| Metric | Latest | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Median listing price | $249,900 | +6.3% YoY |
| Median price per sq ft | $138 | 1,727 sq ft median |
| Median days on market | 82 | +26% YoY |
| Active listings | 194 | +55% YoY |
| New listings this month | 74 | September 2026 |
| Listings with a price cut | 16% | Share of active |
| Median sale price (closed) | $264,950 | +15.7% YoY · closed sales, July 2026 |
| Sale-to-list ratio | 96.5% | Closed sales, July 2026, seasonally adjusted |
| Pending-to-active ratio | 27.9% | 54 pending |
| Inventory vs 2019 | 188% | Active listings vs same month in 2019 |
Metropolitan market · North Carolina · September 2026 data
What is the Kinston, NC real estate market doing?
As of September 2026, the median home listed in Kinston, NC asks $249,900, up 6.3% year over year. Homes spend a median of 82 days on market, with 194 active listings and 16% carrying a price cut; pending contracts equal 28% of active listings, and inventory sits at 188% of the same month in 2019 — a buyer's market. Figures come from public records and industry data, updated monthly.
Median listing price
$249,900
▲ 6.3% YoY
Median $ / sq ft
$138
1,727 sq ft median
Median days on market
82
September 2026
Active listings
194
For sale now
New listings
74
September 2026
Listings with price cuts
16%
Share of active
Inventory vs 2019
188%
Same month, 2019 = 100
Pending / active
28%
Contract activity
Median sale price (closed)
$264,950
▲ 15.7% YoY · closed sales · July 2026
Sale-to-list ratio
96.5%
Closed sales · July 2026, seasonally adjusted
Homes sold / month
48
Closed sales · July 2026, seasonally adjusted
What is the Kinston, NC housing market doing right now?
The Kinston, NC housing market lists at a $249,900 median as of September 2026, up 6.3% year over year, with an 82-day median market time and 194 homes for sale (16% with a price cut). Active inventory is 188% of the 2019 level, reading as a buyer's market under WealthyBud's published buyer/seller rule.
Kinston housing market statistics
The table summarizes Kinston's key housing figures for September 2026 — median listing and closed-sale prices, market pace, inventory and rental yield — each computed from public records and industry data. Closed-sale figures are Redfin's July 2026 data, the latest settled month Redfin reports for Kinston.
How have home prices changed in Kinston?
Kinston home prices are up 6.3% year over year and -1.0% month over month as of September 2026, at a $249,900 median listing price. The chart tracks the trailing eight-quarter trend in the metro's median asking price.
Median listing price, Kinston NC · trailing 8 quarters · source: public records and industry data.
The 10-year view
10-year median listing price, Kinston NC · June of each year, 2017–2026 · source: public records and industry data.
How much inventory is on the market in Kinston?
Kinston has 194 active listings, 74 new this month, 54 pending as of September 2026. About 16% of active listings have cut their price, and inventory sits at 188% of its 2019 level — a buyer's market by pace.
Is Kinston a good real estate investment?
Kinston scores 31/100 on WealthyBud's composite Investor Score, ranking #808 of 933 covered U.S. metros as of September 2026. The score blends price momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market heat into one percentile. It is a research opinion, not advice.
Investor Score
31/100
#808 of 933 covered metros
Kinston scores 31/100 on our composite Investor Score (#808 of 933 covered metros), a percentile blend of momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market-heat readings; active inventory sits at 188% of its June 2019 level, so supply is fully rebuilt past pre-pandemic norms; listing prices are up 6.3% year over year; all against a national 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 7.28% (national weekly average, 2026-10-01).
Scores are percentile ranks (0–100) across all covered U.S. metros, computed from the public data cited on this page — formulas here. They are data-derived opinions, not investment advice. See how Kinston ranks on the trending markets index.
How much is a monthly mortgage payment in Kinston?
A home at Kinston's $249,900 median listing runs about $1,368 a month in principal and interest — 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan at the current 7.28% national average rate. Taxes, insurance and HOA are extra.
If rates fall 1% · 6.28%
$1,235/mo
−$133/mo vs today
At today's rate · 7.28%
$1,368/mo
National weekly average
If rates rise 1% · 8.28%
$1,506/mo
+$138/mo vs today
Principal & interest on the $249,900 median listing with 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan — excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Current rate: 7.28% (national weekly average, 2026-10-01). Model a full deal in the deal analyzer.
How much income do you need to buy a home in Kinston?
To buy Kinston’s $249,900 median listing with 20% down, a household needs about $66,000 a year in gross income, keeping principal, interest and property tax ($1,551/mo) at 28% of income. That is 1.5× the area’s $44,795 median household income, so a typical Kinston household cannot afford the median listing on these terms.
| Item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Median listing price | $249,900 | September 2026 |
| Down payment (20%) | $49,980 | Assumption |
| Principal & interest (7.28%, 30-yr fixed) | $1,368/mo | Rate as of 2026-10-01 |
| Property tax (0.88% effective rate) | $183/mo | Census ACS |
| Income needed (28% rule) | $66,000 | Gross household income / yr |
| Median household income | $44,795 | Census ACS 2023 ACS 5-year |
Excludes homeowners insurance, HOA dues and mortgage insurance, so the true income needed is higher. Compare every market in the income-needed ranking and the price-to-income ranking.
What is driving the Kinston housing market?
Longer-run demand in Kinston shows up in 131 homes permitted in 2025; net migration of +460 residents. Natural-hazard risk rates Relatively Moderate. These federal supply-pipeline, migration and jobs signals shape where prices head next.
Building permits (2025)
131
▼ 11.5% vs 2024
2.4 per 1,000 residents
Net migration (2022–2023)
+460
▲ people, via tax-return records
net income flow +$6.19M/yr
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
National hazard index · top hazard: Hurricane
Based on public government records — building-permit, tax-return migration, employment and natural-hazard statistics, aggregated to the metro. Details on /methodology.
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ReadKinston housing market FAQ
What is the median home price in Kinston?
As of September 2026, the median listing price in Kinston, NC is $249,900, up 6.3% year over year (source: public records and industry data). Figures cover the Kinston, NC metro area.
How much does it cost to buy a home in Kinston?
The median home listed in Kinston asks $249,900 as of September 2026. With 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan at the current 7.28% national average rate, that runs about $1,368 a month in principal and interest, before taxes, insurance and HOA.
How fast are homes selling in Kinston?
The median property in Kinston spends 82 days on the market, with 194 homes actively listed and 16% of them carrying a price cut — a buyer's market as of September 2026.
Is it a buyer's or seller's market in Kinston?
With a median 82 days on market and 16% of active listings carrying a price cut, pending contracts at 28% of active listings, Kinston reads as a buyer's market as of September 2026. Labels use WealthyBud's published DOM / sale-to-list / price-cut / pending rule. Conditions shift monthly.
Is Kinston a good place to invest in real estate?
Kinston scores 31/100 on WealthyBud's Investor Score, ranking #808 of 933 covered U.S. metros as of September 2026. The score blends price momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market heat. It is a data-derived research opinion, not investment advice.
Who are the top real estate agents in Kinston?
See WealthyBud directories for the top-producing agents, teams and brokerages serving Kinston and the wider North Carolina market, ranked by recent sales from public profile data.
Based on public records and industry data, September 2026 — see our methodology for how every figure is computed. Figures cover the Kinston, NC metro area. Figures change monthly — verify current conditions with a local agent or MLS. Portions of market data courtesy of Realtor.com and Redfin; additional statistics from U.S. government sources.
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