Kinston, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28504
Lenoir County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,642
- 68/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $53,583
- Median income Below-median income area
- $143,300
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 17.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Kinston pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 19th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 23rd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 68
- people per sq mi
- 64%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28504 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 28504 (Kinston, NC) rose +7.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 182.2 in 2023 to 195.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28504 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Kinston, Lenoir County, North Carolina, with 21,642 residents across 320.6 square miles, a density of 68 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28504 reports a modest median household income of $53,583 (23% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,388. The poverty rate is 18.0%, with unemployment at 9.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $143,300 (45% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $940; owner occupancy is 63.7%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 17.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.6, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 2 more in Lenoir County, so 28504 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 28504
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Kinston, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28504.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
87 establishments
- Construction
Construction
66 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
43 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
42 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
38 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 28504, Kinston, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
21,642
Population
320.6
Area (sq mi)
68
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28504?
41.6
Median Age
48.8%
Male
51.2%
Female
5.1%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$53,583
Median Household Income
-23% vs state ZIP avg
$31,388
Per Capita Income
18.0%
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Unemployment Rate
23.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28504 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Kinston, NC household income vs. every North Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 749 reporting North Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$53,583 25th percentile higher than 25% of 749 North Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more North Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
9,270housing units
9,270
Total Housing Units
8,598
Occupied Units
672
Vacant Units
2.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$143,300
Median Home Value
-45% vs state ZIP avg
$940
Median Rent
1979
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.3%
YoY Change (2024)
196
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+96%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28504 have increased 7.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +96% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.6% | 116 |
| 2021 | +16.0% | 135 |
| 2022 | +9.9% | 148 |
| 2023 | +22.7% | 182 |
| 2024 | +7.3% | 196 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 454 business establishments in ZIP 28504, employing approximately 14,490 people with a combined annual payroll of $684,817,000.
454
Businesses
14,490
Employees
$684.8M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 87 | 19.2% |
| Construction | 66 | 14.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 43 | 9.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 42 | 9.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 38 | 8.4% |
| Manufacturing | 27 | 6.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 26 | 5.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 25 | 5.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 22 | 4.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 22 | 4.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 4.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 16 | 3.5% |
| Information | 6 | 1.3% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 0.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 28504 vs 28501 →
ZIP 28504 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28504
Kinston (28504)
21,642 residents
- 28501
Kinston (28501)
20,389 residents
- 28551
La Grange (28551)
14,093 residents
- 28525 3,132
Deep Run (28525)
3,132 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28504 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28504 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28525
Deep Run (28525)
$59,191 median income
- 28504
Kinston (28504)
$53,583 median income
- 28551
La Grange (28551)
$49,092 median income
- 28501
Kinston (28501)
$35,118 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28504 ranks #2 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28504, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (21,642 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lenoir County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28504 in?
ZIP code 28504 (Kinston) is located in Lenoir County, North Carolina. Lenoir County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lenoir-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28504?
ZIP code 28504 in Kinston, NC has a population of 21,642 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28504?
The median household income in ZIP 28504 is $53,583, which is 30% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28504?
The median home value in ZIP 28504 is $143,300, which is 48% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28504?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28504 is White at 58.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28504?
ZIP code 28504 has 454 business establishments employing approximately 14,490 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28504?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28504 are: Retail trade (87), Construction (66), Other services (except public administration) (43). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28504?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28504 increased by 7.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 96%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 28504?
In ZIP code 28504, 47.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 28504?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28504 is 23.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28504?
In ZIP code 28504, approximately 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28504?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28504 is 18.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 28504's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28504 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Kinston, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.