Mitchell County Income Charts

This section shows the Mitchell County North Carolina economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2020 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Mitchell County depicts it has a Median earnings of $40,730 which is the second most median earnings of all the counties in the greater Mitchell County region. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Washington County which depicts a median earnings of $42,272 (only about 3.8% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $49,041, Mitchell County is about 20.4% smaller. Also, versus the state of North Carolina, median earnings per worker of $43,716, Mitchell County is about 7.3% smaller.

In Figure 2 a more complete view of income is shown which aggregates income from all members in the household and it has a Median household income of $46,103 which is the second most median income of all the counties in the greater Mitchell County region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Washington County which shows a median income of $48,334 (only about 4.8% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $62,843, Mitchell County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of North Carolina, median household income of $54,602, Mitchell County is about 18.4% smaller.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Mitchell County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $10,000 and $14,999 at 6.7% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $20,000 and $49,999 at 20.8% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 39.3 which is the second most average hours of all the counties in the greater Mitchell County region. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Unicoi County which depicts an average hours of 39.8 ( only slightly larger). Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has a Avg Hrly Earnings of $19.93 which is the second most average hourly earnings of all the counties in the greater Mitchell County region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Washington County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $21.51 (7.9% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $24.31, Mitchell County is about 22.0% smaller. Also, compared with the state of North Carolina, average hourly earnings of $21.45, Mitchell County is about 7.6% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Mitchell County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Mitchell County depicts it has a Self Employed of 7.6% which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Yancey County which depicts a percentage self employed of 13.9% (about twice as large).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, it has the largest proportion of median income-under 25 years at $62,353 of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-25 to 44 years at $51,410 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Washington County with $58,542. Third, it has less than most other counties in the greater region when ranked by median income-45 to 64 years at $33,043 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Mitchell County has the largest proportion of investment and retirement income at 15.8% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart (Figure 11) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has a With Retirement Income of 24.4% which is the highest of all counties in the area.

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and it has one of the largest proportions of overall family income at $59,788 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Washington County with $66,959. Second, it has the second smallest as measured by overall family income of all the other counties in the local area when ranked by hawaiian family income at $25,000 of the total.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mitchell County depicts it has the hightest cost of 103.1 for the cost of grocery items group.

Mitchell County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at very recent, monthly trended employment related performance using data estimated by economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS tracks unemployment statistics for a large number of areas throughout the country on a month to month basis. However, not every location in the U.S. is tracked by the BLS so the chart will only show the closest location available (which may be the same location.) Figure 14 shows the monthly unemployment rate for the area as well as a comparison to the overall national economy measure for the United States. Note that in March to April 2020, the Covid 19 recession or great recession occurred and affects this metric. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the Wuhan virus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 15.5% to 5.0% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 67.7%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 6.5% This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 30.0%. In Figure 15 the monthly labor force participation which are people actively looking for work are also defined as unemployed but do not include people who have given up looking for work. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the disasterous COVID Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 6,813 to 6,007 in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 11.8%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 5,974 This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of very little.

The next two charts look at the annual unemployment rate/eligible for unemployment benefits and is based on the American Community survey. Figure 16 shows Mitchell County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 1.8% which is the smallest when sorted by unemployment rate of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is McDowell County which shows a rate of 3.0% (67.4% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Mitchell County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 52.7% which is the third most participation rates of all other counties in the greater Mitchell County region.

The Components of Employment Status graph in Figure 18 shows the composition of the labor force broken down by employed, unemployed, and not in the labor force (but 16 years of age or older). Mitchell County has the smallest proportion of employed at 1.8% of the total.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Mitchell County depicts full time employees approximately 3.6 times bigger as the part time employees.

The next employment related data item is shown in Figure 21 which is the percentage of families with only a single earner in the greater Mitchell County area. Mitchell County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 28.6% which is in the mid point range of other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Avery County which depicts a single earners rate of 31.0% (8.5% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Mitchell County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 27.1% which is the third most families with no one working of all other counties in the greater Mitchell County region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Avery County which shows a families with no worker of 30.3% (12.0% larger).

Mitchell County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Mitchell County community. This performance can be enhanced by government programs such as economic opportunity zone to influence manufacturing, job growth, economic opportunity an hopefully lead to economic recovery after the recent Covid 19 recession. In Figure 23 the total number of people earning less than the poverty level are shown. Mitchell County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 1,886 which is the smallest when ranked by total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Washington County which shows a total people earning less than the poverty level of 18,955 ( very much bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Mitchell County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 13.0% which is the smallest when sorted by percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Carter County which shows a percent of people in poverty of 22.1% (70.5% larger).

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Mitchell County has the largest proportion of white poverty rate at 100% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of black poverty rate at 52% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Washington County (53%), and #1 Carter County (60%) are larger. Third, it has the largest proportion of american indian poverty rate at 53% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Mitchell County has the smallest proportion of married with children and in poverty at 30% of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by married with children and in poverty of all the other counties in the local area in terms of unmarried with children and in poverty at 32% of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the greater region in order of unmarried female with children and in poverty at 15% of the total.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Mitchell County has the smallest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 2% of the total. Additionally, Figure 30 looks at the percentage of people who receive some form of public assistance including general assistance, temporary assistance or food stamps (i.e. SNAP.) Mitchell County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 13.7% which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Unicoi County which depicts a households with public assistance of 19.3% (40.5% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Mitchell County depicts it has a Gini Index of 41.5% which is the smallest in order of the gini index of all the other counties in the surrounding region.

Mitchell County Work Commute Charts

The following set of charts detail a variety of metrics that have economic impact, economic grow factors and economic development metrics in the Mitchell County community and has an impact on other factors such as economic growth, population growth, economic recovery, job growth, etc.. Figure 32 shows a high level view of how the population commutes to work (including the percent of people who work from home.) Mitchell County has the smallest proportion of people who bicycle or walk to work at 2% of the total. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Mitchell County or elsewhere.) Mitchell County has the largest proportion of people who carpooled at 12% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who work from home at 2% of the total.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Mitchell County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 9% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 8am to 830am at 2% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 830 am to 9am at 2% of the total. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 9am to 10am at 1% of the total. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 10am to 11am at 2% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Mitchell County has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 21% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 15 to 19 minutes at 9% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 30 to 34 minutes at 2% of the total.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Mitchell County depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 24 which is the third most average commute time of all other counties in the greater Mitchell County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Mitchell County shows average commute time in minutes for men 67.7% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Mitchell County has the smallest proportion of 1 vehicle available at 36% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of 3 vehicles available at 14% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Mitchell County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 28% which is the smallest when sorted by people who both work and live in the same city of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Washington County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 60% (about twice as large). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 42%, Mitchell County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of North Carolina, people who both work and live in the same city of 51%, Mitchell County is approximately half the size.

Mitchell County Jobs Charts

The next to charts break out the median earnings for major job categories for men and women. Figure 46 shows the median earnings of men for the job categories. Mitchell County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $62,969 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations aggregate. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Mitchell County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $54,875 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations group. The table in Figure 48, shows Mitchell County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Mitchell County Self Employment Charts

Figure 49 shows economic activity in terms of the number of people who are self employed in incorporated local business by industry. Mitchell County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 48% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses category.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 50 which shows the number of people who are self employed but in more detailed industry categories such as manufacturing, retail sales, residential real estate, commercial real estate, health care, exports/imports, and advanced industries, etc. Mitchell County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 32% for the self employed in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services classification.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Mitchell County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $24,199 which is less than most other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Washington County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $36,373 (50.3% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $39,154, Mitchell County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, compared to the state of North Carolina, average annual self employment income of $31,963, Mitchell County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Mitchell County shows total number of self-employed men 50.2% larger as the total number of self-employed women.