC-1 (36%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 90.1 sq mi · 109 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 27542?
27542 centers on 35.618°, -78.137° and covers 90.1 square miles of land plus 1.4 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 27851, 27576, 27880, 27830, 27557, 27863, 27569, 27893.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 27542, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 27542 compare with the rest of Johnston County?
| Measure | 27542 | In Johnston County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 9,850 | 15th of 21 | 317th of 853 |
| Median household income | $66k | 15th of 18 | 273rd of 528 |
| Median home value | $214k | 13th of 19 | 353rd of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 40% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 55% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 27542?
The 2020 Census counted 9,607 people in 27542; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 9,850. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 5.2% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 9,850±1,216 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 9,607+5.2% since 2010 (9,133)
- Households
- 3,892
- Median age
- 40.8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 27542?
Of the 9,850 people the ACS estimates in 27542, 24.0% are under 18 and 19.3% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (69.2%), then Black (not Hispanic) (16.2%).
- Under 1824.0%
- 18 to 6456.7%
- 65 and older19.3%
- White, not Hispanic69.2%
- Black, not Hispanic16.2%
- Hispanic or Latino11.4%
- Other or two or more3.2%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 27542 earn?
Median household income is $66,038 (ACS 2020-2024), the 15th highest of the 18 ranked ZIP codes in Johnston County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($60,576 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $66,038±$12,351
- Income per person
- $31,562
- Below the poverty line
- 14.1%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 2.8%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 21.4%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $62,8714,500 returns; wages 75% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 27542?
FHFA's house price index for 27542, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 79% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 44% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +2.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $214,100
- Median gross rent
- $757
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 74.6%
- Housing units
- 4,214
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 27542?
135 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 8 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade28
- Construction26
- Accommodation and food services19
- Other services (except public administration)18
- Manufacturing6
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 27542?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27851 | Lucama | 5,343 | $67k | 6.1 mi |
| 27576 | Selma | 21,624 | $67k | 7.5 mi |
| 27880 | Sims | 3,953 | $79k | 8.4 mi |
| 27830 | Fremont | 4,006 | $54k | 11.1 mi |
| 27557 | Middlesex | 8,657 | $72k | 11.6 mi |
| 27863 | Pikeville | 13,729 | $78k | 12.9 mi |
| 27569 | Princeton | 8,833 | $79k | 13.2 mi |
| 27893 | Wilson | 38,512 | $43k | 14.1 mi |
| 27555 | Micro | 573 | $45k | 5.4 mi (near) |
| 27568 | Pine Level | 1,542 | $66k | 9.5 mi (near) |
| 27813 | Black Creek | 743 | $49k | 11.3 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.