Zip code 28531: Harkers Island, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28531?

28531 is assigned to Harkers Island, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28531 in?

28531 is in Carteret County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28531?

About 1,060 people live in 28531, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28531?

The median household income in 28531 is $60,000.

Q: What zip codes are near 28531?

The closest zip codes to 28531 are 28528, 28553, 28589, 28579, 28524.

Residential delivery areaCarteret CountyEastern Time

Population

1,060

Median household income

$60K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$313K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,125/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

61.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

2.2 sq mi

473 people/sq mi

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

About 28531

28531 is a small-town zip code in Harkers Island, North Carolina (Carteret County), covering 2.2 sq mi of land. About 1,060 people live here, or 473 per square mile. The median resident is 61.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $60,000 a year, 26% below the national median of $80,734. 10.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $313,100, or 5.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 89% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,125 a month.

18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 30.4 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in arts, media and sports; sales; and construction and repair.

How 28531 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age61.5
99th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.121st of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy60.5%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%25th of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older35.7%
98th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%49th of 802 in NC
Veterans14.5%
97th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%66th of 801 in NC
Government workers28%
97th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%56th of 798 in NC
Homeownership rate89.4%
95th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%84th of 788 in NC
Average commute30.4 min
76th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min171st of 771 in NC
Tech workers3.5%
61st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%182nd of 798 in NC
Uninsured rate7.9%
58th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%509th of 797 in NC
Poverty rate10.4%
47th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%501st of 788 in NC
Median home value$313,100
46th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900203rd of 757 in NC
Per capita income$36,684
39th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385304th of 799 in NC
Broadband access90.3%
36th
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%302nd of 788 in NC
Population density473/sq mi
32nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi213th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$1,125
30th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228238th of 688 in NC
Foreign-born residents3.8%
23rd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%426th of 802 in NC
Work from home8%
22nd
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%460th of 799 in NC
Median household income$60,000
20th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388461st of 748 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher18.3%
17th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%530th of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$36,548
12th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279611th of 788 in NC
Diversity index14.5
7th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4721st of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers5.8%
7th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%660th of 798 in NC
Residents under 1811.5%
3rd
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%708th of 802 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.343
2nd
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477736th of 781 in NC
Population1,060
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404683rd of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%732nd of 799 in NC
Rent-burdened renters0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%733rd of 760 in NC
Self-employed workers3.7%
1st
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%734th of 798 in NC

Measure	28531	Carteret	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	61.5	50.5	39.1	38.9	99th	21st of 802
Housing vacancy	60.5%	38.7%	12.5%	10.1%	99th	25th of 789
Residents 65 and older	35.7%	27%	17.2%	17.2%	98th	49th of 802
Veterans	14.5%	12%	7.4%	6.2%	97th	66th of 801
Government workers	28%	20.1%	13.8%	14.5%	97th	56th of 798
Homeownership rateStrength	89.4%	74.7%	66.6%	65.2%	95th	84th of 788
Average commute	30.4 min	23.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	76th	171st of 771
Tech workers	3.5%	1.4%	3.9%	3.8%	61st	182nd of 798
Uninsured rate	7.9%	8.1%	9.9%	8.4%	58th	509th of 797
Poverty rate	10.4%	10.1%	13%	12.5%	47th	501st of 788
Median home value	$313,100	$333,300	$288,900	$332,700	46th	203rd of 757
Per capita income	$36,684	$45,736	$41,385	$44,673	39th	304th of 799
Broadband access	90.3%	93.4%	90.1%	91%	36th	302nd of 788
Population density	473/sq mi	136/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	32nd	213th of 802
Median gross rent	$1,125	$1,108	$1,228	$1,413	30th	238th of 688
Foreign-born residents	3.8%	2.9%	9.1%	14.1%	23rd	426th of 802
Work from home	8%	12.6%	16.3%	15.1%	22nd	460th of 799
Median household incomeWeakness	$60,000	$72,322	$72,388	$80,734	20th	461st of 748
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	18.3%	34.5%	35.7%	35.7%	17th	530th of 799
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$36,548	$45,624	$46,279	$49,666	12th	611th of 788
Diversity index	14.5	26.7	58.4	61.4	7th	721st of 802
Healthcare workers	5.8%	11.1%	9.5%	9.7%	7th	660th of 798
Residents under 18	11.5%	16.8%	21.8%	22%	3rd	708th of 802
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.343	0.472	0.477	0.483	2nd	736th of 781
Population	1,060	69,148	10,730,404	334,922,499	1st	683rd of 802
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	4%	4.7%	5.2%	1st	732nd of 799
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	0%	57%	48.9%	51.1%	1st	733rd of 760
Self-employed workers	3.7%	14.5%	9.8%	10%	1st	734th 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

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

35–44

45–54

21%

55–64

25%

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

61.5

Under 18

11.5%

65 and over

35.7%

Race and ethnicity

White92%
Black3%
Hispanic4%
Asian0.6%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0.8%

Diversity index

14.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

74.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

100%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 462
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 69.7%
Married couples: 60.2%
Living alone: 26.4%
Veterans (of adults): 14.5%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

23%

$50–75k

32%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28531

$60,000

Carteret Co.

$72,322

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$36,684

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

10.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.343

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28531

$313,100

Carteret Co.

$333,300

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28531

$1,125

Carteret Co.

$1,108

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

63%

2–4 units

0.5%

5–19 units

20+ units

0.5%

Mobile home

36%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,170
Owner-occupied: 89.4%
Vacant: 60.5%
Median year built: 1980
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 0%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 5.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

79%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

23%

10–19

20–29

21%

30–44

13%

45–59

32%

60+

Average commute

30.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

45.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Arts, media and sports

20%

Sales

10%

Construction and repair

Farming, fishing and forestry

Production

Transportation and moving

Management

Healthcare

Office and admin

Education

Food service

Business and finance

Computer and math

Police and fire

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Cleaning and personal care

Industries

Retail

18%

Education

15%

Other services

13%

Public administration

10%

Agriculture and mining

Manufacturing

Health care and social assistance

Admin, support and management

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$36,548

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

3.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

28%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

17.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28531	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$43,125	$74,888
Service	$16,625	$26,804
Sales and office	$24,375	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$21,250	$49,199
Production and transportation	$35,938	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

31%

Some college

37%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

11%

High school graduate or higher: 92.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 18.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.7%
Households with broadband: 90.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 76%
No internet access: 9.7%
Without health insurance: 7.9%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Harkers Island
State: North Carolina
County: Carteret County
Center point: 34.6980° N, 76.5555° W
Land area: 2.2 sq mi
Water area: 1.6 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Harkers Island (unincorporated)100% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28531

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28528	Gloucester, NC	2.5 mi	407	$64,000	$353,800
28553	Marshallberg, NC	3.8 mi	413	$88,984	$225,000
28589	Williston, NC	7.6 mi	32	—	—
28579	Smyrna, NC	8.4 mi	331	$64,519	$506,600
28524	Davis, NC	8.5 mi	261	$74,219	$200,700
28557	Morehead City, NC	11 mi	15,253	$68,528	$362,800
28516	Beaufort, NC	12 mi	11,289	$66,057	$315,400
28581	Stacy, NC	12 mi	118	—	$173,200
28512	Atlantic Beach, NC	14 mi	3,358	$91,488	$565,400
28577	Sealevel, NC	17 mi	318	$96,563	$540,300
28511	Atlantic, NC	18 mi	610	$55,978	$156,000
28575	Salter Path, NC	19 mi	169	—	$439,100

Zip codes like 28531 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28531

What city is zip code 28531?

28531 is assigned to Harkers Island, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28531 in?

28531 is in Carteret County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28531?

About 1,060 people live in 28531, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28531 in?

28531 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28531?

The median household income in 28531 is $60,000.

What zip codes are near 28531?

The closest zip codes to 28531 are 28528, 28553, 28589, 28579, 28524.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28531, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.