Zip code 28638: Hudson, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28638?

28638 is assigned to Hudson, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28638 in?

28638 is in Caldwell County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28638?

About 12,363 people live in 28638, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28638?

The median household income in 28638 is $67,135.

Q: What zip codes are near 28638?

The closest zip codes to 28638 are 28630, 28667, 28633, 28671, 28666.

Residential delivery areaCaldwell CountyEastern Time

Population

12,363

Median household income

$67K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$208K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$711/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

20 sq mi

619 people/sq mi

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

About 28638

28638 is a suburban zip code in Hudson, North Carolina (Caldwell County), covering 20 sq mi of land. About 12,363 people live here, or 619 per square mile. The median resident is 38 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $67,135 a year, 17% below the national median of $80,734. 15.1% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $207,500, or 3.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 77% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $711 a month.

19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.3 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; office and administrative support; and management.

How 28638 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Homeownership rate77.1%
72nd
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%340th of 788 in NC
Poverty rate15.1%
70th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%312th of 788 in NC
Veterans7.3%
70th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%357th of 801 in NC
Housing vacancy8.8%
65th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%549th of 789 in NC
Residents under 1823.3%
61st
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%228th of 802 in NC
Uninsured rate8.1%
60th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%493rd of 797 in NC
Government workers15%
60th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%364th of 798 in NC
Residents 65 and older16.6%
50th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%530th of 802 in NC
Rent-burdened renters50.6%
49th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%288th of 760 in NC
Self-employed workers8.9%
45th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%482nd of 798 in NC
Median age38
42nd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1590th of 802 in NC
Population density619/sq mi
36th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi188th of 802 in NC
Median household income$67,135
32nd
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388329th of 748 in NC
Unemployment rate3.9%
32nd
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%425th of 799 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.412
30th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477517th of 781 in NC
Average commute22.3 min
25th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min602nd of 771 in NC
Broadband access88.3%
25th
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%373rd of 788 in NC
Per capita income$31,515
23rd
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385495th of 799 in NC
Median home value$207,500
23rd
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900437th of 757 in NC
Median earnings per worker$39,583
20th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279502nd of 788 in NC
Population12,363
19th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404279th of 802 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher18.6%
17th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%522nd of 799 in NC
Foreign-born residents2.1%
13th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%576th of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers6.7%
13th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%619th of 798 in NC
Work from home5.9%
11th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%561st of 799 in NC
Diversity index16.5
9th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4699th of 802 in NC
Tech workers0.3%
4th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%593rd of 798 in NC
Median gross rent$711
3rd
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228623rd of 688 in NC

Measure	28638	Caldwell	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Homeownership rate	77.1%	73.5%	66.6%	65.2%	72nd	340th of 788
Poverty rate	15.1%	13.4%	13%	12.5%	70th	312th of 788
Veterans	7.3%	6.8%	7.4%	6.2%	70th	357th of 801
Housing vacancy	8.8%	12%	12.5%	10.1%	65th	549th of 789
Residents under 18	23.3%	19.7%	21.8%	22%	61st	228th of 802
Uninsured rate	8.1%	10.5%	9.9%	8.4%	60th	493rd of 797
Government workers	15%	13.3%	13.8%	14.5%	60th	364th of 798
Residents 65 and older	16.6%	21.4%	17.2%	17.2%	50th	530th of 802
Rent-burdened renters	50.6%	39.8%	48.9%	51.1%	49th	288th of 760
Self-employed workers	8.9%	10.7%	9.8%	10%	45th	482nd of 798
Median age	38	45.4	39.1	38.9	42nd	590th of 802
Population density	619/sq mi	171/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	36th	188th of 802
Median household income	$67,135	$56,425	$72,388	$80,734	32nd	329th of 748
Unemployment rate	3.9%	5%	4.7%	5.2%	32nd	425th of 799
Income inequality (Gini)	0.412	0.435	0.477	0.483	30th	517th of 781
Average commute	22.3 min	25.9 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	25th	602nd of 771
Broadband access	88.3%	86.4%	90.1%	91%	25th	373rd of 788
Per capita income	$31,515	$31,914	$41,385	$44,673	23rd	495th of 799
Median home value	$207,500	$192,200	$288,900	$332,700	23rd	437th of 757
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$39,583	$41,165	$46,279	$49,666	20th	502nd of 788
Population	12,363	80,536	10,730,404	334,922,499	19th	279th of 802
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	18.6%	18.8%	35.7%	35.7%	17th	522nd of 799
Foreign-born residents	2.1%	3%	9.1%	14.1%	13th	576th of 802
Healthcare workers	6.7%	8.5%	9.5%	9.7%	13th	619th of 798
Work from home	5.9%	7.1%	16.3%	15.1%	11th	561st of 799
Diversity index	16.5	26.5	58.4	61.4	9th	699th of 802
Tech workers	0.3%	1.8%	3.9%	3.8%	4th	593rd of 798
Median gross rent	$711	$744	$1,228	$1,413	3rd	623rd of 688

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

17%

5–17

10%

18–24

12%

25–34

13%

35–44

13%

45–54

12%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

23.3%

65 and over

16.6%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black2%
Hispanic5%
Asian0.1%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

16.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

80.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.3%

Asian / Pacific

0.4%

Other

Households

Households: 4,671
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 69.9%
Married couples: 44%
Living alone: 26.4%
Veterans (of adults): 7.3%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

22%

$25–50k

17%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28638

$67,135

Caldwell Co.

$56,425

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$31,515

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15.1%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

10.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.412

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28638

$207,500

Caldwell Co.

$192,200

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28638

$711

Caldwell Co.

$744

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

77%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.2%

Mobile home

15%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 5,119
Owner-occupied: 77.1%
Vacant: 8.8%
Median year built: 1981
Median rooms: 5.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 50.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 16.4%
Home value to income: 3.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

80%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

0.0%

Walked

0.4%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

36%

20–29

23%

30–44

26%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.9%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

67.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

13%

Office and admin

12%

Management

11%

Transportation and moving

10%

Construction and repair

10%

Police and fire

Production

Healthcare

Food service

Education

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Legal and social services

0.9%

Arts, media and sports

0.7%

Engineering and science

0.3%

Computer and math

0.3%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Manufacturing

15%

Retail

14%

Health care and social assistance

10%

Education

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Other services

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Information

Agriculture and mining

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$39,583

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28638	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$52,596	$74,888
Service	$23,528	$26,804
Sales and office	$37,414	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$58,750	$49,199
Production and transportation	$35,822	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

13%

High school

35%

Some college

25%

Associate's

Bachelor's

13%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 87.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 18.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.1%
Households with broadband: 88.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 74.2%
No internet access: 9.8%
Without health insurance: 8.1%
Limited-English households: 0.8%

Geography

City (USPS): Hudson
State: North Carolina
County: Caldwell County
Center point: 35.8451° N, 81.4779° W
Land area: 20 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Hudson18% of zip
Sawmills13% of zip
Lenoir3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28638

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28630	Granite Falls, NC	3.4 mi	19,382	$63,835	$202,400
28667	Rhodhiss, NC	5.7 mi	301	$26,354	$121,900
28633	Lenoir, NC · PO box	5.9 mi	—	—	—
28671	Rutherford College, NC	7.1 mi	375	$73,929	$317,500
28666	Icard, NC	8.7 mi	273	—	—
28619	Drexel, NC	9.3 mi	487	$34,881	$198,600
28637	Hildebran, NC	9.4 mi	1,911	$67,500	$197,900
28690	Valdese, NC	9.5 mi	9,196	$67,000	$211,300
28601	Hickory, NC	9.9 mi	53,329	$67,817	$261,600
28645	Lenoir, NC	10 mi	45,997	$51,650	$175,500
28661	Patterson, NC · PO box	12 mi	—	—	—
28602	Hickory, NC	13 mi	31,113	$62,048	$212,900

Zip codes like 28638 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28638

What city is zip code 28638?

28638 is assigned to Hudson, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28638 in?

28638 is in Caldwell County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28638?

About 12,363 people live in 28638, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28638 in?

28638 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28638?

The median household income in 28638 is $67,135.

What zip codes are near 28638?

The closest zip codes to 28638 are 28630, 28667, 28633, 28671, 28666.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28638, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.