King: Economy & Jobs
Earnings in King center on a median $57,817 (1.1× below Stokes County median $62,969; 1.3× below North Carolina median $72,388), with homes at a median value of $238,200. The surrounding county supports 192,587 jobs (avg $66,257).
- $79,492 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs North Carolina $84,123).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $57,817 — below the North Carolina median ($79,112). Poverty rate 7.0% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 62% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.1× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 19.4% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 61.8% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 7.0% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.7% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $179,730 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $14,287,075 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $79,492 (vs North Carolina $84,123) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $68,884 |
| Median Household Income | $57,817 (vs North Carolina $79,112) |
| Poverty Rate | 7.0% |
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 | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $57,817 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 0.5% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 10% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 24.80 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 10.1% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 192,587 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $12,760,276,116 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $66,257 |
| 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 | 0.5% (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 | 482 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 25,391 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 52.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Horticulture Totals, Grain, Nursery Totals, Soybeans |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 9,026 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 182,423 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 10,493,034 |
| 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 | 91 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 24 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 24 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 139 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 5 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 63 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 40 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 17 |
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 | 317 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 307 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 54 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 69 |
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 | LOWES FOOD STORE 121 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 17 |
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 | KING 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 | $2,746,836,741 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,179.58 (at North Carolina median) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 382,590 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 82.4% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 10.1% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 42.3 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 36.5% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 4 |
| 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