Johnston County
Moving to Johnston County, NC: Clayton, Smithfield, Selma, Benson & More
Johnston County ("JoCo" around here) sits just southeast of Raleigh, along I-40, US-70/I-42 and I-95. It's one of the places I'm asked about most, usually by people who want more house or more land for their budget while keeping Raleigh within reach. Here's what I'd want to know if I were moving here today.
Why are so many people moving to Johnston County?
Growth, value and access: the county grew 18.7% from 2020 to 2025, homes sell for less than the Wake County median, and major highways connect it to Raleigh.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Johnston County had 256,448 residents on July 1, 2025, up from about 216,000 in 2020, and building permits authorized 3,002 new housing units in 2025. Big employers are part of the story too: Novo Nordisk is the county's largest private employer and is in the middle of a major expansion in Clayton, and Grifols has a large Clayton campus.
How much do homes cost in Johnston County?
The Johnston County median sale price was $369,900 in September 2026, about $95,000 below Wake County's $465,000 median.
| Town | Typical home value* | To downtown Raleigh** | To RTP** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton | ≈ $360K | ~26 min | ~46 min |
| Smithfield | ≈ $290K | ~41 min | ~61 min |
| Selma | ≈ $270K | ~40 min | ~60 min |
| Four Oaks | ≈ $305K | ~43 min | ~63 min |
| Benson | ≈ $315K | ~41 min | ~61 min |
| Kenly | ≈ $255K | ~54 min | ~74 min |
Homes took 78 days on average to sell in September 2026, with 5.0 months of inventory and an average sale price of 98.7% of list. More inventory and longer market times generally give buyers room to negotiate, especially on resale homes and builder incentives.
What are the main towns in Johnston County like?
Each town has a different mix of amenities, home styles and highway access. Here's a features-only look.
Clayton
A busy Main Street, the paved Clayton River Walk on the Neuse (about 4 miles, part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and East Coast Greenway), and life-science employers including Novo Nordisk and Grifols. You'll find lots of new construction, including the large master-planned Flowers Plantation area, plus established subdivisions and larger country lots. US-70/I-42 and I-40 connect to Raleigh.
Smithfield
The county seat on the Neuse River, with the Neuse Riverwalk, Buffalo Creek Greenway, the Ava Gardner Museum, Johnston Community College and Carolina Premium Outlets right off I-95. Homes include older houses and brick ranches in town, newer subdivisions on the edges and rural acreage nearby. Smithfield's Ham & Yam Festival celebrated its 40th year on May 2, 2026; the next one is set for May 1, 2027.
Selma and Four Oaks
Two small I-95 towns. Selma has a historic downtown and the Selma–Smithfield Amtrak station. Four Oaks sits near the I-95/I-40 interchange, close to Bentonville Battlefield, the site of North Carolina's largest Civil War battle. Expect older in-town homes, brick ranches, manufactured homes on land, new subdivisions, and rural lots with well and septic.
Benson and Kenly
Benson, in south Johnston near I-95 and I-40, has hosted Benson Mule Days since 1949, held around the fourth Saturday of September (September 24–27 in 2026). Kenly is in northeast Johnston on I-95. Both offer older in-town homes, ranches, new-construction subdivisions and properties with acreage, and the longest commutes to Raleigh.
The county also includes Archer Lodge, Pine Level, Princeton, Wilson's Mills, Micro and unincorporated communities. For Wake County towns nearby (like Garner and Fuquay-Varina), see my relocation page.
What are property taxes in Johnston County?
Johnston County's rate is $0.51 per $100 of assessed value for FY 2026–27. Inside a town, you add the town's rate; outside town limits, you add the county fire tax of 11.5¢.
| Location | Rate per $100 | Est. annual tax on $350,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated Johnston (county + fire tax) | $0.625 | ≈ $2,188 |
| Town of Smithfield (county + town) | $0.96 | ≈ $3,360 |
| Town of Clayton (county + town) | $1.00 | ≈ $3,500 |
Johnston's next countywide reappraisal is scheduled for 2029. Johnston County's combined sales tax rate is 6.75%, half a point below Wake's 7.25%. Want the side-by-side? Read Raleigh vs. Johnston County: cost of living, taxes and commute.
What utilities will I have in Johnston County?
It depends on the address: a town electric system, Duke Energy or an electric co-op, plus town, county or well/septic water and sewer.
Clayton, Smithfield, Selma and Benson run their own public-power electric systems inside town limits. Johnston County Public Utilities estimates a typical household water bill of about $48 a month and sewer of about $72 a month for FY 2026–27. Rural homes may be on a private well and septic system, which means separate inspections during due diligence. Ask the seller for average utility bills on every home.
How do schools work in Johnston County?
All of Johnston County is served by Johnston County Public Schools, and assignment is based on your exact address.
Use the district's School Finder and student assignment maps for any address you're considering, and look up official data on the NC DPI School Report Cards. I don't rank schools, and listing descriptions can be out of date, so always confirm with the district.
Can I get a USDA loan in Johnston County?
Possibly. Some addresses outside town limits in Johnston County may qualify for USDA's 100% financing, but eligibility is address-specific.
Check the exact address on the USDA eligibility map, since boundaries can split a ZIP code, and income limits apply. Statewide NCHFA programs are also available here. I didn't find a Johnston County–specific buyer-assistance program open to individual buyers as of October 2026. My 2026 buying guide covers the options.
Fair housing note: I describe areas by features like amenities, home styles, commute and cost. I don't suggest who should or shouldn't live anywhere. Please visit, explore and decide for yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Johnston County from Raleigh?
Clayton is about 26 minutes from downtown Raleigh with no traffic, Smithfield and Selma about 40 minutes, and Kenly about 54 minutes (OSRM estimates). Rush hour on I-40 and US-70 adds time.
What is the property tax rate in Johnston County, NC?
For FY 2026–27 the county rate is $0.51 per $100 of assessed value. Clayton adds $0.49 and Smithfield adds $0.45 inside town limits; homes outside towns pay a county fire tax of 11.5¢ instead.
What is the median home price in Johnston County?
$369,900 in September 2026, up 5.7% from a year earlier, based on Triangle MLS data.
Is Johnston County growing?
Yes. The Census Bureau estimates the county grew 18.7% from April 2020 to July 2025, to about 256,448 residents.
What is there to do in Johnston County?
The Clayton River Walk on the Neuse, Smithfield's Neuse Riverwalk and Ava Gardner Museum, Bentonville Battlefield, Howell Woods, Carolina Premium Outlets, the Ham & Yam Festival and Benson Mule Days.
About the author
I'm Sam Palmieri, a North Carolina real estate broker (NC Lic. 362778) with Anna Powell Real Estate | eXp Realty. I'm a former NYPD officer, an ex-Director of Marketing for an eXp mega team and an eXp Con speaker, and I relocated from New York to North Carolina myself. More about me.
Have questions about your move?
Text or call me at (718) 419-0176, book a free consult, or grab my free guide with town-by-town details.
Sources
- Triangle & Triad Housing Market Report, September 2026 (Triangle MLS data) — www.timothyneubauer.com/relocation/market-reports
- Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), September 2026 — www.zillow.com/research/data
- OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (no-traffic drive-time estimates) — project-osrm.org
- U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Johnston County, NC (V2025) — www.census.gov/quickfacts/johnstoncountynorthcarolina
- Johnston County, FY 2026–27 adopted budget announcement — www.johnstonnc.gov/content.cfm?id=2071
- Town of Clayton, FY 2027 Budget (adopted June 15, 2026; $0.49 per $100) — www.claytonnc.gov/850/FY-2027-Town-of-Clayton-Budget
- Town of Smithfield, FY 2026–2027 Adopted Budget ($0.45 per $100) — www.smithfield-nc.com/upload/shared/FY%202026-2027%20Adopted%20Budget.pdf
- NC Department of Revenue, Property Tax Rates and Revaluation Schedules, FY 2026–27 — www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/property-tax/property-tax-rates/county-property-tax-rates-and-reappraisal-schedules/fiscal-year-2026-2027
- NC Department of Revenue, Sales and Use Tax — www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax
- Town of Clayton, Greenways & Trails — www.claytonnc.gov/244/Greenways-Trails
- Downtown Smithfield, Ham & Yam Festival — downtownsmithfield.com/ham-yam-festival
- Benson Mule Days, About — bensonmuledays.com/about
- NC Historic Sites, Bentonville Battlefield — historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/bentonville-battlefield
- Ava Gardner Museum, Smithfield — www.johnstoncountync.org/ava-gardner
- Johnston County Public Schools — www.johnston.k12.nc.us
- NC DPI, School Report Cards — www.dpi.nc.gov/data-reports/school-report-cards
- USDA Rural Development, Property Eligibility — eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov
Researched October 2026. Figures change; please verify with the source before relying on them.