Mount Olive: Economy & Jobs
Mount Olive's typical household earns $48,700 (1.2× below Wayne County median $59,733; 1.5× below North Carolina median $72,388), with homes at a median value of $153,500. The surrounding county supports 19,429 jobs (avg $45,993).
- $51,346 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs North Carolina $84,123).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $48,700 — below the North Carolina median ($79,112). Poverty rate 17.7% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 39% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.2× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 22.6% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 38.7% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 17.7% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.7% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $22,430 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,151,698 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $51,346 (vs North Carolina $84,123) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $52,268 |
| Median Household Income | $48,700 (vs North Carolina $79,112) |
| Poverty Rate | 17.7% |
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 | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | working-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $48,700 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 5.4% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 6% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 19.00 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 5.5% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 19,429 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $893,597,244 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $45,993 |
| 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 | 5.4% (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 | 694 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 43,987 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 63.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Hogs, Poultry Totals, Crop Totals, Grain |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 872 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 13,627 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 543,883 |
| 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 | 12 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 29 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 21 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 5 |
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 | 25 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 36 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 3 |
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 544 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 18 |
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 | MOUNT OLIVE 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 | $345,618,257 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,094.70 (at North Carolina median) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 48,715 people (vs North Carolina 70,630) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 76.2% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 2.8% |
| Pct Walked | 5.5% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 42.9 years (vs North Carolina 36.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 41.7% |
| 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