The Town FilesKenly, North Carolina
Town in Johnston County · population 1,491 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $205,200
- Household income
- $57,045
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 36.2
Kenly is a town of 1,491 people in Johnston County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $205,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900).
How Kenly 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 Kenly is worth $205,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $57,045, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $787 a month. 54.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kenly | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $787 | $969 |
| Median household income | $57,045 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kenly
| People | Kenly | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Kenly
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.7°F. About 50.3 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 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenly since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 8, 2024 about 7.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 3, 2016.
Severe weather in Johnston County since 1996
Johnston County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Johnston County
Johnston County had 61,005 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,305 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Kenly itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Kenly
2 public schools with 1,234 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Johnston High | 9-12 | 798 | 15.1 |
| Glendale-Kenly Elementary | PK-5 | 436 | 13.2 |
Towns near Kenly
- Lucama, NC7.4 mi · 1,036 people · home $115,500
- Princeton, NC9.5 mi · 1,315 people · home $215,400
- Fremont, NC9.5 mi · 1,196 people · home $147,800
- Pine Level, NC9.6 mi · 2,046 people · home $221,000
- Selma, NC10.1 mi · 6,317 people · home $171,600
- Pikeville, NC10.6 mi · 712 people · home $140,800
- Black Creek, NC11.3 mi · 692 people · home $112,200
- Bailey, NC12.5 mi · 568 people · home $155,700
Kenly questions
Is Kenly, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kenly scores better for retirees than 29% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 44%. 11.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Kenly?
The median owner-occupied home in Kenly is valued at $205,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,045, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $787 a month.
What is the weather like in Kenly?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.3 inches of precipitation a year and 2.0 inches of snow.
Does Kenly get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kenly since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 8, 2024. 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)