Zip code 27938: Gatesville, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 27938?

27938 is assigned to Gatesville, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 27938 in?

27938 is in Gates County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 27938?

About 1,790 people live in 27938, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 27938?

The median household income in 27938 is $65,217.

Q: What zip codes are near 27938?

The closest zip codes to 27938 are 27942, 27946, 27969, 27922, 27935.

Residential delivery areaGates CountyEastern Time

Population

1,790

Median household income

$65K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$151K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$984/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

55.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

51 sq mi

35 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 27938

27938 is a rural zip code in Gatesville, North Carolina (Gates County), covering 51 sq mi of land. About 1,790 people live here, or 35 per square mile. The median resident is 55.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $65,217 a year, 19% below the national median of $80,734. 11% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $151,200, or 2.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 80% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $984 a month.

8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 46.4 minutes each way, and 5% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; healthcare; and office and administrative support.

How 27938 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Average commute46.4 min
99th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min10th of 771 in NC
Median age55.3
98th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.183rd of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers16.7%
98th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%54th of 798 in NC
Unemployment rate11.5%
96th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%44th of 799 in NC
Veterans10.9%
92nd
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%143rd of 801 in NC
Self-employed workers14.9%
90th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%136th of 798 in NC
Housing vacancy16.8%
89th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%259th of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older23.1%
87th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%256th of 802 in NC
Homeownership rate79.8%
78th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%284th of 788 in NC
Diversity index59.1
70th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4181st of 802 in NC
Poverty rate11%
51st
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%479th of 788 in NC
Median earnings per worker$48,070
50th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279211th of 788 in NC
Uninsured rate6.4%
46th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%603rd of 797 in NC
Median household income$65,217
28th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388371st of 748 in NC
Median gross rent$984
20th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228322nd of 688 in NC
Per capita income$29,595
18th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385565th of 799 in NC
Foreign-born residents2%
12th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%588th of 802 in NC
Median home value$151,200
9th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900611th of 757 in NC
Work from home4.5%
6th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%632nd of 799 in NC
Population density35/sq mi
5th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi702nd of 802 in NC
Tech workers0.3%
4th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%596th of 798 in NC
Population1,790
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404623rd of 802 in NC
Broadband access77.6%
3rd
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%688th of 788 in NC
Residents under 1810%
2nd
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%729th of 802 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher8.4%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%756th of 799 in NC
Rent-burdened renters5.1%
1st
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%724th of 760 in NC
Government workers2.3%
1st
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%775th of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.325
1st
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477752nd of 781 in NC

Measure	27938	Gates	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Average commuteWeakness	46.4 min	41.7 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	99th	10th of 771
Median age	55.3	47.6	39.1	38.9	98th	83rd of 802
Healthcare workers	16.7%	7.4%	9.5%	9.7%	98th	54th of 798
Unemployment rateWeakness	11.5%	5.9%	4.7%	5.2%	96th	44th of 799
Veterans	10.9%	10.8%	7.4%	6.2%	92nd	143rd of 801
Self-employed workers	14.9%	11.5%	9.8%	10%	90th	136th of 798
Housing vacancy	16.8%	13.2%	12.5%	10.1%	89th	259th of 789
Residents 65 and older	23.1%	22.7%	17.2%	17.2%	87th	256th of 802
Homeownership rate	79.8%	80.9%	66.6%	65.2%	78th	284th of 788
Diversity index	59.1	50.3	58.4	61.4	70th	181st of 802
Poverty rate	11%	9.4%	13%	12.5%	51st	479th of 788
Median earnings per worker	$48,070	$44,644	$46,279	$49,666	50th	211th of 788
Uninsured rate	6.4%	6.2%	9.9%	8.4%	46th	603rd of 797
Median household income	$65,217	$66,333	$72,388	$80,734	28th	371st of 748
Median gross rent	$984	$1,143	$1,228	$1,413	20th	322nd of 688
Per capita incomeWeakness	$29,595	$31,687	$41,385	$44,673	18th	565th of 799
Foreign-born residents	2%	1.4%	9.1%	14.1%	12th	588th of 802
Median home value	$151,200	$170,800	$288,900	$332,700	9th	611th of 757
Work from home	4.5%	4.5%	16.3%	15.1%	6th	632nd of 799
Population density	35/sq mi	31/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	5th	702nd of 802
Tech workers	0.3%	1.1%	3.9%	3.8%	4th	596th of 798
Population	1,790	10,376	10,730,404	334,922,499	3rd	623rd of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	77.6%	76.8%	90.1%	91%	3rd	688th of 788
Residents under 18	10%	19.2%	21.8%	22%	2nd	729th of 802
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	8.4%	10.9%	35.7%	35.7%	1st	756th of 799
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	5.1%	25.7%	48.9%	51.1%	1st	724th of 760
Government workers	2.3%	17.4%	13.8%	14.5%	1st	775th of 798
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.325	0.383	0.477	0.483	1st	752nd of 781

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

10%

5–17

14%

18–24

25–34

35–44

11%

45–54

27%

55–64

65–74

16%

75+

Median age

55.3

Under 18

10%

65 and over

23.1%

Race and ethnicity

White43%
Black47%
Hispanic6%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

59.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

58%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

93%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 722
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 69.3%
Married couples: 55.3%
Living alone: 28.8%
Veterans (of adults): 10.9%
Male / female: 54% / 46%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

20%

$25–50k

26%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

21%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

27938

$65,217

Gates Co.

$66,333

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$29,595

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

11%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

2.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.325

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

27938

$151,200

Gates Co.

$170,800

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

27938

$984

Gates Co.

$1,143

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

58%

2–4 units

0.2%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

41%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 868
Owner-occupied: 79.8%
Vacant: 16.8%
Median year built: 1987
Median rooms: 5.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 5.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 2.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

71%

Carpooled

23%

Transit

Walked

0.6%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

20–29

11%

30–44

34%

45–59

13%

60+

32%

Average commute

46.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

11.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

49.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

18%

Healthcare

17%

Office and admin

15%

Cleaning and personal care

14%

Production

10%

Management

Food service

Business and finance

Farming, fishing and forestry

Transportation and moving

Sales

Legal and social services

0.8%

Police and fire

0.6%

Education

0.4%

Computer and math

0.3%

Engineering and science

0.1%

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Health care and social assistance

25%

Admin, support and management

18%

Manufacturing

15%

Other services

11%

Retail

10%

Agriculture and mining

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Education

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

0.6%

Information

0.4%

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$48,070

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

14.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

2.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	27938	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$47,969	$74,888
Service	$47,822	$26,804
Sales and office	$41,122	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$72,813	$49,199
Production and transportation	$76,676	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

45%

Some college

35%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 91.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 8.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 3%
Households with broadband: 77.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 62.3%
No internet access: 22.4%
Without health insurance: 6.4%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Gatesville
State: North Carolina
County: Gates County
Center point: 36.3843° N, 76.7160° W
Land area: 51 sq mi
Water area: 2.7 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 27938

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
27942	Harrellsville, NC	6.3 mi	766	$44,271	$114,000
27946	Hobbsville, NC	7.1 mi	1,008	$74,421	$204,400
27969	Roduco, NC	7.3 mi	111	—	$336,400
27922	Cofield, NC	8.4 mi	758	$49,250	$118,900
27935	Eure, NC	9.1 mi	1,464	$82,115	$171,200
27979	Sunbury, NC	9.4 mi	1,161	$63,170	$192,300
27937	Gates, NC	9.4 mi	2,936	$70,086	$160,000
27926	Corapeake, NC	10 mi	1,983	$57,333	$231,300
27980	Tyner, NC	11 mi	1,647	$66,111	$259,300
27986	Winton, NC	11 mi	1,283	$49,784	$138,600
27919	Belvidere, NC	13 mi	936	$102,883	$173,200
23438	Suffolk, VA	14 mi	1,749	$93,750	$292,600

Zip codes like 27938 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 27938

What city is zip code 27938?

27938 is assigned to Gatesville, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 27938 in?

27938 is in Gates County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 27938?

About 1,790 people live in 27938, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 27938 in?

27938 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 27938?

The median household income in 27938 is $65,217.

What zip codes are near 27938?

The closest zip codes to 27938 are 27942, 27946, 27969, 27922, 27935.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 27938, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.