Cost to Own
United StatesNorth CarolinaJohnston CountyKenly Population 2,351 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Kenly, North Carolina

A $183,000 home here costs

$1,495

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $941. The real number is $554 higher every month — 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Kenly median: $183,300
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $146,400 borrowed $941
Property tax0.864% effective rate for Kenly itself $132
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $66
Electricity15.09¢/kWh — North Carolina residential average, EIA $136
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $153
Total monthly $1,495

Kenly against Johnston County and North Carolina

MeasureKenlyJohnston County
Median home value$183,300$267,600
Median property tax$1,583$1,840
Effective tax rate0.864%0.688%
Median gross rent$780$1,007
Population2,351226,623

Kenly extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Johnston County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

Kenly sits in Johnston County, which averages a high of 91.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.4°F in its coldest, with 49.37" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,871 cooling and 3,078 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Johnston County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Johnston County

Full Johnston County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Kenly?

A $183,000 home in Kenly, North Carolina costs approximately $1,495 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $941 principal and interest, $132 property tax, $66 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $153 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Kenly?

Kenly has an effective property tax rate of 0.864%, based on a median home value of $183,300 and median real estate taxes of $1,583. That is higher than the Johnston County average of 0.688%.

What is the average home price in Kenly?

The median owner-occupied home value in Kenly, North Carolina is $183,300, against $267,600 across Johnston County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kenly?

Median gross rent in Kenly is $780 a month, against $1,495 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kenly — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for North Carolina.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology