HomeNorth CarolinaJohnston County
Johnston County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Johnston County, North Carolina has a population of 234,263 across 791 square miles, up 15.6 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $11.57 bn in 2024, 4,151 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 144 7(a) approvals worth $82.0 m.
128 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Johnston County
How many people live in Johnston County
- Population234,263
- Households85,591
- Average household size2.74
- Median household income$83,384
- Median age38.1
- Median gross rent$1,146 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$305,600
- Home value to household income3.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher28.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over156,985
- Population under 1858,336
- Share under 1824.9 percent
- Population 65 and over32,148
- Share 65 and over13.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64143,779
- Civilian labor force120,797
- Unemployment rate3.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.7 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties12th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents302nd
Johnston County is the 12th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.7 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.9 percent against 13.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Johnston County
Is Johnston County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base15.64 percent
- Census 2020 base population216,001
- Births, 20242,855
- Deaths, 20241,829
- Natural change, 20241,026
- Net domestic migration, 20245,283
- Net international migration, 20241,123
- Total net migration, 20246,406
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202426,309
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents50th
The county has grown 15.64 percent since the 2020 census base. Migration contributed more to 2024 change than births over deaths, so demand here follows people arriving rather than families forming.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Johnston County
Where people moving to Johnston County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving8,798
- People arriving, from those returns17,118
- Adjusted gross income arriving$569.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$64,727
- Largest single originJohnston County Non-migrants (77,221 households)
- Largest single destination (77,221 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston County Non-migrants | 77,221 | 168,398 | $5.91 bn |
| Wake County | 3,649 | 7,162 | $234.9 m |
| Other flows - Different State | 2,193 | 4,376 | $164.9 m |
| Other flows - South | 940 | 1,826 | $64.4 m |
| Other flows - Northeast | 568 | 1,123 | $43.3 m |
| Other flows - Same State | 426 | 754 | $21.6 m |
| Other flows - West | 387 | 841 | $30.6 m |
| Harnett County | 315 | 680 | $15.3 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Johnston County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Johnston County
What the Johnston County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$11.57 bn
- County GDP, 2023$10.50 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202410.2 percent
- GDP change over five years48.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among North Carolina counties16th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents393rd
- GDP per resident$49,402
Output grew 10.2 percent in the latest year and 48.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Johnston County
Who employs people in Johnston County
- Covered employment, annual average61,005
- Establishments reporting5,104
- Average annual pay$55,305
- Average weekly wage$1,064
- Sector 31-33, employment8,227
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$89,254
- Sector 44-45, employment7,897
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$33,715
- Sector 62, employment7,320
- Sector 62, average annual pay$59,523
- Sector 72, employment6,473
- Sector 72, average annual pay$21,285
- Sector 23, employment5,758
- Sector 56, employment4,632
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 31-33 | 8,227 | 146 | $89,254 |
| Sector 44-45 | 7,897 | 553 | $33,715 |
| Sector 62 | 7,320 | 533 | $59,523 |
| Sector 72 | 6,473 | 368 | $21,285 |
| Sector 23 | 5,758 | 899 | $62,837 |
| Sector 56 | 4,632 | 362 | $46,755 |
| Sector 48-49 | 2,303 | 187 | $60,189 |
| Sector 42 | 2,294 | 246 | $84,743 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 8,227 jobs, 13.5 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Johnston County
What businesses operate in Johnston County
- Establishments, all industries4,151
- Employment at those establishments49,067
- Annual payroll$2.30 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.7
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Johnston County
What is being built in Johnston County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 20242,783
- Declared construction value permitted$860.4 m
- Single family units authorised2,775
- Multifamily units authorised8
- Multifamily share of units0.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$309,173
- Units authorised per 1,000 households32.5
Multifamily is 0.3 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is predominantly for sale product.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Johnston County
How much SBA lending happens in Johnston County
- 7(a) approvals recorded144
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$82.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$569,553
- Median 7(a) approval$262,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,327,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,940
- Jobs per approval13.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active55
- Distinct industries receiving approvals80
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer18.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms26
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter99
- Franchise loans37
- Franchise share of approvals25.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (12)
- Most active lenderWells Fargo Bank National Association (13)
- 504 approvals recorded17
- 504 gross approval dollars$20.0 m
- Average 504 approval$1,175,941
- Median 504 approval$725,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval15.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.9
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (12)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals89.4 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$102.0 m
The average approval of $569,553 sits well above the median of $262,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 18.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Johnston County
Do SBA loans in Johnston County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded22
- Paid in full20
- Charged off2
- Charge off rate on resolved loans9.1 percent
- Status: Paid in full20
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure89
- Status: Cancelled23
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed10
Of the 22 loans that have reached a final outcome, 9.1 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Johnston County
Which parts of Johnston County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending11
- CLAYTON, approvals62
- SMITHFIELD, approvals32
- GARNER, approvals15
- SELMA, approvals13
- BENSON, approvals8
- Princeton, approvals5
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| CLAYTON | 62 | $20,656,500 |
| SMITHFIELD | 32 | $26,831,900 |
| GARNER | 15 | $4,100,500 |
| SELMA | 13 | $14,028,100 |
| BENSON | 8 | $3,828,700 |
| Princeton | 5 | $2,834,000 |
| RALEIGH | 3 | $5,260,000 |
| FOUR OAKS | 2 | $2,740,000 |
CLAYTON accounts for 62 approvals against 32 in SMITHFIELD. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Johnston County
How big is Johnston County
- Land area791 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties10th of 100
- Width, east to west36.3 mi
- Height, north to south38.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land296
- Establishments per square mile5.25
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Johnston County
What hazards affect Johnston County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP12
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
The EPA places the county in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Johnston County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Johnston County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population234,263
- Households85,591
- Average household size2.74
- Median household income$83,384
- Median age38.1
Common questions
Johnston County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Johnston County, North Carolina?
234,263, in 85,591 households, ranking 12th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Johnston County growing?
The population has grown 15.64 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 2,855 births against 1,829 deaths, with net migration of 6,406. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Johnston County?
$83,384. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $305,600, which is 3.7 times income, and median gross rent is $1,146 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Johnston County?
4,151 establishments, employing 49,067 people with an annual payroll of $2.30 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Johnston County?
Average annual pay is $55,305, or $1,064 a week, across 61,005 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Johnston County?
144 7(a) approvals totalling $82.0 m since FY2020, across 55 lenders, with a median approval of $262,000, plus 17 504 approvals worth $20.0 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Johnston County get paid back?
Of the 22 loans that have reached a final outcome, 20 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge off rate of 9.1 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Johnston County?
2,783 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $860.4 m. Multifamily was 0.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Johnston County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Johnston County come from?
The largest single origin is Johnston County Non-migrants, with 77,221 households. Arriving households report an average income of $64,727 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Johnston County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Johnston County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.