Johnston County, North Carolina Housing Market Prices
Johnston County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 12% below the North Carolina median$243,547
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Median rent 7% below the North Carolina median More expensive than 77% of counties in North Carolina$1,145
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Johnston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $243,547 | $278,288 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 7.7% | 9.3% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,145 | $1,227 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Johnston County is about 12% lower than in North Carolina. Rent is about 7% lower than the North Carolina average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Johnston County, up about 7.7% and 4.9% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Johnston County rose about 48.0% between 2015 and 2024, from $774 to $1,145. Over the same span, rent in North Carolina rose about 54.2%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.9 yearly household incomes in Johnston County.
Buying the median-priced home in Johnston County costs roughly 17.7 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Johnston County. The price-to-rent ratio in North Carolina is about 18.9.
| Metric | Johnston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $243,547 | $278,288 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $84,644 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Johnston County rose about 72.9%, while median household income rose about 57.4% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Johnston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 71.4% | 58.3% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 22.5% | 29.2% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 6.2% | 12.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 15.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 |
Johnston County has a homeownership rate of 71.4%, higher than the North Carolina average of 58.3%. Its housing vacancy rate is 6.2%, compared with 12.5% in North Carolina.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Johnston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.72 people | 2.44 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1998 | 1989 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.0 | 5.6 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Johnston County was built around 1998. On average, 2.7 people live in a home with about 6.0 rooms, staying for about 15.0 years on average.
Johnston County, NC Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
Johnston County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 234,262 residents against a local median of 118,630. The measure that sets Johnston County, NC apart most is median home price: $243,547, 41% above the local median of $173,335.
Median rent tells the same story from another angle: $1,145 against a local median of $964, 19% above it. The one measure here that carries a verdict is homeownership, and at 19% above the local median it puts Johnston County, NC at the better end of the local range. The counties themselves spread $395,084 on median home price, so Johnston County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Johnston County, NC has the 2nd highest median home price of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston County, NC | 234,262 | $243,547 #2/6 | $1,145 #2/6 | 76.0% #1/6 |
| Wayne County, NC | 118,630 | $34,399 | $964 | 61.5% |
| Wake County, NC | 1,178,613 | $429,483 | $1,622 | 64.1% |
| Wilson County, NC | 79,278 | $149,725 | $952 | 60.0% |
| Harnett County, NC | 139,132 | $173,335 | $1,112 | 71.0% |
| Sampson County, NC | 59,467 | $187,677 | $834 | 73.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Johnston County, North Carolina.
What is the median home price in Johnston County, North Carolina?
The median home price in Johnston County, North Carolina is $243,547, lower than the North Carolina average of $278,288.
What is the average home price in Johnston County, North Carolina?
The typical home price in Johnston County, North Carolina, reported as the median sale price, is $243,547. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Johnston County, North Carolina?
The median gross rent in Johnston County, North Carolina is $1,145 per month, lower than the North Carolina average of $1,227.
What was the median gross rent in Johnston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Johnston County, North Carolina was $835 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Johnston County, North Carolina?
The price-to-rent ratio in Johnston County, North Carolina is about 17.7, meaning it would take roughly 17.7 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Johnston County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Johnston County, North Carolina?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Johnston County, up about 7.7% and 4.9% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Johnston County, North Carolina?
71.4% of households in Johnston County, North Carolina own their home, higher than the North Carolina average of 58.3%.
What is the vacancy rate in Johnston County, North Carolina?
The housing vacancy rate in Johnston County, North Carolina is 6.2%, lower than the North Carolina average of 12.5%.
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