Population 234,263 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Johnston County
Household size in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.76 | 2.63 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.85 | 2.70 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.86 | 2.70 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.79 | 2.64 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Johnston County average 2.79 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.76, even as the national average fell. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only three have larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.4 | 35.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.7 | 36.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.7 | 38.1 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.0 | 38.4 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +2.7 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Johnston County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.0, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 36.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only eight of North Carolina's 100 counties are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 10.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.3% | 11.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Johnston County (10.4%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Still, single parents are more common here than in the Raleigh area as a whole (9.4%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 1.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Johnston County
Renters in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.8% | 32.1% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.7% | 33.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.0% | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.9% | 33.4% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Johnston County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 29.8% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 2.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 9.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 8.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 7.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 7.6% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Johnston County: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only two of North Carolina's 100 counties have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1990 | 1990 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1992 | 1992 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1993 | 1994 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2000 | 1999 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Johnston County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2000, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1990 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the east. Only one other North Carolina county has newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $812 | $923 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $882 | $1,018 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,009 | $1,207 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,394 | $1,666 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$582 | +$743 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Johnston County runs $1,394 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $582 a month since 2006–10, up 72%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 29.2% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Johnston County
Bachelor's degrees in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.9% | 41.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.1% | 43.0% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.9% | 47.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.8% | 51.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +9.8 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About three in ten adults 25 and older in Johnston County (29.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.9 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.8% | 89.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.1% | 90.6% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.5% | 92.0% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.1% | 93.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +3.4 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Johnston County is a bit above the national rate: 91.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Locally, though, the rate is lower than in the Raleigh area overall (93.3%). The share with a diploma has risen 8.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Johnston County
| Period | Johnston County | Raleigh area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 6.7% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 7.9% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 4.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Johnston County than nationally: unemployment was 3.7%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Johnston County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston County | 2.79 | 38.0 | 10.4% | 23.9% | 6.9% | 2000 | $1,394 | 29.8% | 91.1% | 3.7% |
| Greene County | 2.67 | 40.8 | 15.4% | 33.5% | 14.4% | 1986 | $823 | 12.1% | 78.9% | 5.0% |
| Lee County | 2.63 | 39.3 | 16.2% | 32.7% | 8.6% | 1987 | $1,065 | 20.3% | 85.3% | 3.8% |
| Pitt County | 2.38 | 36.3 | 14.6% | 48.6% | 9.9% | 1992 | $1,091 | 34.7% | 91.5% | 8.1% |
| Beaufort County | 2.28 | 47.1 | 11.9% | 30.5% | 17.7% | 1980 | $928 | 20.5% | 88.6% | 3.9% |
| Rowan County | 2.52 | 41.4 | 12.7% | 27.7% | 9.9% | 1981 | $1,054 | 23.0% | 89.0% | 5.2% |
| Hyde County | 1.91 | 47.1 | 11.8% | 28.1% | 29.6% | 1984 | $1,178 | 14.6% | 87.9% | 4.2% |
| Iredell County | 2.62 | 40.9 | 10.5% | 28.1% | 9.3% | 1994 | $1,373 | 35.2% | 91.8% | 4.2% |
| Lincoln County | 2.56 | 44.8 | 10.2% | 21.1% | 7.4% | 1993 | $1,145 | 29.3% | 90.0% | 3.6% |
| Catawba County | 2.48 | 41.6 | 12.8% | 27.8% | 9.8% | 1984 | $1,007 | 25.9% | 88.0% | 3.7% |
| McDowell County | 2.38 | 44.8 | 10.8% | 24.4% | 14.5% | 1983 | $823 | 17.4% | 85.4% | 3.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Santa Cruz County, CA · Brown County, WI · Buncombe County, NC · Butte County, CA · Caddo Parish, LA · Calcasieu Parish, LA · Canyon County, ID · Champaign County, IL · Chatham County, GA · Cherokee County, GA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Johnston County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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