Zip code 27542: Kenly, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 27542?

27542 is assigned to Kenly, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 27542 in?

27542 is mostly in Johnston County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 27542?

About 9,850 people live in 27542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 27542?

The median household income in 27542 is $66,038.

Q: What zip codes are near 27542?

The closest zip codes to 27542 are 27555, 27851, 27576, 27880, 27568.

Residential delivery areaJohnston CountyEastern Time

Population

9,850

Median household income

$66K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$214K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$757/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

90 sq mi

109 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 27542

27542 is a small-town zip code in Kenly, North Carolina (Johnston County), covering 90 sq mi of land. About 9,850 people live here, or 109 per square mile. The median resident is 40.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $66,038 a year, 18% below the national median of $80,734. 14.1% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $214,100, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 75% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $757 a month.

21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 27.6 minutes each way, and 5% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; transportation and moving goods; and office and administrative support.

How 27542 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Healthcare workers13.9%
92nd
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%110th of 798 in NC
Rent-burdened renters58.6%
79th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%146th of 760 in NC
Veterans7.7%
74th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%320th of 801 in NC
Residents 65 and older19.3%
69th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%417th of 802 in NC
Residents under 1824%
67th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%203rd of 802 in NC
Poverty rate14.1%
66th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%350th of 788 in NC
Homeownership rate74.6%
65th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%409th of 788 in NC
Median age40.8
63rd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1475th of 802 in NC
Self-employed workers10.3%
62nd
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%370th of 798 in NC
Average commute27.6 min
60th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min299th of 771 in NC
Uninsured rate7.7%
57th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%527th of 797 in NC
Housing vacancy7.6%
57th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%607th of 789 in NC
Diversity index48
48th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4373rd of 802 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.419
36th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477467th of 781 in NC
Median earnings per worker$42,588
31st
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279373rd of 788 in NC
Median household income$66,038
30th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388354th of 748 in NC
Foreign-born residents4.7%
28th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%370th of 802 in NC
Median home value$214,100
24th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900415th of 757 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher21.4%
24th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%437th of 799 in NC
Government workers10.7%
24th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%608th of 798 in NC
Per capita income$31,562
23rd
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385493rd of 799 in NC
Population9,850
15th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404317th of 802 in NC
Population density109/sq mi
14th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi461st of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate2.8%
14th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%566th of 799 in NC
Tech workers0.6%
7th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%556th of 798 in NC
Work from home4.6%
6th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%630th of 799 in NC
Median gross rent$757
5th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228587th of 688 in NC
Broadband access79.3%
4th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%663rd of 788 in NC

Measure	27542	Johnston	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Healthcare workers	13.9%	8.8%	9.5%	9.7%	92nd	110th of 798
Rent-burdened renters	58.6%	48.2%	48.9%	51.1%	79th	146th of 760
Veterans	7.7%	7.4%	7.4%	6.2%	74th	320th of 801
Residents 65 and older	19.3%	13.7%	17.2%	17.2%	69th	417th of 802
Residents under 18	24%	24.9%	21.8%	22%	67th	203rd of 802
Poverty rate	14.1%	10.6%	13%	12.5%	66th	350th of 788
Homeownership rate	74.6%	76.1%	66.6%	65.2%	65th	409th of 788
Median age	40.8	38.1	39.1	38.9	63rd	475th of 802
Self-employed workers	10.3%	9.5%	9.8%	10%	62nd	370th of 798
Average commute	27.6 min	32.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	60th	299th of 771
Uninsured rate	7.7%	10.4%	9.9%	8.4%	57th	527th of 797
Housing vacancy	7.6%	6.2%	12.5%	10.1%	57th	607th of 789
Diversity index	48	56.5	58.4	61.4	48th	373rd of 802
Income inequality (Gini)	0.419	0.421	0.477	0.483	36th	467th of 781
Median earnings per worker	$42,588	$50,077	$46,279	$49,666	31st	373rd of 788
Median household income	$66,038	$83,384	$72,388	$80,734	30th	354th of 748
Foreign-born residents	4.7%	8.3%	9.1%	14.1%	28th	370th of 802
Median home value	$214,100	$305,600	$288,900	$332,700	24th	415th of 757
Bachelor's degree or higher	21.4%	28.9%	35.7%	35.7%	24th	437th of 799
Government workers	10.7%	15.7%	13.8%	14.5%	24th	608th of 798
Per capita income	$31,562	$38,897	$41,385	$44,673	23rd	493rd of 799
Population	9,850	234,263	10,730,404	334,922,499	15th	317th of 802
Population density	109/sq mi	296/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	14th	461st of 802
Unemployment rateStrength	2.8%	3.8%	4.7%	5.2%	14th	566th of 799
Tech workers	0.6%	3.6%	3.9%	3.8%	7th	556th of 798
Work from home	4.6%	14.7%	16.3%	15.1%	6th	630th of 799
Median gross rent	$757	$1,146	$1,228	$1,413	5th	587th of 688
Broadband accessWeakness	79.3%	89.4%	90.1%	91%	4th	663rd of 788

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

16%

5–17

18–24

10%

25–34

14%

35–44

11%

45–54

14%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

40.8

Under 18

24%

65 and over

19.3%

Race and ethnicity

White69%
Black16%
Hispanic11%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.4%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

4.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

71.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

92%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.8%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 3,892
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 68.4%
Married couples: 57.2%
Living alone: 27.1%
Veterans (of adults): 7.7%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

21%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

12%

$75–100k

17%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

27542

$66,038

Johnston Co.

$83,384

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$31,562

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.1%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.419

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

27542

$214,100

Johnston Co.

$305,600

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

27542

$757

Johnston Co.

$1,146

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

69%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.8%

20+ units

0.6%

Mobile home

27%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,214
Owner-occupied: 74.6%
Vacant: 7.6%
Median year built: 1989
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 58.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 35.1%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

82%

Carpooled

Transit

0.1%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

12%

10–19

17%

20–29

32%

30–44

19%

45–59

60+

11%

Average commute

27.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

60.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

14%

Transportation and moving

12%

Office and admin

11%

Construction and repair

11%

Sales

11%

Management

10%

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Production

Education

Business and finance

Police and fire

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Computer and math

0.6%

Arts, media and sports

0.4%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.0%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

17%

Retail

13%

Manufacturing

11%

Restaurants and hotels

10%

Construction

Admin, support and management

Education

Wholesale

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Professional and technical services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Agriculture and mining

Public administration

Arts and recreation

Information

0.4%

Median earnings per worker

$42,588

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

10.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

12.3%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	27542	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$64,327	$74,888
Service	$22,992	$26,804
Sales and office	$40,476	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$47,643	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,353	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

30%

Some college

19%

Associate's

14%

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 84.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.9%
Households with broadband: 79.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 58.5%
No internet access: 18.9%
Without health insurance: 7.7%
Limited-English households: 0.6%

Geography

City (USPS): Kenly
State: North Carolina
County: Johnston County
Center point: 35.6183° N, 78.1368° W
Land area: 90 sq mi
Water area: 1.4 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

27542 spans 3 counties

Johnston County64% of land
Wilson County27% of land
Wayne County8% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Kenly2% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 27542

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
27555	Micro, NC	5.4 mi	573	$44,531	$170,700
27851	Lucama, NC	6.1 mi	5,343	$66,750	$161,600
27576	Selma, NC	7.5 mi	21,624	$66,831	$207,600
27880	Sims, NC	8.4 mi	3,953	$79,375	$219,500
27568	Pine Level, NC	9.5 mi	1,542	$66,071	$230,800
27830	Fremont, NC	11 mi	4,006	$54,129	$162,900
27813	Black Creek, NC	11 mi	743	$49,267	$106,900
27557	Middlesex, NC	12 mi	8,657	$71,541	$199,900
27863	Pikeville, NC	13 mi	13,729	$77,933	$212,200
27593	Wilsons Mills, NC	13 mi	0	—	—
27569	Princeton, NC	13 mi	8,833	$78,850	$221,700
27807	Bailey, NC	14 mi	5,958	$80,382	$164,900

Zip codes like 27542 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 27542

What city is zip code 27542?

27542 is assigned to Kenly, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 27542 in?

27542 is mostly in Johnston County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 27542?

About 9,850 people live in 27542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 27542 in?

27542 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 27542?

The median household income in 27542 is $66,038.

What zip codes are near 27542?

The closest zip codes to 27542 are 27555, 27851, 27576, 27880, 27568.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 27542, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.