Zip code 28640: Jefferson, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28640?

28640 is assigned to Jefferson, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28640 in?

28640 is in Ashe County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28640?

About 4,820 people live in 28640, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28640?

The median household income in 28640 is $53,155.

Q: What zip codes are near 28640?

The closest zip codes to 28640 are 28629, 28694, 28617, 28672, 28644.

Residential delivery areaAshe CountyEastern Time

Population

4,820

Median household income

$53K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$283K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$797/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

51.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

37 sq mi

130 people/sq mi

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

About 28640

28640 is a small-town zip code in Jefferson, North Carolina (Ashe County), covering 37 sq mi of land. About 4,820 people live here, or 130 per square mile. The median resident is 51.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $53,155 a year, 34% below the national median of $80,734. 14.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $282,900, or 5.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 72% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $797 a month.

22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 19.7 minutes each way, and 13% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; construction and repair; and management.

How 28640 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy27.8%
97th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%126th of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older32.1%
97th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%75th of 802 in NC
Median age51.7
96th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1130th of 802 in NC
Veterans9.4%
87th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%195th of 801 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.492
86th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477119th of 781 in NC
Uninsured rate11.4%
78th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%269th of 797 in NC
Poverty rate14.8%
69th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%325th of 788 in NC
Self-employed workers10.6%
65th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%345th of 798 in NC
Homeownership rate72.2%
59th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%478th of 788 in NC
Work from home12.9%
51st
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%265th of 799 in NC
Rent-burdened renters50.2%
48th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%299th of 760 in NC
Median home value$282,900
40th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900257th of 757 in NC
Per capita income$34,864
34th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385356th of 799 in NC
Unemployment rate3.9%
32nd
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%423rd of 799 in NC
Tech workers1.7%
27th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%385th of 798 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher22%
26th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%419th of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$38,330
17th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279541st of 788 in NC
Population density130/sq mi
16th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi423rd of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers7.1%
16th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%585th of 798 in NC
Foreign-born residents2.3%
14th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%553rd of 802 in NC
Residents under 1816.6%
13th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%577th of 802 in NC
Median household income$53,155
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388570th of 748 in NC
Average commute19.7 min
11th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min709th of 771 in NC
Diversity index18.8
11th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4674th of 802 in NC
Population4,820
8th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404445th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$797
7th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228527th of 688 in NC
Broadband access81.2%
6th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%617th of 788 in NC
Government workers6.6%
3rd
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%733rd of 798 in NC

Measure	28640	Ashe	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Housing vacancy	27.8%	29.1%	12.5%	10.1%	97th	126th of 789
Residents 65 and older	32.1%	27.2%	17.2%	17.2%	97th	75th of 802
Median age	51.7	49.8	39.1	38.9	96th	130th of 802
Veterans	9.4%	6.6%	7.4%	6.2%	87th	195th of 801
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.492	0.443	0.477	0.483	86th	119th of 781
Uninsured rate	11.4%	9.8%	9.9%	8.4%	78th	269th of 797
Poverty rate	14.8%	13.5%	13%	12.5%	69th	325th of 788
Self-employed workers	10.6%	11.4%	9.8%	10%	65th	345th of 798
Homeownership rate	72.2%	79.4%	66.6%	65.2%	59th	478th of 788
Work from home	12.9%	9%	16.3%	15.1%	51st	265th of 799
Rent-burdened renters	50.2%	41.4%	48.9%	51.1%	48th	299th of 760
Median home value	$282,900	$243,100	$288,900	$332,700	40th	257th of 757
Per capita income	$34,864	$33,675	$41,385	$44,673	34th	356th of 799
Unemployment rate	3.9%	4.8%	4.7%	5.2%	32nd	423rd of 799
Tech workers	1.7%	0.7%	3.9%	3.8%	27th	385th of 798
Bachelor's degree or higher	22%	25.9%	35.7%	35.7%	26th	419th of 799
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$38,330	$37,988	$46,279	$49,666	17th	541st of 788
Population density	130/sq mi	63/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	16th	423rd of 802
Healthcare workers	7.1%	8.7%	9.5%	9.7%	16th	585th of 798
Foreign-born residents	2.3%	2.8%	9.1%	14.1%	14th	553rd of 802
Residents under 18	16.6%	16.9%	21.8%	22%	13th	577th of 802
Median household incomeWeakness	$53,155	$56,866	$72,388	$80,734	12th	570th of 748
Average commuteStrength	19.7 min	25.3 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	11th	709th of 771
Diversity index	18.8	17.1	58.4	61.4	11th	674th of 802
Population	4,820	26,950	10,730,404	334,922,499	8th	445th of 802
Median gross rent	$797	$859	$1,228	$1,413	7th	527th of 688
Broadband accessWeakness	81.2%	85.2%	90.1%	91%	6th	617th of 788
Government workers	6.6%	14.4%	13.8%	14.5%	3rd	733rd 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

18–24

12%

25–34

35–44

12%

45–54

15%

55–64

17%

65–74

15%

75+

Median age

51.7

Under 18

16.6%

65 and over

32.1%

Race and ethnicity

White90%
Black3%
Hispanic6%
Asian0%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial1.0%

Diversity index

18.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.3%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

68.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.2%

Asian / Pacific

0.5%

Other

Households

Households: 2,076
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 67.6%
Married couples: 52.1%
Living alone: 29.5%
Veterans (of adults): 9.4%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

23%

$25–50k

24%

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

12%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28640

$53,155

Ashe Co.

$56,866

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$34,864

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.492

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28640

$282,900

Ashe Co.

$243,100

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28640

$797

Ashe Co.

$859

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

76%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,875
Owner-occupied: 72.2%
Vacant: 27.8%
Median year built: 1986
Median rooms: 5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 50.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 21.7%
Home value to income: 5.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

76%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

Walked

0.3%

Bicycle

Worked from home

13%

Other

0.3%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

25%

10–19

37%

20–29

12%

30–44

20%

45–59

60+

Average commute

19.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.9%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

48.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

18%

Construction and repair

14%

Management

13%

Production

10%

Office and admin

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Business and finance

Education

Food service

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.8%

Engineering and science

0.5%

Arts, media and sports

0.3%

Police and fire

Industries

Manufacturing

19%

Retail

16%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Finance, insurance and real estate

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Other services

Agriculture and mining

Admin, support and management

Information

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$38,330

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

6.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28640	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$57,206	$74,888
Service	$11,250	$26,804
Sales and office	$41,250	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$34,188	$49,199
Production and transportation	$39,940	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

12%

High school

28%

Some college

25%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 87.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.7%
Households with broadband: 81.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 73.6%
No internet access: 16.8%
Without health insurance: 11.4%
Limited-English households: 1.9%

Geography

City (USPS): Jefferson
State: North Carolina
County: Ashe County
Center point: 36.4049° N, 81.3994° W
Land area: 37 sq mi
Water area: 0.5 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Jefferson6% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28640

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28629	Glendale Springs, NC	4.6 mi	72	—	—
28694	West Jefferson, NC	4.7 mi	7,626	$58,486	$273,200
28617	Crumpler, NC	5.6 mi	1,839	$62,204	$244,600
28672	Scottville, NC	6.8 mi	136	$163,210	$182,100
28644	Laurel Springs, NC	6.9 mi	1,433	$52,798	$222,400
28651	Millers Creek, NC	8.5 mi	5,578	$61,623	$175,300
28631	Grassy Creek, NC	9.9 mi	684	—	—
28693	Warrensville, NC	10 mi	1,071	$62,596	$171,800
28626	Fleetwood, NC	10 mi	3,173	$73,675	$291,900
28663	Piney Creek, NC	11 mi	802	$80,457	$232,900
28649	Mc Grady, NC	12 mi	1,355	$47,016	$122,100
28643	Lansing, NC	12 mi	3,615	$44,509	$149,500

Zip codes like 28640 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28640

What city is zip code 28640?

28640 is assigned to Jefferson, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28640 in?

28640 is in Ashe County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28640?

About 4,820 people live in 28640, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28640 in?

28640 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28640?

The median household income in 28640 is $53,155.

What zip codes are near 28640?

The closest zip codes to 28640 are 28629, 28694, 28617, 28672, 28644.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28640, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.