Zip code 28602: Hickory, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28602?

28602 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 28602 in?

28602 is mostly in Catawba County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 28602?

About 31,113 people live in 28602, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28602?

The median household income in 28602 is $62,048.

Q: What zip codes are near 28602?

The closest zip codes to 28602 are 28637, 28603, 28666, 28667, 28601.

Residential delivery areaCatawba CountyEastern Time

Population

31,113

Median household income

$62K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$213K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$896/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

71 sq mi

440 people/sq mi

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

About 28602

28602 is a small-town zip code in Hickory, North Carolina (Catawba County), covering 71 sq mi of land. About 31,113 people live here, or 440 per square mile. The median resident is 40.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $62,048 a year, 23% below the national median of $80,734. 16.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $212,900, or 3.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 63% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $896 a month.

20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21.3 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; production and manufacturing; and sales.

How 28602 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Poverty rate16.8%
76th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%236th of 788 in NC
Uninsured rate11.1%
76th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%292nd of 797 in NC
Housing vacancy10.2%
72nd
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%489th of 789 in NC
Residents under 1823.1%
59th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%236th of 802 in NC
Median age40.1
58th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1508th of 802 in NC
Diversity index52.3
56th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4295th of 802 in NC
Residents 65 and older16.9%
53rd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%519th of 802 in NC
Population31,113
52nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404118th of 802 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.438
52nd
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477363rd of 781 in NC
Veterans5.6%
47th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%561st of 801 in NC
Homeownership rate62.9%
37th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%638th of 788 in NC
Foreign-born residents6.4%
36th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%256th of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers8.5%
35th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%457th of 798 in NC
Tech workers2%
33rd
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%337th of 798 in NC
Population density440/sq mi
31st
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi224th of 802 in NC
Self-employed workers7.9%
31st
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%552nd of 798 in NC
Median earnings per worker$41,496
27th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279420th of 788 in NC
Per capita income$32,255
25th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385457th of 799 in NC
Median household income$62,048
24th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388426th of 748 in NC
Median home value$212,900
24th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900418th of 757 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher20.3%
21st
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%472nd of 799 in NC
Work from home7.9%
21st
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%470th of 799 in NC
Unemployment rate3.3%
21st
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%499th of 799 in NC
Average commute21.3 min
19th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min651st of 771 in NC
Median gross rent$896
13th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228407th of 688 in NC
Broadband access84.4%
11th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%517th of 788 in NC
Rent-burdened renters36.2%
10th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%574th of 760 in NC
Government workers8.4%
9th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%687th of 798 in NC

Measure	28602	Catawba	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Poverty rate	16.8%	12.7%	13%	12.5%	76th	236th of 788
Uninsured rate	11.1%	10.6%	9.9%	8.4%	76th	292nd of 797
Housing vacancy	10.2%	9.4%	12.5%	10.1%	72nd	489th of 789
Residents under 18	23.1%	21.6%	21.8%	22%	59th	236th of 802
Median age	40.1	42.1	39.1	38.9	58th	508th of 802
Diversity index	52.3	46.1	58.4	61.4	56th	295th of 802
Residents 65 and older	16.9%	18.7%	17.2%	17.2%	53rd	519th of 802
Population	31,113	163,573	10,730,404	334,922,499	52nd	118th of 802
Income inequality (Gini)	0.438	0.459	0.477	0.483	52nd	363rd of 781
Veterans	5.6%	6.3%	7.4%	6.2%	47th	561st of 801
Homeownership rate	62.9%	72.2%	66.6%	65.2%	37th	638th of 788
Foreign-born residents	6.4%	6.9%	9.1%	14.1%	36th	256th of 802
Healthcare workers	8.5%	8.5%	9.5%	9.7%	35th	457th of 798
Tech workers	2%	2.1%	3.9%	3.8%	33rd	337th of 798
Population density	440/sq mi	408/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	31st	224th of 802
Self-employed workers	7.9%	9%	9.8%	10%	31st	552nd of 798
Median earnings per worker	$41,496	$45,404	$46,279	$49,666	27th	420th of 788
Per capita income	$32,255	$37,462	$41,385	$44,673	25th	457th of 799
Median household income	$62,048	$67,864	$72,388	$80,734	24th	426th of 748
Median home value	$212,900	$241,600	$288,900	$332,700	24th	418th of 757
Bachelor's degree or higher	20.3%	26.1%	35.7%	35.7%	21st	472nd of 799
Work from home	7.9%	8.2%	16.3%	15.1%	21st	470th of 799
Unemployment rate	3.3%	3.7%	4.7%	5.2%	21st	499th of 799
Average commuteStrength	21.3 min	23.4 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	19th	651st of 771
Median gross rent	$896	$965	$1,228	$1,413	13th	407th of 688
Broadband accessWeakness	84.4%	88.5%	90.1%	91%	11th	517th of 788
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	36.2%	41%	48.9%	51.1%	10th	574th of 760
Government workers	8.4%	11.4%	13.8%	14.5%	9th	687th 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

19%

5–17

18–24

13%

25–34

11%

35–44

15%

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

40.1

Under 18

23.1%

65 and over

16.9%

Race and ethnicity

White67%
Black13%
Hispanic12%
Asian5%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0.1%
Other0.3%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

52.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

6.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

67.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

88%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.5%

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.1%

Households

Households: 12,005
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 68.1%
Married couples: 46.9%
Living alone: 27.2%
Veterans (of adults): 5.6%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

20%

$25–50k

20%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

10%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28602

$62,048

Catawba Co.

$67,864

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,255

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

16.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

14%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.438

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28602

$212,900

Catawba Co.

$241,600

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28602

$896

Catawba Co.

$965

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

68%

2–4 units

5–19 units

10%

20+ units

Mobile home

10%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 13,371
Owner-occupied: 62.9%
Vacant: 10.2%
Median year built: 1982
Median rooms: 5.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 36.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 15.9%
Home value to income: 3.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

14%

Transit

0.2%

Walked

0.4%

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

Other

0.3%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

11%

10–19

46%

20–29

23%

30–44

11%

45–59

60+

Average commute

21.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

12%

Production

12%

Sales

11%

Transportation and moving

10%

Management

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Construction and repair

Education

Food service

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

0.6%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Manufacturing

26%

Retail

14%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Education

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Wholesale

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Arts and recreation

Information

0.8%

Agriculture and mining

0.4%

Median earnings per worker

$41,496

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

8.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28602	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$60,234	$74,888
Service	$24,320	$26,804
Sales and office	$40,390	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$38,009	$49,199
Production and transportation	$41,038	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

13%

High school

31%

Some college

23%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 87.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.8%
Households with broadband: 84.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 73.6%
No internet access: 11.9%
Without health insurance: 11.1%
Limited-English households: 0.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Hickory
State: North Carolina
County: Catawba County
Center point: 35.6735° N, 81.3826° W
Land area: 71 sq mi
Water area: 0.5 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28602 spans 2 counties

Catawba County81% of land
Burke County19% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Hickory15% of zip
Mountain View (unincorporated)7% of zip
Long View4% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28602

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28637	Hildebran, NC	3.7 mi	1,911	$67,500	$197,900
28603	Hickory, NC · PO box	5.4 mi	—	—	—
28666	Icard, NC	5.8 mi	273	—	—
28667	Rhodhiss, NC	7.4 mi	301	$26,354	$121,900
28601	Hickory, NC	7.5 mi	53,329	$67,817	$261,600
28658	Newton, NC	8.6 mi	26,336	$72,042	$214,000
28168	Vale, NC	8.7 mi	10,484	$61,220	$205,000
28612	Connelly Springs, NC	8.8 mi	11,290	$54,934	$162,400
28671	Rutherford College, NC	9.7 mi	375	$73,929	$317,500
28613	Conover, NC	11 mi	23,357	$58,707	$230,100
28630	Granite Falls, NC	11 mi	19,382	$63,835	$202,400
28690	Valdese, NC	12 mi	9,196	$67,000	$211,300

Zip codes like 28602 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28602

What city is zip code 28602?

28602 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 28602 in?

28602 is mostly in Catawba County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 28602?

About 31,113 people live in 28602, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28602 in?

28602 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28602?

The median household income in 28602 is $62,048.

What zip codes are near 28602?

The closest zip codes to 28602 are 28637, 28603, 28666, 28667, 28601.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28602, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.