The Town FilesKenansville, North Carolina
Town in Duplin County · population 770 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $127,400
- Household income
- $61,364
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 44.2
Kenansville is a town of 770 people in Duplin County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $127,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 96% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of North Carolina towns.
How Kenansville ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Kenansville is worth $127,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $61,364, which is more affordable than 97% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $384 a month. 59.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kenansville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $384 | $969 |
| Median household income | $61,364 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 59.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kenansville
| People | Kenansville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Kenansville
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 52.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenansville since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 8, 2014 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 24, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 21, 1992.
Severe weather in Duplin County since 1996
Duplin County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Duplin County
Duplin County had 19,429 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,993 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Kenansville itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Kenansville
2 public schools with 775 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenansville Elementary | K-8 | 573 | 14.7 |
| Duplin Early College High | 9-13 | 202 | 22.4 |
Towns near Kenansville
- Magnolia, NC6.6 mi · 831 people · home $114,400
- Warsaw, NC7.7 mi · 2,733 people · home $112,500
- Greenevers, NC9.5 mi · 567 people · home $77,100
- Rose Hill, NC9.8 mi · 1,371 people · home $125,000
- Beulaville, NC11.3 mi · 1,116 people · home $147,000
- Faison, NC14.5 mi · 784 people · home $104,200
- Wallace, NC15.4 mi · 3,413 people · home $178,000
- Mount Olive, NC17.5 mi · 4,198 people · home $153,500
Kenansville questions
Is Kenansville, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kenansville scores better for retirees than 23% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 52%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Kenansville?
The median owner-occupied home in Kenansville is valued at $127,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,364, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $384 a month.
What is the weather like in Kenansville?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.0 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Kenansville get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenansville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 8, 2014. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)