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Johnston County, NC
11 cities and towns and 11 ZIP codes in Johnston County, North Carolina.
Population
234,263
Land area
792sq mi
People per sq mi
296
ZIP codes
11
Cities and towns in Johnston County
Johnston County at a glance
- Johnston County is 34% denser than North Carolina as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 12th among 100 counties in North Carolina.
- The median household income is $83,384, 15% above the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $305,600 (6% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,146 a month.
- Its largest cities are Clayton (29,320), Smithfield (12,116) and Selma (6,817).
Local data for Johnston County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools57
- Colleges1
- Libraries7
- Banks38
- Post Offices12
- Parks55
- Grocery Stores65
- Restaurants449
- Affordable Housing14
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers6
- Community Health Centers5
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment8
- Private Schools6
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities13
- Historic Places26
Housing and community stats
Johnston County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$83,384
Poverty rate
10.6%
Median home value
$305,600
Prices +1.4% in a year
Median rent
$1,146/mo
Homeownership
76.1%
Bachelor's or higher
28.9%
Median age
38.1
Average commute
32.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (24,673), Irish Americans (20,208), German Americans (16,998).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.7%
Sep 2026, -0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,109
65,551 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$55,335
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.5B
FY 2026, $6,730 per person
PPP loans
$165M
3,177 loans, 21,980 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$869K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Johnston County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.8%
- Carpooled7.9%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked0.7%
- Bicycle0.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home14.7%
Average one-way commute: 32.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Johnston County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
761
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
489
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
92° / 31°F
49.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone26 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Johnston County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.1%
U.S. 33.3% +1.8 pts
Diabetes
11.6%
U.S. 12.1% -0.5 pts
Smoking
14.2%
U.S. 12.8% +1.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.4%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Johnston County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Johnston County, NC?
- Clayton is the largest city or town in Johnston County, with about 29,320 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Johnston County?
- Johnston County includes 11 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27504, 27520, 27524, 27527, 27542.
- What is the population of Johnston County, NC?
- About 234,263 people live in Johnston County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Johnston County?
- Johnston County borders Wake County, Harnett County, Wayne County, Nash County, Wilson County, Franklin County, Sampson County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023