The Town FilesJohnston County, North Carolina
234,263 people. The median home is worth $305,600 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $83,384.
Towns in Johnston County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton | 26,307 | $329,600 | $78,822 | 33.0 |
| Smithfield | 11,292 | $242,500 | $43,270 | 44.9 |
| Selma | 6,317 | $171,600 | $41,368 | 34.1 |
| Archer Lodge | 4,797 | $324,500 | $91,188 | 42.3 |
| Benson | 3,967 | $279,800 | $67,102 | 35.6 |
| Wilson's Mills | 2,534 | $241,800 | $62,813 | 29.0 |
People and housing
| Johnston County | Typical North Carolina town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $305,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,146 | $969 |
| Median household income | $83,384 | $60,458 |
| Median age | 38.1 | 41.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 14.3% |
Jobs and pay
61,005 jobs in 2024, average pay $55,305 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 761 storm events in Johnston County from 1996 to 2026, with 20 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Johnston County has been included in 27 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4487: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).