St. Pauls: Economy & Jobs
$36,800 is the median household income in St. Pauls (1.1× below Robeson County median $41,978; 2.0× below North Carolina median $74,321), with homes at a median value of $111,000. The surrounding county supports 38,484 jobs (avg $45,957).
- $45,814 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $36,800 — below the North Carolina median ($74,321). Poverty rate 37.7% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 50% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.0× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 25.2% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 50.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 37.7% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.4% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $49,830 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $2,282,935 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $45,814 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $38,364 |
| Median Household Income | $36,800 (vs North Carolina $74,321) |
| Poverty Rate | 37.7% |
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 | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | working-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $36,800 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.9% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 8% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 24.00 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 7.6% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 38,484 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $1,768,609,141 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $45,957 |
| 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 | 3.9% (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 | 732 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 144,613 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 197.60 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Hogs, Crop Totals, Grain |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,791 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 31,063 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 1,255,925 |
| 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 | 28 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 22 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 75 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 42 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 5 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 8 |
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 | 63 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 76 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 5 |
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 (1)
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 (3)
| Nearest Snap · Name | C&P MINI MART #3 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 166 |
Sources: USDA SNAP — county FIPS aggregate
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 | 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 | $891,643,055 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,651.62 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 116,530 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 82.6% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 1.4% |
| Pct Walked | 7.6% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 35.9 years (vs North Carolina 39.5y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 43.0% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12