Zip code 27979: Sunbury, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 27979?

27979 is assigned to Sunbury, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 27979 in?

27979 is in Gates County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 27979?

About 1,161 people live in 27979, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 27979?

The median household income in 27979 is $63,170.

Q: What zip codes are near 27979?

The closest zip codes to 27979 are 27946, 27926, 27938, 27919, 23438.

Residential delivery areaGates CountyEastern Time

Population

1,161

Median household income

$63K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$192K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

54.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

71 sq mi

16 people/sq mi

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

About 27979

27979 is a rural zip code in Sunbury, North Carolina (Gates County), covering 71 sq mi of land. About 1,161 people live here, or 16 per square mile. The median resident is 54.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $63,170 a year, 22% below the national median of $80,734. 9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $192,300, or 3.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 90% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 54.4 minutes each way, and 9% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; office and administrative support; and production and manufacturing. 27% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 27979 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Average commute54.4 min
99th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min5th of 771 in NC
Rent-burdened renters100%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%12th of 760 in NC
Self-employed workers26.8%
99th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%22nd of 798 in NC
Median age54.6
98th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.194th of 802 in NC
Homeownership rate89.5%
95th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%82nd of 788 in NC
Residents 65 and older26.9%
94th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%155th of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy19%
92nd
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%226th of 789 in NC
Government workers16.3%
68th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%302nd of 798 in NC
Veterans5.9%
51st
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%531st of 801 in NC
Uninsured rate6.4%
46th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%604th of 797 in NC
Poverty rate9%
38th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%565th of 788 in NC
Median household income$63,170
26th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388404th of 748 in NC
Per capita income$32,493
26th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385446th of 799 in NC
Work from home8.7%
26th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%426th of 799 in NC
Diversity index29.3
23rd
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4586th of 802 in NC
Median home value$192,300
19th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900472nd of 757 in NC
Unemployment rate3.2%
19th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%515th of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$38,365
17th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279540th of 788 in NC
Residents under 1817.3%
15th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%556th of 802 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.381
10th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477655th of 781 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher13.9%
7th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%668th of 799 in NC
Foreign-born residents1.2%
7th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%647th of 802 in NC
Population density16/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi772nd of 802 in NC
Population1,161
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404675th of 802 in NC
Broadband access73.6%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%732nd of 788 in NC
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%712th of 798 in NC
Healthcare workers3.3%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%725th of 798 in NC

Measure	27979	Gates	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Average commuteWeakness	54.4 min	41.7 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	99th	5th of 771
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	100%	25.7%	48.9%	51.1%	99th	12th of 760
Self-employed workers	26.8%	11.5%	9.8%	10%	99th	22nd of 798
Median age	54.6	47.6	39.1	38.9	98th	94th of 802
Homeownership rateStrength	89.5%	80.9%	66.6%	65.2%	95th	82nd of 788
Residents 65 and older	26.9%	22.7%	17.2%	17.2%	94th	155th of 802
Housing vacancy	19%	13.2%	12.5%	10.1%	92nd	226th of 789
Government workers	16.3%	17.4%	13.8%	14.5%	68th	302nd of 798
Veterans	5.9%	10.8%	7.4%	6.2%	51st	531st of 801
Uninsured rate	6.4%	6.2%	9.9%	8.4%	46th	604th of 797
Poverty rate	9%	9.4%	13%	12.5%	38th	565th of 788
Median household income	$63,170	$66,333	$72,388	$80,734	26th	404th of 748
Per capita income	$32,493	$31,687	$41,385	$44,673	26th	446th of 799
Work from home	8.7%	4.5%	16.3%	15.1%	26th	426th of 799
Diversity index	29.3	50.3	58.4	61.4	23rd	586th of 802
Median home value	$192,300	$170,800	$288,900	$332,700	19th	472nd of 757
Unemployment rateStrength	3.2%	5.9%	4.7%	5.2%	19th	515th of 799
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$38,365	$44,644	$46,279	$49,666	17th	540th of 788
Residents under 18	17.3%	19.2%	21.8%	22%	15th	556th of 802
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.381	0.383	0.477	0.483	10th	655th of 781
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	13.9%	10.9%	35.7%	35.7%	7th	668th of 799
Foreign-born residents	1.2%	1.4%	9.1%	14.1%	7th	647th of 802
Population density	16/sq mi	31/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	772nd of 802
Population	1,161	10,376	10,730,404	334,922,499	1st	675th of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	73.6%	76.8%	90.1%	91%	1st	732nd of 788
Tech workers	0%	1.1%	3.9%	3.8%	1st	712th of 798
Healthcare workers	3.3%	7.4%	9.5%	9.7%	1st	725th of 798

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

14%

5–17

18–24

11%

25–34

35–44

10%

45–54

22%

55–64

24%

65–74

75+

Median age

54.6

Under 18

17.3%

65 and over

26.9%

Race and ethnicity

White83%
Black10%
Hispanic0.6%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial6%

Diversity index

29.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

42.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

98%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 459
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 69.9%
Married couples: 60.6%
Living alone: 30.1%
Veterans (of adults): 5.9%
Male / female: 44% / 56%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

13%

$25–50k

17%

$50–75k

28%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

12%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

Median household income

27979

$63,170

Gates Co.

$66,333

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,493

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

14.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.381

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

27979

$192,300

Gates Co.

$170,800

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

27979

—

Gates Co.

$1,143

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

80%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

17%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 567
Owner-occupied: 89.5%
Vacant: 19%
Median year built: 1977
Median rooms: 6.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 100%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 100%
Home value to income: 3.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

66%

Carpooled

23%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

16%

10–19

20–29

10%

30–44

15%

45–59

19%

60+

33%

Average commute

54.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

54.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

28%

Office and admin

15%

Production

15%

Education

11%

Police and fire

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Management

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Food service

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Retail

23%

Other services

15%

Manufacturing

12%

Public administration

10%

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Health care and social assistance

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Professional and technical services

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$38,365

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

26.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	27979	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$27,000	$74,888
Service	—	$26,804
Sales and office	$53,182	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$39,231	$49,199
Production and transportation	$30,227	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

53%

Some college

16%

Associate's

Bachelor's

12%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 92.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.7%
Households with broadband: 73.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 56.2%
No internet access: 16.3%
Without health insurance: 6.4%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Sunbury
State: North Carolina
County: Gates County
Center point: 36.4368° N, 76.5607° W
Land area: 71 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Sunbury (unincorporated)4% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 27979

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
27946	Hobbsville, NC	5.3 mi	1,008	$74,421	$204,400
27926	Corapeake, NC	5.3 mi	1,983	$57,333	$231,300
27938	Gatesville, NC	9.4 mi	1,790	$65,217	$151,200
27919	Belvidere, NC	9.4 mi	936	$102,883	$173,200
23438	Suffolk, VA	13 mi	1,749	$93,750	$292,600
27976	South Mills, NC	13 mi	4,309	$91,314	$349,800
27937	Gates, NC	13 mi	2,936	$70,086	$160,000
27980	Tyner, NC	14 mi	1,647	$66,111	$259,300
27969	Roduco, NC	14 mi	111	—	$336,400
27942	Harrellsville, NC	14 mi	766	$44,271	$114,000
27985	Winfall, NC	16 mi	317	$63,233	—
27935	Eure, NC	17 mi	1,464	$82,115	$171,200

Zip codes like 27979 elsewhere

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

Questions about 27979

What city is zip code 27979?

27979 is assigned to Sunbury, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 27979 in?

27979 is in Gates County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 27979?

About 1,161 people live in 27979, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 27979 in?

27979 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 27979?

The median household income in 27979 is $63,170.

What zip codes are near 27979?

The closest zip codes to 27979 are 27946, 27926, 27938, 27919, 23438.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 27979, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.