What are the schools like in Kinston, AL?

Kinston is served primarily by Coffee County. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.2:1.

What is the median household income in Kinston?

The median household income in Kinston, AL is $39,167 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 20.5%.

What is the weather like in Kinston, AL?

Kinston has an average high temperature of 63.2°F in January and 93.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 59.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

Kinston, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Kinston, AL affordable or expensive?

Kinston's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kinston is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $59,900 and the median rent is $655 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Kinston, AL?

Kinston has a violent crime rate of 509.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 6281.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kinston, AL a Good Place to Live?

Kinston is a small town of 797 in Alabama, with a median household income of $39,167 and a 20.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

Strengths: Kinston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kinston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kinston city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 84.4

Kinston's overall cost of living index is 84.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kinston costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Kinston, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$59,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$655	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$39,167	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Kinston's violent crime rate is 509.3 per 100,000 residents — 34% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

509.3 /100k

Property Crime

6281.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Kinston is served primarily by Coffee County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kinston, AL	National Avg
School District	Coffee County	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kinston sees average highs of 63.2°F in January and 93.9°F in July, with 59.1 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kinston, AL
Average High — January	63.2°F
Average High — July	93.9°F
Annual Precipitation	59.1"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Kinston, AL	National Avg
Population	797	—
Median Age	44.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	20.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	17.7%	22.2%
65 and over	8.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Onycha, AL 6 mi Opp, AL 7 mi Horn Hill, AL 9 mi Samson, AL 10 mi Babbie, AL 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Kinston

Kinston, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

36453

Kinston vs Other Cities

Kinston, AL vs Onycha, AL Kinston, AL vs Opp, AL Kinston, AL vs Horn Hill, AL Kinston, AL vs Samson, AL Kinston, AL vs Babbie, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kinston, AL affordable or expensive?

Kinston's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Kinston roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $59,900 and median rent is $655/month.

What is the crime rate in Kinston, AL?

Kinston's violent crime rate is 509.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 6281.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kinston?

Public schools in Kinston are operated by Coffee County. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1. 10.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kinston, AL a good place to live?

Kinston, AL has a population of 797, a median household income of $39,167, and an unemployment rate of 20.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Kinston?

Kinston averages 63.2°F in January and 93.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.1 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kinston?

Kinston, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36453.

What is the population of Kinston?

The population of Kinston, Alabama is 797 with a median age of 44.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kinston?

Key numbers for living in Kinston: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $59,900, median household income $39,167, crime index 200 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kinston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.