St. Helena: Economy & Jobs
Median household income in St. Helena is $75,313 (1.1× below Pender County median $80,396; about the same as North Carolina median $74,321), with homes at a median value of $215,600. The surrounding county supports 14,704 jobs (avg $47,159).
- $82,055 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $75,313 — near the North Carolina median ($74,321). Poverty rate 20.6% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 94% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.9× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 26.5% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 94.1% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 20.6% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.0% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $30,770 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $2,524,843 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $82,055 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $87,742 |
| Median Household Income | $75,313 (vs North Carolina $74,321) |
| Poverty Rate | 20.6% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $75,313 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.5% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 6% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 23.10 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 5.6% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 14,704 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $693,430,299 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $47,159 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 4,795,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% (vs North Carolina 5.0%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 41 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 67,509 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 1,646.60 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Sod, Animal Totals, Hogs, Poultry Totals, Crop Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,389 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 10,814 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 404,449 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 13 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 13 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 16 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Paint Hardware | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 42 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 46 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 4 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 22 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (5)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (2)
| Nearest Snap · Name | PMG PM 308 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Distance | 2.7 mi |
Sources: USDA SNAP — nearest by coordinates
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | BEULAVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $448,492,123 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,449.66 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 60,203 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 81.8% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 5.6% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 47.9 years (vs North Carolina 39.5y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 42.9% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | excellent |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12