Emporia: Economy & Jobs
$51,899 is the median household income in Emporia (about the same as Emporia city median $51,899; 1.8× below Virginia median $93,170), with homes at a median value of $148,500. The surrounding county supports 3,366 jobs (avg $41,303).
- $42,247 avg taxable income per return — lower than the median household income (vs Virginia $92,983).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $51,899 — below the Virginia median ($92,968). Poverty rate 15.8% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 41% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.9× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 24.5% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 41.4% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 15.8% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 2.3% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $2,520 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $106,462 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $42,247 (vs Virginia $92,983) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $56,263 |
| Median Household Income | $51,899 (vs Virginia $92,968) |
| Poverty Rate | 15.8% |
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 | blue_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Manufacturing |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $51,899 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.6% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 10% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 9.9% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 3,366 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $139,010,509 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $41,303 |
| 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 | 3,981,130 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.6% (vs Virginia 2.9%) |
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.
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 223 |
|---|---|
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 3,944 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 141,670 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: 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 · Convenience Stores | 5 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 10 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Law Offices | 4 |
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 | 11 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 11 |
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 | 7-Eleven Inc 11079H |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 21 |
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 | UNITED STATES JUNIOR 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 | $42,754,877 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,415.00 (vs Virginia $14,580) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 5,766 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 71.0% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 4.4% |
| Pct Walked | 9.9% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 36.6 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 37.5% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12