Mount Olive is a small town of 4,286 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $41,738
and a 7.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mount Olive stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Mount Olive is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mount Olive city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.7
Mount Olive's overall cost of living index is 89.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mount Olive costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mount Olive, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$110,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$822
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$41,738
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Mount Olive's violent crime rate is 303.7 per 100,000 residents
— 20% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
303.7 /100k
Property Crime
2943.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mount Olive is served primarily by Duplin County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mount Olive, NC
National Avg
School District
Duplin County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mount Olive sees average highs of 53.1°F in January
and 89.4°F in July,
with 51.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.0 inches of snow per year.
Mount Olive's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mount Olive roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $110,600 and median rent is $822/month.
Mount Olive's violent crime rate is 303.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2943.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mount Olive are operated by Duplin County Schools.
The district has 8 elementary, several middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.2:1. 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mount Olive, NC has a population of 4,286, a median household income of $41,738, and an unemployment rate of 7.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Mount Olive averages 53.1°F in January and 89.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.1 inches
with about 2.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mount Olive, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28365.
The population of Mount Olive, North Carolina is 4,286 with a median age of 41.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mount Olive: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $110,600, median household income $41,738, crime index 104 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mount Olive side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
