27542 ZIP Code — Kenly, NC

Johnston County, North Carolina

ZIP code 27542 is located in Kenly, North Carolina, within Johnston County. It covers approximately 90.10 square miles and serves a population of 9,610 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 919/984.

About ZIP code 27542

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1990s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $154,400. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 71%.

Median household income is $58,966. 33% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 28 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 15% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (23%) compared to national benchmarks.

Overall, ZIP code 27542 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

9,610

population

90.10

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

27542 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 27542

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 27542. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Kenly	Acceptable
Kenly	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

27576 Selma (5.9 mi) 27851 Lucama (7 mi) 27880 Sims (9 mi) 27830 Fremont (11.7 mi) 27557 Middlesex (12.4 mi) 27569 Princeton (12.5 mi) 27527 Clayton (12.9 mi) 27863 Pikeville (13.2 mi) 27807 Bailey (13.6 mi) 27893 Wilson (14.1 mi) 27577 Smithfield (14.4 mi) 27896 Wilson (16.1 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	9,610
Population density	107 / sq mi
State FIPS	37
County FIPS	101

Geography
Land area	90.10 sq mi
Water area	1.43 sq mi
Latitude	35.6129
Longitude	-78.1505
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	919/984

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	48.5%	42.4%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	29.6%	31.1%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	20.3%	21.8%	19.1%
Over $200k	1.6%	4.6%	6.0%

Demographics & statistics

9,610

Population

107

People per sq mi

39.9

Median age

$58,966

Median household income

$30,659

Per capita income

$154,400

Median home value

$772

Median monthly rent

70.7%

Home ownership

16.9%

Poverty rate

3.7%

Unemployment

3,171

Housing units

14.8%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

350

Under 5

378

200

5–9

216

422

10–14

455

217

15–19

234

169

20–24

182

419

25–34

452

817

35–44

881

542

45–54

585

355

55–59

382

331

60–64

357

485

65–74

522

188

75–84

203

129

85+

139

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	2,301	23.9%
18 and over	7,309	76.1%
65 and over	1,666	17.3%
Median age	39.9 years

Race & ethnicity

White 73.7%

Black or African American 13.5%

Two or more races 8.9%

Hispanic or Latino 1.9%

Other race 0.9%

Asian 0.8%

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	7,227	73.7%
Black or African American	1,325	13.5%
Two or more races	877	8.9%
Hispanic or Latino	190	1.9%
Other race	92	0.9%
Asian	76	0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	13	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	48.5%	42.4%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	29.6%	31.1%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	20.3%	21.8%	19.1%
Over $200k	1.6%	4.6%	6.0%

Under $10k 6.9%

$10k–$15k 4.2%

$15k–$25k 10.8%

$25k–$35k 9.6%

$35k–$50k 12.0%

$50k–$75k 15.3%

$75k–$100k 13.0%

$100k–$150k 20.4%

$150k–$200k 4.3%

$200k+ 3.5%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	6.9%
$10k–$15k	4.2%
$15k–$25k	10.8%
$25k–$35k	9.6%
$35k–$50k	12.0%
$50k–$75k	15.3%
$75k–$100k	13.0%
$100k–$150k	20.4%
$150k–$200k	4.3%
$200k+	3.5%
Median income	$58,966

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 10.0%

$50k–$100k 15.9%

$100k–$150k 22.4%

$150k–$200k 16.0%

$200k–$300k 19.6%

$300k–$500k 12.4%

$500k–$1M 3.7%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$154,400
Median rent / month	$772
Owner occupied	70.7%
Renter occupied	29.3%
Vacant	9.2%
Single-family detached	66.5%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	28.9%
Median rooms	5.7
Avg household size (owned)	2.45

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	1.0%
2010–2019	9.9%
2000–2009	11.7%
1990–1999	23.5%
1980–1989	11.9%
1970–1979	13.3%
1960–1969	10.6%
1950–1959	6.3%
1940–1949	4.9%
1939 or earlier	6.9%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.2%
1 bedroom	3.2%
2 bedrooms	19.0%
3 bedrooms	58.5%
4 bedrooms	16.5%
5+ bedrooms	2.6%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	4.6%
1 vehicle	27.2%
2 vehicles	36.3%
3 or more	31.8%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	3.5%
Electricity	74.2%
Propane / LP gas	18.5%
Fuel oil	0.6%
Wood	3.1%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	2,042	52.0%
Cohabiting couple	213	5.4%
Male householder, no spouse	639	16.3%
Female householder, no spouse	1,031	26.3%
Households with children under 18	1,267	32.3%
Households with seniors (65+)	1,126	28.7%
Average household size	2.45

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	28.4%	20.5%
Married	54.6%	55.6%
Separated	2.4%	2.8%
Widowed	3.0%	10.3%
Divorced	11.6%	10.7%

Education

Less than 9th grade 7.1%

Some HS, no diploma 8.4%

HS graduate 34.5%

Some college, no degree 20.2%

Associate's degree 15.0%

Bachelor's degree 10.5%

Graduate / professional 4.3%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	84.5%
Bachelor's or higher	14.8%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	140	6.7%
Kindergarten	215	10.3%
Elementary school	960	45.8%
High school	379	18.1%
College / grad school	401	19.1%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 22.4%

Manufacturing 13.7%

Retail trade 11.2%

Arts, food & hospitality 11.1%

Construction 10.4%

Professional & management 9.2%

Other services 5.6%

Wholesale trade 4.6%

Finance & real estate 3.8%

Public administration 3.4%

Transportation & utilities 2.8%

Agriculture & mining 1.2%

Information 0.5%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	30.6%
Service	19.0%
Sales & office	20.3%
Natural resources & construction	12.5%
Production & transportation	17.5%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	84.1%
Government	11.5%
Self-employed	3.8%
Unpaid family workers	0.7%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	79.6%
Carpool	11.1%
Public transit	0.1%
Walk	2.6%
Work from home	5.8%
Other means	0.8%
Avg commute (minutes)	28.4

Poverty

All people 16.9%

Under 18 years 23.2%

18 and over 15.0%

Married-couple families 9.7%

Female-led households 25.5%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	32.7%
Retirement income	18.4%
Supplemental Security	5.8%
Cash public assistance	4.0%
Food stamps / SNAP	16.5%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	37.7%
High blood pressure	37.2%
High cholesterol	35.9%
Diabetes	12.4%
Heart disease	7.4%
Stroke	3.8%
Asthma	9.8%
Arthritis	27.1%
Kidney disease	3.4%
Pulmonary disease	8.8%
Cancer	6.3%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	23.2%
Binge drinking	15.1%
No physical activity	27.3%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	34.6%
Depression	24.2%
Fair or poor health	17.6%
Poor mental health	15.7%
Poor physical health	12.6%
No health insurance	21.3%
Visited doctor (checkup)	78.2%
Visited dentist	59.6%
Cholesterol screening	88.3%
Teeth loss	19.1%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	677	9.3%

Disability	%
Any disability	16.8%
Under 18	6.4%
18–64 years	11.8%
65 and over	48.1%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	64.4%
Public insurance	39.4%
No insurance	8.5%
Uninsured under 19	4.1%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	8,882	92.4%
Spanish	322	3.6%
Other Indo-European	259	2.9%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	63	0.7%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	9,211	95.8%
Born in same state	9,203	95.8%
Born in different state	6,771	70.5%
Foreign born	8	0.1%
Naturalized citizen	399	4.2%
Not a US citizen	70	17.5%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	1,295	13.5%
Arab	1,243	12.9%
French	1,062	11.1%

Ancestry	Count	%
German	87	0.9%
English	28	0.3%
Irish	17	0.2%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	40.8%
Internet access	89.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 27542

What city is ZIP code 27542 in?

ZIP code 27542 is primarily assigned to Kenly, North Carolina.

What county is ZIP code 27542 in?

ZIP code 27542 falls within Johnston County, North Carolina.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 27542?

15% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27542?

17% of residents in ZIP code 27542 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 27542?

The median home value in ZIP code 27542 is $154,400.

Does ZIP code 27542 have a large veteran population?

9% of civilians in ZIP code 27542 are veterans, above the national average of ~7%.

What timezone is ZIP code 27542 in?

ZIP code 27542 observes the EST timezone.