Cost of Living in Johnston County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Johnston County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Johnston County ranks #2,642 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 16%)
Sourced county brief
Johnston County Official GRAPI Estimated at 29.3 Percent
The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Johnston County was 29.3%. This figure is 0.4 percentage points higher than the North Carolina unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.9%. The median gross rent in the county was $1,146 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $977. Median selected monthly owner costs were $1,362, which is $435 above the state unweighted county mean of $927. Additionally, the median home value was $305,600, while the state unweighted county mean was $235,312. The median renter-household income for the period was $49,305. These data points provide a snapshot of housing expenditures and income by tenure for the 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates period. The analysis does not include comparisons to adjacent markets or historical trends. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Johnston County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.3% of renter household income in Johnston County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,146 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,362. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $45,840 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Johnston County's $1,146 median is 17.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Johnston County
Rent Burden
16.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,946
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.6%
of gross income
The median home in Johnston County may be a stretch
Median home value is $305,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,440 vs. your max of $1,946.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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