State rank#12 of 100
Smallest county234,263 residentsWake County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 37101
Johnston County, North Carolina
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population234,263
Household income$83,384
Unemployment3.1%
Life expectancy76.5 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Johnston County has 234,263 residents and ranks #12 by population among North Carolina county equivalents. Median household income is $83,384. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.1%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within North Carolina
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Johnston County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Johnston County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $305,600 median home value and $1,146/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $83,384, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Johnston County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, median household income, and life expectancy. College attainment is 28.9% and life expectancy is 76.5 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 3.1%, rank #3 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Median household income: $83,384, rank #11 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Life expectancy: 76.5 years, rank #22 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Primary care access: 1 per 3,713 residents, rank #83 of 98; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $305,600, rank #79 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,146/mo, rank #77 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within North Carolina
Rank and range use only counties in North Carolina with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$83,384
$83,384; above the state county median of $60,230.
State rank #11 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$305,600
$305,600; above the state county median of $219,700.
State rank #79 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,146/mo
$1,146/mo; above the state county median of $886/mo.
State rank #77 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.1%
3.1%; below the state county median of 3.7%.
State rank #3 of 100 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
28.9%
28.9%; above the state county median of 23.5%.
State rank #28 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
76.5 years
76.5 years; above the state county median of 74.2 years.
State rank #22 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
18%
18%; below the state county median of 18.9%.
State rank #40 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
12.7%
12.7%; above the state county median of 12.3%.
State rank #62 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 3,713 residents
1 per 3,713 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 2,158 residents.
State rank #83 of 98 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 880 residents
1 per 880 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 521 residents.
State rank #74 of 99 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Johnston County FAQ
Is Johnston County a good place to live?
Johnston County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, median household income, and life expectancy. College attainment is 28.9% and life expectancy is 76.5 years.
What should I know before moving to Johnston County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $305,600 median home value and $1,146/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $83,384, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Johnston County?
Johnston County has 234,263 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Johnston County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 37101; the parent state FIPS is 37.
What is the median household income in Johnston County?
The ACS median household income is $83,384.
How much does housing cost in Johnston County?
Housing benchmarks are $305,600 median home value and $1,146/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $83,384, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Johnston County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.1%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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