Zip code 28605: Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28605?

28605 is assigned to Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28605 in?

28605 is mostly in Watauga County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 28605?

About 3,883 people live in 28605, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28605?

The median household income in 28605 is $76,477.

Q: What zip codes are near 28605?

The closest zip codes to 28605 are 28608, 28607, 28691, 28611, 28646.

Residential delivery areaWatauga CountyEastern Time

Population

3,883

Median household income

$76K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$552K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,112/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

33 sq mi

118 people/sq mi

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

About 28605

28605 is a small-town zip code in Blowing Rock, North Carolina (Watauga County), covering 33 sq mi of land. About 3,883 people live here, or 118 per square mile. The median resident is 44 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $76,477 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 13.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $552,400, or 7.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 74% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,112 a month.

54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21.8 minutes each way, and 10% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; office and administrative support; and healthcare. 22% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 28605 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy61.6%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%22nd of 789 in NC
Self-employed workers22.2%
99th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%40th of 798 in NC
Broadband access97.3%
94th
StrengthU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%44th of 788 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.508
91st
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.47787th of 781 in NC
Residents 65 and older22.7%
86th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%268th of 802 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher54.3%
84th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%78th of 799 in NC
Median age44
82nd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1333rd of 802 in NC
Per capita income$55,891
80th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,38579th of 799 in NC
Median home value$552,400
78th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,90035th of 757 in NC
Veterans7.9%
76th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%297th of 801 in NC
Healthcare workers10.6%
66th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%284th of 798 in NC
Homeownership rate74%
64th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%428th of 788 in NC
Poverty rate13.2%
62nd
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%376th of 788 in NC
Median household income$76,477
46th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388211th of 748 in NC
Rent-burdened renters49.8%
46th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%313th of 760 in NC
Government workers12.5%
40th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%514th of 798 in NC
Foreign-born residents5.9%
33rd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%292nd of 802 in NC
Work from home9.6%
32nd
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%376th of 799 in NC
Uninsured rate4.9%
32nd
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%682nd of 797 in NC
Median gross rent$1,112
29th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228247th of 688 in NC
Unemployment rate3.6%
26th
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%475th of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$41,417
26th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279424th of 788 in NC
Average commute21.8 min
22nd
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min633rd of 771 in NC
Population density118/sq mi
15th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi442nd of 802 in NC
Tech workers1.1%
15th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%493rd of 798 in NC
Diversity index19.1
12th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4671st of 802 in NC
Population3,883
6th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404472nd of 802 in NC
Residents under 1814.1%
6th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%660th of 802 in NC

Measure	28605	Watauga	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Housing vacancy	61.6%	36.4%	12.5%	10.1%	99th	22nd of 789
Self-employed workers	22.2%	14%	9.8%	10%	99th	40th of 798
Broadband accessStrength	97.3%	90.7%	90.1%	91%	94th	44th of 788
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.508	0.539	0.477	0.483	91st	87th of 781
Residents 65 and older	22.7%	17.1%	17.2%	17.2%	86th	268th of 802
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	54.3%	48.1%	35.7%	35.7%	84th	78th of 799
Median age	44	31.4	39.1	38.9	82nd	333rd of 802
Per capita incomeStrength	$55,891	$34,167	$41,385	$44,673	80th	79th of 799
Median home value	$552,400	$358,900	$288,900	$332,700	78th	35th of 757
Veterans	7.9%	4.4%	7.4%	6.2%	76th	297th of 801
Healthcare workers	10.6%	6.4%	9.5%	9.7%	66th	284th of 798
Homeownership rate	74%	62.1%	66.6%	65.2%	64th	428th of 788
Poverty rate	13.2%	25.5%	13%	12.5%	62nd	376th of 788
Median household income	$76,477	$51,693	$72,388	$80,734	46th	211th of 748
Rent-burdened renters	49.8%	65.9%	48.9%	51.1%	46th	313th of 760
Government workers	12.5%	18.9%	13.8%	14.5%	40th	514th of 798
Foreign-born residents	5.9%	3.5%	9.1%	14.1%	33rd	292nd of 802
Work from home	9.6%	10.4%	16.3%	15.1%	32nd	376th of 799
Uninsured rate	4.9%	9.3%	9.9%	8.4%	32nd	682nd of 797
Median gross rent	$1,112	$1,127	$1,228	$1,413	29th	247th of 688
Unemployment rate	3.6%	7.9%	4.7%	5.2%	26th	475th of 799
Median earnings per worker	$41,417	$26,949	$46,279	$49,666	26th	424th of 788
Average commute	21.8 min	21.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	22nd	633rd of 771
Population density	118/sq mi	176/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	15th	442nd of 802
Tech workers	1.1%	2.2%	3.9%	3.8%	15th	493rd of 798
Diversity index	19.1	21.2	58.4	61.4	12th	671st of 802
Population	3,883	55,123	10,730,404	334,922,499	6th	472nd of 802
Residents under 18	14.1%	12.1%	21.8%	22%	6th	660th of 802

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

16%

18–24

12%

25–34

10%

35–44

12%

45–54

13%

55–64

15%

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

14.1%

65 and over

22.7%

Race and ethnicity

White90%
Black0.5%
Hispanic4%
Asian1%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

19.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

5.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

54.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.8%

Other

Households

Households: 1,691
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 61.9%
Married couples: 48.8%
Living alone: 25.9%
Veterans (of adults): 7.9%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

17%

$25–50k

14%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

12%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

16%

Median household income

28605

$76,477

Watauga Co.

$51,693

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$55,891

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

13.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

25.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.508

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28605

$552,400

Watauga Co.

$358,900

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28605

$1,112

Watauga Co.

$1,127

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

74%

2–4 units

10%

5–19 units

13%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,407
Owner-occupied: 74%
Vacant: 61.6%
Median year built: 1988
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 49.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 22.8%
Home value to income: 7.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.7%

Worked from home

10%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

28%

10–19

48%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

21.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

62.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

16%

Office and admin

13%

Healthcare

11%

Sales

10%

Transportation and moving

10%

Food service

Business and finance

Education

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Construction and repair

Production

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Retail

16%

Health care and social assistance

15%

Professional and technical services

12%

Finance, insurance and real estate

10%

Education

10%

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Other services

Manufacturing

Wholesale

Public administration

Information

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$41,417

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

22.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28605	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$70,865	$74,888
Service	$29,219	$26,804
Sales and office	$22,950	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$19,722	$49,199
Production and transportation	$29,470	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

Some college

19%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

25%

Graduate

30%

High school graduate or higher: 94.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 54.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 29.8%
Households with broadband: 97.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 89.5%
No internet access: 2.2%
Without health insurance: 4.9%
Limited-English households: 0.8%

Geography

City (USPS): Blowing Rock
State: North Carolina
County: Watauga County
Center point: 36.1296° N, 81.6949° W
Land area: 33 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28605 spans 3 counties

Watauga County71% of land
Caldwell County23% of land
Avery County6% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Blowing Rock10% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28605

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28608	Boone, NC · PO box	6.1 mi	—	—	—
28607	Boone, NC	6.5 mi	35,679	$46,639	$378,600
28691	Valle Crucis, NC · PO box	7.2 mi	—	—	—
28611	Collettsville, NC	8.9 mi	424	—	—
28646	Linville, NC	9.3 mi	382	$76,736	$371,300
28604	Banner Elk, NC	9.7 mi	7,869	$76,319	$383,800
28618	Deep Gap, NC	12 mi	2,208	$59,653	$338,400
28661	Patterson, NC · PO box	12 mi	—	—	—
28679	Sugar Grove, NC	12 mi	2,454	$65,246	$287,100
28653	Montezuma, NC	12 mi	26	—	—
28645	Lenoir, NC	13 mi	45,997	$51,650	$175,500
28662	Pineola, NC	13 mi	0	—	—

Zip codes like 28605 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28605

What city is zip code 28605?

28605 is assigned to Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28605 in?

28605 is mostly in Watauga County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 28605?

About 3,883 people live in 28605, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28605 in?

28605 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28605?

The median household income in 28605 is $76,477.

What zip codes are near 28605?

The closest zip codes to 28605 are 28608, 28607, 28691, 28611, 28646.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28605, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.