Zip code 28601: Hickory, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28601?

28601 is assigned to Hickory, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28601 in?

28601 is mostly in Catawba County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 28601?

About 53,329 people live in 28601, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28601?

The median household income in 28601 is $67,817.

Q: What zip codes are near 28601?

The closest zip codes to 28601 are 28667, 28637, 28630, 28603, 28613.

Residential delivery areaCatawba CountyEastern Time

Population

53,329

Median household income

$68K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$262K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,029/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

41.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

47 sq mi

1,133 people/sq mi

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

About 28601

28601 is a suburban zip code in Hickory, North Carolina (Catawba County), covering 47 sq mi of land. About 53,329 people live here, or 1,133 per square mile. The median resident is 41.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $67,817 a year, 16% below the national median of $80,734. 12.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $261,600, or 3.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 68% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,029 a month.

36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.4 minutes each way, and 9% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; sales; and management.

How 28601 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Population53,329
84th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,40428th of 802 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.475
79th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477182nd of 781 in NC
Residents 65 and older19.7%
72nd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%391st of 802 in NC
Median age41.2
66th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1448th of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy8.9%
66th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%543rd of 789 in NC
Self-employed workers10.7%
66th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%340th of 798 in NC
Healthcare workers10.5%
65th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%289th of 798 in NC
Uninsured rate8.6%
63rd
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%458th of 797 in NC
Veterans6.6%
61st
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%442nd of 801 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher36.1%
59th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%192nd of 799 in NC
Poverty rate12.4%
58th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%426th of 788 in NC
Per capita income$40,441
51st
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385228th of 799 in NC
Homeownership rate68.4%
49th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%553rd of 788 in NC
Population density1,133/sq mi
46th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi119th of 802 in NC
Foreign-born residents8.3%
44th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%182nd of 802 in NC
Median earnings per worker$45,973
43rd
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279262nd of 788 in NC
Diversity index44
42nd
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4428th of 802 in NC
Tech workers2.4%
41st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%277th of 798 in NC
Government workers12.6%
41st
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%501st of 798 in NC
Broadband access90.4%
37th
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%295th of 788 in NC
Median home value$261,600
36th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900291st of 757 in NC
Residents under 1820.6%
36th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%383rd of 802 in NC
Median household income$67,817
32nd
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388320th of 748 in NC
Work from home9.4%
31st
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%386th of 799 in NC
Rent-burdened renters45.1%
29th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%418th of 760 in NC
Average commute22.4 min
25th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min595th of 771 in NC
Median gross rent$1,029
23rd
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228292nd of 688 in NC
Unemployment rate3%
16th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%535th of 799 in NC

Measure	28601	Catawba	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Population	53,329	163,573	10,730,404	334,922,499	84th	28th of 802
Income inequality (Gini)	0.475	0.459	0.477	0.483	79th	182nd of 781
Residents 65 and older	19.7%	18.7%	17.2%	17.2%	72nd	391st of 802
Median age	41.2	42.1	39.1	38.9	66th	448th of 802
Housing vacancy	8.9%	9.4%	12.5%	10.1%	66th	543rd of 789
Self-employed workers	10.7%	9%	9.8%	10%	66th	340th of 798
Healthcare workers	10.5%	8.5%	9.5%	9.7%	65th	289th of 798
Uninsured rate	8.6%	10.6%	9.9%	8.4%	63rd	458th of 797
Veterans	6.6%	6.3%	7.4%	6.2%	61st	442nd of 801
Bachelor's degree or higher	36.1%	26.1%	35.7%	35.7%	59th	192nd of 799
Poverty rate	12.4%	12.7%	13%	12.5%	58th	426th of 788
Per capita income	$40,441	$37,462	$41,385	$44,673	51st	228th of 799
Homeownership rate	68.4%	72.2%	66.6%	65.2%	49th	553rd of 788
Population density	1,133/sq mi	408/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	46th	119th of 802
Foreign-born residents	8.3%	6.9%	9.1%	14.1%	44th	182nd of 802
Median earnings per worker	$45,973	$45,404	$46,279	$49,666	43rd	262nd of 788
Diversity index	44	46.1	58.4	61.4	42nd	428th of 802
Tech workers	2.4%	2.1%	3.9%	3.8%	41st	277th of 798
Government workers	12.6%	11.4%	13.8%	14.5%	41st	501st of 798
Broadband access	90.4%	88.5%	90.1%	91%	37th	295th of 788
Median home value	$261,600	$241,600	$288,900	$332,700	36th	291st of 757
Residents under 18	20.6%	21.6%	21.8%	22%	36th	383rd of 802
Median household income	$67,817	$67,864	$72,388	$80,734	32nd	320th of 748
Work from home	9.4%	8.2%	16.3%	15.1%	31st	386th of 799
Rent-burdened renters	45.1%	41%	48.9%	51.1%	29th	418th of 760
Average commute	22.4 min	23.4 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	25th	595th of 771
Median gross rent	$1,029	$965	$1,228	$1,413	23rd	292nd of 688
Unemployment rateStrength	3%	3.7%	4.7%	5.2%	16th	535th of 799

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

15%

5–17

10%

18–24

12%

25–34

11%

35–44

12%

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

41.2

Under 18

20.6%

65 and over

19.7%

Race and ethnicity

White74%
Black6%
Hispanic10%
Asian5%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

8.3%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

62.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

87%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.0%

Households

Households: 21,727
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 64.2%
Married couples: 48.8%
Living alone: 29.9%
Veterans (of adults): 6.6%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

16%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28601

$67,817

Catawba Co.

$67,864

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$40,441

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

16.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.475

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28601

$261,600

Catawba Co.

$241,600

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28601

$1,029

Catawba Co.

$965

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

70%

2–4 units

5–19 units

12%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 23,838
Owner-occupied: 68.4%
Vacant: 8.9%
Median year built: 1981
Median rooms: 5.7
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 45.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 20.3%
Home value to income: 3.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

79%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

0.0%

Walked

0.8%

Bicycle

0.2%

Worked from home

Other

0.6%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

14%

10–19

40%

20–29

22%

30–44

15%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

59.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

12%

Sales

12%

Management

11%

Healthcare

10%

Office and admin

Transportation and moving

Construction and repair

Education

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Food service

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Arts, media and sports

Computer and math

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Manufacturing

23%

Health care and social assistance

15%

Retail

13%

Education

Construction

Professional and technical services

Other services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Information

Agriculture and mining

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$45,973

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28601	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$60,167	$74,888
Service	$25,979	$26,804
Sales and office	$40,903	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$50,321	$49,199
Production and transportation	$37,098	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

10%

High school

23%

Some college

21%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

24%

Graduate

12%

High school graduate or higher: 90.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 36.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 12.2%
Households with broadband: 90.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 78.2%
No internet access: 6.2%
Without health insurance: 8.6%
Limited-English households: 2.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Hickory
State: North Carolina
County: Catawba County
Center point: 35.7724° N, 81.3267° W
Land area: 47 sq mi
Water area: 3.4 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28601 spans 4 counties

Catawba County64% of land
Burke County16% of land
Alexander County13% of land
Caldwell County8% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Hickory39% of zip
St. Stephens (unincorporated)16% of zip
Bethlehem (unincorporated)8% of zip
Northlakes (unincorporated)3% of zip
Long View3% of zip
Rhodhiss2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28601

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28667	Rhodhiss, NC	5.5 mi	301	$26,354	$121,900
28637	Hildebran, NC	6.4 mi	1,911	$67,500	$197,900
28630	Granite Falls, NC	6.7 mi	19,382	$63,835	$202,400
28603	Hickory, NC · PO box	6.8 mi	—	—	—
28613	Conover, NC	7.1 mi	23,357	$58,707	$230,100
28602	Hickory, NC	7.5 mi	31,113	$62,048	$212,900
28666	Icard, NC	8.9 mi	273	—	—
28638	Hudson, NC	9.9 mi	12,363	$67,135	$207,500
28610	Claremont, NC	11 mi	10,192	$65,722	$180,900
28658	Newton, NC	11 mi	26,336	$72,042	$214,000
28671	Rutherford College, NC	11 mi	375	$73,929	$317,500
28681	Taylorsville, NC	12 mi	25,566	$60,977	$209,000

Zip codes like 28601 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28601

What city is zip code 28601?

28601 is assigned to Hickory, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28601 in?

28601 is mostly in Catawba County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

What is the population of 28601?

About 53,329 people live in 28601, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28601 in?

28601 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28601?

The median household income in 28601 is $67,817.

What zip codes are near 28601?

The closest zip codes to 28601 are 28667, 28637, 28630, 28603, 28613.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28601, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.