Mount Olive: Demographics & People
Mount Olive's population stands at 4,453 people, in 1,677 households. Population grew 5.9% from 4,204 (2022) to 4,453 (2024). Median age 42.9 years. (5.6y older than Wayne County; 6.7y older than North Carolina). Children under 18 are 16% of the population. Population is 50% Black and 36% White (non-Hispanic). The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.56). 57% of households are family-led. County is gaining 656 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.7 people per household (vs North Carolina avg 2.5).
- 43% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs North Carolina 42%).
- 57 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs North Carolina 64).
Population & Trend
Population grew 5.9% from 4,204 (2022) to 4,453 (2024) — about 9.9× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~4,720 (extrapolated at 3.0%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 5,092.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 48,715 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 5.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 4,204 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 4,453 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 4,453 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Population Estimate | 5,092 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 42.9y is 4.0 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 16% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 42.9 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 15.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 4,453 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 694 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,254.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,582.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 923 |
| Population under 18 | 694 |
| Median age | 42.9 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 4,453 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.56 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 1,510 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 2,240 |
| Asian residents | 23 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 356 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 56.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 54.3% |
| Asian population | 0.6% (vs North Carolina 3.2%) |
| Black population | 50.5% (vs North Carolina 26.0%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 7.4% (vs North Carolina 12.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 36.3% (vs North Carolina 51.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 3.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 16% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 2,858 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 737 |
| Share born in this state | 64.2% |
| Share born in another state | 35.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 16.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 3.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 16.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 615 |
| From Europe | 139 |
| From Africa | 9 |
Households & Family Composition
1,677 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 57% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 843 families, 15% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 709 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 843 |
| Married couples with children | 126 |
| Single-parent households | 3 |
| Average household size | 2.33 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 19.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 203 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 19 |
| Family households | 958 households (vs North Carolina 17,226) |
| Households that are families | 57.1% (vs North Carolina 58.5%) |
| Total households | 1,677 households (vs North Carolina 25,235) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 25.7% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 656 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 25.7% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 44,499 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 43,843 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 656 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 338 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.1% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 515 residents live in group quarters (11.6% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 515 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 7 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 37061 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 37 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 061 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Duplin |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 38.0% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 33.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 42.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 37061 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Duplin County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,641 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 37061 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Duplin County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 61.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 47.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 30.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 58,741 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 5 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 15.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 4,453, booming, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 4,453 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
| Town Summary · County | Duplin County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade