28501 ZIP Code — Kinston, NC

Lenoir County, North Carolina

ZIP code 28501 is located in Kinston, North Carolina, within Lenoir County. It covers approximately 99.85 square miles and serves a population of 18,635 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 252.

About ZIP code 28501

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1950s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $77,400. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 47%.

Median household income is $34,818. Poverty affects 31% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 36% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 45% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is production, transportation, and material moving, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 22 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 13% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of obesity (45%), diabetes (19%), smoking (26%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 25%.

Overall, ZIP code 28501 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

18,635

population

99.85

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

28501 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 28501

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 28501. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Kinston	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

28526 Dover (6.3 mi) 28504 Kinston (9 mi) 28530 Grifton (9.6 mi) 28538 Hookerton (11.2 mi) 28523 Cove City (12.6 mi) 28585 Trenton (12.7 mi) 28513 Ayden (13.8 mi) 28525 Deep Run (14.2 mi) 28580 Snow Hill (15.6 mi) 28551 La Grange (15.8 mi) 28586 Vanceboro (18.2 mi) 28590 Winterville (18.5 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	18,635
Population density	187 / sq mi
State FIPS	37
County FIPS	107

Geography
Land area	99.85 sq mi
Water area	0.79 sq mi
Latitude	35.2644
Longitude	-77.4990
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	252

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	70.1%	57.1%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	20.9%	28.9%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	5.9%	11.7%	19.1%
Over $200k	3.1%	2.3%	6.0%

Demographics & statistics

18,635

Population

187

People per sq mi

38.7

Median age

$34,818

Median household income

$25,428

Per capita income

$77,400

Median home value

$741

Median monthly rent

47.4%

Home ownership

31.1%

Poverty rate

10.9%

Unemployment

5,915

Housing units

13.0%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

496

Under 5

572

671

5–9

775

618

10–14

713

625

15–19

721

513

20–24

591

926

25–34

1,068

1,023

35–44

1,180

993

45–54

1,145

568

55–59

655

535

60–64

616

877

65–74

1,012

515

75–84

594

294

85+

339

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	4,789	25.7%
18 and over	13,846	74.3%
65 and over	3,631	19.5%
Median age	38.7 years

Race & ethnicity

Black or African American 62.3%

White 23.5%

Two or more races 5.8%

Hispanic or Latino 4.4%

Other race 3.4%

Asian 0.3%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%

Group	Count	%
Black or African American	12,144	62.3%
White	4,588	23.5%
Two or more races	1,122	5.8%
Hispanic or Latino	864	4.4%
Other race	667	3.4%
Asian	59	0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native	55	0.3%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	70.1%	57.1%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	20.9%	28.9%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	5.9%	11.7%	19.1%
Over $200k	3.1%	2.3%	6.0%

Under $10k 11.7%

$10k–$15k 12.1%

$15k–$25k 13.7%

$25k–$35k 12.7%

$35k–$50k 14.0%

$50k–$75k 16.3%

$75k–$100k 9.9%

$100k–$150k 5.7%

$150k–$200k 1.3%

$200k+ 2.5%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	11.7%
$10k–$15k	12.1%
$15k–$25k	13.7%
$25k–$35k	12.7%
$35k–$50k	14.0%
$50k–$75k	16.3%
$75k–$100k	9.9%
$100k–$150k	5.7%
$150k–$200k	1.3%
$200k+	2.5%
Median income	$34,818

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 32.5%

$50k–$100k 33.9%

$100k–$150k 13.3%

$150k–$200k 12.0%

$200k–$300k 4.9%

$300k–$500k 2.8%

$500k–$1M 0.7%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$77,400
Median rent / month	$741
Owner occupied	47.4%
Renter occupied	52.6%
Vacant	22.7%
Single-family detached	60.5%
Large apartment buildings	4.7%
Mobile homes	16.4%
Median rooms	4.9
Avg household size (owned)	2.32

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.1%
2010–2019	1.1%
2000–2009	5.9%
1990–1999	12.4%
1980–1989	9.6%
1970–1979	15.2%
1960–1969	17.1%
1950–1959	19.2%
1940–1949	8.6%
1939 or earlier	10.7%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	1.1%
1 bedroom	10.5%
2 bedrooms	28.5%
3 bedrooms	50.3%
4 bedrooms	8.3%
5+ bedrooms	1.2%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	16.7%
1 vehicle	42.1%
2 vehicles	23.5%
3 or more	17.7%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	30.5%
Electricity	59.6%
Propane / LP gas	7.3%
Fuel oil	1.4%
Wood	0.1%
No fuel used	1.0%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	1,953	25.3%
Cohabiting couple	602	7.8%
Male householder, no spouse	1,756	22.8%
Female householder, no spouse	3,398	44.1%
Households with children under 18	2,462	31.9%
Households with seniors (65+)	2,890	37.5%
Average household size	2.37

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	44.6%	40.8%
Married	33.3%	29.1%
Separated	3.1%	5.2%
Widowed	4.4%	13.2%
Divorced	14.5%	11.6%

Education

Less than 9th grade 5.6%

Some HS, no diploma 14.9%

HS graduate 36.8%

Some college, no degree 19.7%

Associate's degree 10.1%

Bachelor's degree 9.3%

Graduate / professional 3.7%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	79.5%
Bachelor's or higher	13.0%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	114	2.5%
Kindergarten	517	11.5%
Elementary school	2,058	45.9%
High school	1,331	29.7%
College / grad school	468	10.4%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 27.1%

Manufacturing 20.8%

Construction 8.1%

Arts, food & hospitality 7.8%

Retail trade 6.5%

Professional & management 6.5%

Transportation & utilities 6.0%

Agriculture & mining 5.0%

Public administration 4.6%

Other services 3.1%

Wholesale trade 2.9%

Finance & real estate 1.7%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	26.0%
Service	20.0%
Sales & office	13.8%
Natural resources & construction	11.0%
Production & transportation	29.2%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	75.5%
Government	16.9%
Self-employed	7.1%
Unpaid family workers	0.5%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	82.3%
Carpool	12.8%
Public transit	0.9%
Walk	1.6%
Work from home	1.6%
Other means	0.8%
Avg commute (minutes)	21.6

Poverty

All people 31.1%

Under 18 years 45.1%

18 and over 26.2%

Married-couple families 6.5%

Female-led households 43.6%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	45.2%
Retirement income	28.1%
Supplemental Security	10.3%
Cash public assistance	3.0%
Food stamps / SNAP	36.1%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	45.1%
High blood pressure	48.1%
High cholesterol	35.5%
Diabetes	18.7%
Heart disease	9.4%
Stroke	6.4%
Asthma	12.0%
Arthritis	34.1%
Kidney disease	5.0%
Pulmonary disease	10.5%
Cancer	6.7%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	25.9%
Binge drinking	11.4%
No physical activity	35.4%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	40.5%
Depression	22.0%
Fair or poor health	26.2%
Poor mental health	16.2%
Poor physical health	16.1%
No health insurance	25.0%
Visited doctor (checkup)	82.8%
Visited dentist	48.2%
Cholesterol screening	89.8%
Teeth loss	26.6%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	1,292	9.3%

Disability	%
Any disability	24.7%
Under 18	17.3%
18–64 years	20.5%
65 and over	47.0%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	48.4%
Public insurance	59.3%
No insurance	11.2%
Uninsured under 19	2.9%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	17,567	94.3%
Spanish	405	2.3%
Other Indo-European	324	1.8%
Asian & Pacific Islander	22	0.1%
Other languages	59	0.3%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	17,990	96.5%
Born in same state	17,898	96.0%
Born in different state	14,495	77.8%
Foreign born	92	0.5%
Naturalized citizen	645	3.5%
Not a US citizen	172	26.7%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
French	988	5.3%
Arab	817	4.4%
Italian	798	4.3%

Ancestry	Count	%
German	41	0.2%
English	14	0.1%
Irish	11	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	41.4%
Internet access	87.0%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 28501

What city is ZIP code 28501 in?

ZIP code 28501 is primarily assigned to Kinston, North Carolina.

What county is ZIP code 28501 in?

ZIP code 28501 falls within Lenoir County, North Carolina.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28501?

31% of residents in ZIP code 28501 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 28501?

13% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

Does ZIP code 28501 have a large retiree population?

45% of households in ZIP code 28501 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What are the health statistics for ZIP code 28501?

Health data for ZIP code 28501 shows elevated rates of obesity (45%) and diabetes (19%) and smoking (26%) compared to national benchmarks.

What timezone is ZIP code 28501 in?

ZIP code 28501 observes the EST timezone.