Zip code 28604: Banner Elk, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28604?

28604 is assigned to Banner Elk, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28604 in?

28604 is mostly in Watauga County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 28604?

About 7,869 people live in 28604, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28604?

The median household income in 28604 is $76,319.

Q: What zip codes are near 28604?

The closest zip codes to 28604 are 28691, 28622, 28679, 28646, 28653.

Residential delivery areaWatauga CountyEastern Time

Population

7,869

Median household income

$76K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$384K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$991/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

45.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

69 sq mi

115 people/sq mi

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

About 28604

28604 is a small-town zip code in Banner Elk, North Carolina (Watauga County), covering 69 sq mi of land. About 7,869 people live here, or 115 per square mile. The median resident is 45.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $76,319 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 7.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $383,800, or 5.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 82% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $991 a month.

47% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 25.2 minutes each way, and 16% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; management; and business and finance.

How 28604 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy66.6%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%19th of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older25.3%
92nd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%181st of 802 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.510
91st
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.47780th of 781 in NC
Self-employed workers14.5%
89th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%156th of 798 in NC
Median age45.2
86th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1273rd of 802 in NC
Homeownership rate81.8%
82nd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%233rd of 788 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher46.9%
75th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%111th of 799 in NC
Uninsured rate10%
71st
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%363rd of 797 in NC
Work from home16.2%
66th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%186th of 799 in NC
Per capita income$46,313
65th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385143rd of 799 in NC
Government workers15.5%
63rd
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%341st of 798 in NC
Median home value$383,800
60th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900123rd of 757 in NC
Veterans6.5%
59th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%451st of 801 in NC
Tech workers3.3%
58th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%190th of 798 in NC
Unemployment rate5.3%
57th
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%277th of 799 in NC
Broadband access92.3%
51st
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%211th of 788 in NC
Median household income$76,319
45th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388213th of 748 in NC
Average commute25.2 min
44th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min426th of 771 in NC
Poverty rate7.7%
30th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%614th of 788 in NC
Foreign-born residents4.4%
26th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%387th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$991
21st
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228316th of 688 in NC
Rent-burdened renters41.5%
19th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%485th of 760 in NC
Median earnings per worker$39,243
19th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279515th of 788 in NC
Diversity index23.7
16th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4631st of 802 in NC
Population density115/sq mi
15th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi447th of 802 in NC
Population7,869
12th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404352nd of 802 in NC
Residents under 1815.8%
10th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%607th of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers6.3%
10th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%635th of 798 in NC

Measure	28604	Watauga	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Housing vacancy	66.6%	36.4%	12.5%	10.1%	99th	19th of 789
Residents 65 and older	25.3%	17.1%	17.2%	17.2%	92nd	181st of 802
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.510	0.539	0.477	0.483	91st	80th of 781
Self-employed workers	14.5%	14%	9.8%	10%	89th	156th of 798
Median age	45.2	31.4	39.1	38.9	86th	273rd of 802
Homeownership rateStrength	81.8%	62.1%	66.6%	65.2%	82nd	233rd of 788
Bachelor's degree or higher	46.9%	48.1%	35.7%	35.7%	75th	111th of 799
Uninsured rate	10%	9.3%	9.9%	8.4%	71st	363rd of 797
Work from home	16.2%	10.4%	16.3%	15.1%	66th	186th of 799
Per capita income	$46,313	$34,167	$41,385	$44,673	65th	143rd of 799
Government workers	15.5%	18.9%	13.8%	14.5%	63rd	341st of 798
Median home value	$383,800	$358,900	$288,900	$332,700	60th	123rd of 757
Veterans	6.5%	4.4%	7.4%	6.2%	59th	451st of 801
Tech workers	3.3%	2.2%	3.9%	3.8%	58th	190th of 798
Unemployment rate	5.3%	7.9%	4.7%	5.2%	57th	277th of 799
Broadband access	92.3%	90.7%	90.1%	91%	51st	211th of 788
Median household income	$76,319	$51,693	$72,388	$80,734	45th	213th of 748
Average commute	25.2 min	21.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	44th	426th of 771
Poverty rate	7.7%	25.5%	13%	12.5%	30th	614th of 788
Foreign-born residents	4.4%	3.5%	9.1%	14.1%	26th	387th of 802
Median gross rent	$991	$1,127	$1,228	$1,413	21st	316th of 688
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	41.5%	65.9%	48.9%	51.1%	19th	485th of 760
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$39,243	$26,949	$46,279	$49,666	19th	515th of 788
Diversity index	23.7	21.2	58.4	61.4	16th	631st of 802
Population density	115/sq mi	176/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	15th	447th of 802
Population	7,869	55,123	10,730,404	334,922,499	12th	352nd of 802
Residents under 18	15.8%	12.1%	21.8%	22%	10th	607th of 802
Healthcare workers	6.3%	6.4%	9.5%	9.7%	10th	635th 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

12%

5–17

15%

18–24

25–34

10%

35–44

11%

45–54

14%

55–64

16%

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

45.2

Under 18

15.8%

65 and over

25.3%

Race and ethnicity

White87%
Black2%
Hispanic5%
Asian1.0%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial6%

Diversity index

23.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

4.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

48.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.2%

Other

Households

Households: 3,236
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 60.9%
Married couples: 54.9%
Living alone: 32.6%
Veterans (of adults): 6.5%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

15%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

13%

$75–100k

19%

$100–150k

14%

$150–200k

$200k+

10%

Median household income

28604

$76,319

Watauga Co.

$51,693

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$46,313

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

7.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

17.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.510

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28604

$383,800

Watauga Co.

$358,900

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28604

$991

Watauga Co.

$1,127

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

63%

2–4 units

12%

5–19 units

14%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 9,696
Owner-occupied: 81.8%
Vacant: 66.6%
Median year built: 1988
Median rooms: 5.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 41.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 17.4%
Home value to income: 5.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

70%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

16%

Other

0.5%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

15%

10–19

31%

20–29

22%

30–44

22%

45–59

60+

Average commute

25.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

54%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

14%

Management

14%

Business and finance

Construction and repair

Office and admin

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Education

Healthcare

Transportation and moving

Computer and math

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Production

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.0%

Industries

Retail

15%

Construction

11%

Restaurants and hotels

11%

Education

10%

Finance, insurance and real estate

Health care and social assistance

Manufacturing

Other services

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Information

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

0.9%

Agriculture and mining

0.2%

Median earnings per worker

$39,243

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

14.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28604	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$52,016	$74,888
Service	$24,048	$26,804
Sales and office	$25,925	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$38,542	$49,199
Production and transportation	$19,420	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

14%

Some college

22%

Associate's

Bachelor's

29%

Graduate

18%

High school graduate or higher: 92.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 46.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 17.7%
Households with broadband: 92.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 83.4%
No internet access: 4.8%
Without health insurance: 10%
Limited-English households: 0.3%

Geography

City (USPS): Banner Elk
State: North Carolina
County: Watauga County
Center point: 36.1776° N, 81.8581° W
Land area: 69 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28604 spans 2 counties

Watauga County58% of land
Avery County42% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Beech Mountain9% of zip
Foscoe (unincorporated)4% of zip
Valle Crucis (unincorporated)4% of zip
Sugar Mountain3% of zip
Seven Devils3% of zip
Banner Elk3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28604

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28691	Valle Crucis, NC · PO box	4.9 mi	—	—	—
28622	Elk Park, NC	5.2 mi	2,565	$44,028	$169,900
28679	Sugar Grove, NC	5.8 mi	2,454	$65,246	$287,100
28646	Linville, NC	7.2 mi	382	$76,736	$371,300
28653	Montezuma, NC	8.1 mi	26	—	—
28652	Minneapolis, NC	9.4 mi	132	—	—
28692	Vilas, NC	9.5 mi	4,367	$43,103	$324,900
28605	Blowing Rock, NC	9.7 mi	3,883	$76,477	$552,400
28608	Boone, NC · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
28662	Pineola, NC	11 mi	0	—	—
28698	Zionville, NC	11 mi	2,320	$54,402	$219,400
28616	Crossnore, NC	12 mi	115	—	$314,300

Zip codes like 28604 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28604

What city is zip code 28604?

28604 is assigned to Banner Elk, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28604 in?

28604 is mostly in Watauga County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 28604?

About 7,869 people live in 28604, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28604 in?

28604 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28604?

The median household income in 28604 is $76,319.

What zip codes are near 28604?

The closest zip codes to 28604 are 28691, 28622, 28679, 28646, 28653.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28604, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.