Locust: Economy & Jobs
Earnings in Locust center on a median $76,504 (1.3× higher than Stanly County median $60,704; 1.1× higher than North Carolina median $72,388), with homes at a median value of $322,100. The surrounding county supports 87,725 jobs (avg $56,529).
- $84,123 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (at North Carolina median).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $76,504 — near the North Carolina median ($79,112). Poverty rate 8.7% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 58% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.2× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 13.9% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 57.9% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 8.7% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.8% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $106,930 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $8,995,247 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $84,123 (at North Carolina median) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $89,201 |
| Median Household Income | $76,504 (vs North Carolina $79,112) |
| Poverty Rate | 8.7% |
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 | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | upper-middle |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $76,504 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.9% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 14% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 32.70 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 13.5% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | moderate commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 87,725 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $4,959,019,655 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $56,529 |
| 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 | 1.9% (vs North Carolina 3.1%) |
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 | 544 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 15,426 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 28.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Poultry Totals, Crop Totals, Grain, Corn |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 5,131 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 75,153 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 3,422,086 |
| 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 | 34 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 11 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 12 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 70 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 34 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 35 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 9 |
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 | 175 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 185 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 6 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 56 |
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 (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | FOOD LION 345 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 9 |
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 | CABARRUS REGIONAL 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 | $1,089,510,304 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 4,825.03 (vs North Carolina $7,140) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 225,804 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 75.4% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 13.5% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 36.2 years (at North Carolina median) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 47.2% |
| 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