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Kenly, NC
Town in Johnston County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 27542.
Population
2,359
Land area
1.9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,256
ZIP codes
1
Kenly and its ZIP codes
Kenly at a glance
- Kenly is about 5.7 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $57,045 a year, 21% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $205,200 (29% below North Carolina) and median rent is $787 a month.
Local data for Kenly, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Kenly, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$57,045
Poverty rate
14.4%
Median home value
$205,200
Median rent
$787/mo
Homeownership
54.2%
Bachelor's or higher
7.9%
Median age
36.2
Average commute
27.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (525), Russian Americans (238), Mexican Americans (204).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Johnston County. PPP loans are for Kenly.
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Aug 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
$1.45B
FY 2026, $6,730 per person
PPP loans
$6.85M
115 loans, 937 jobs reported
How people get to work
Kenly, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone73.3%
- Carpooled14.9%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked9.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home2.4%
Average one-way commute: 27.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Kenly, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
761
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
489
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
90° / 33°F
50.3 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Kenly, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.2%
U.S. 33.3% +3.9 pts
Diabetes
14.5%
U.S. 12.1% +2.4 pts
Smoking
15.3%
U.S. 12.8% +2.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.5%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
ZIP codes in Kenly
1 in or overlapping Kenly. Population shown
Cities near Kenly
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| MicroTown | 5 mi | 0.4 |
| LucamaTown | 7.2 mi | 0.6 |
| Pine LevelTown | 9 mi | 1.8 |
| PrincetonTown | 9.1 mi | 1.2 |
| FremontTown | 9.2 mi | 1.4 |
| SelmaTown | 9.5 mi | 5.4 |
| PikevilleTown | 10 mi | 0.8 |
| Black CreekTown | 11 mi | 0.7 |
| SimsTown | 12 mi | 0.2 |
| BaileyTown | 13 mi | 0.7 |
| Wilson's MillsTown | 13 mi | 6.4 |
| SmithfieldTown | 14 mi | 12.7 |
| MiddlesexTown | 14 mi | 1 |
| EurekaTown | 15 mi | 0.3 |
| WilsonCity | 15 mi | 31.6 |
| Archer LodgeTown | 15 mi | 9.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Kenly, NC in?
- Kenly is in Johnston County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Kenly, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Kenly include 27542.
- What is the population of Kenly, NC?
- About 2,359 people live in Kenly, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Kenly?
- Nearby places include Micro (5 mi), Lucama (7.2 mi), Pine Level (9 mi), Princeton (9.1 mi), Fremont (9.2 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023