Zip code 28655: Morganton, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28655?

28655 is assigned to Morganton, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28655 in?

28655 is in Burke County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28655?

About 55,100 people live in 28655, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28655?

The median household income in 28655 is $57,713.

Q: What zip codes are near 28655?

The closest zip codes to 28655 are 28628, 28680, 28619, 28690, 28761.

Residential delivery areaBurke CountyEastern Time

Population

55,100

Median household income

$58K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$192K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$905/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

44.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

325 sq mi

170 people/sq mi

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

About 28655

28655 is a small-town zip code in Morganton, North Carolina (Burke County), covering 325 sq mi of land. About 55,100 people live here, or 170 per square mile. The median resident is 44.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $57,713 a year, 29% below the national median of $80,734. 18.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $191,800, or 3.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 73% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $905 a month.

22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.6 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; healthcare; and construction and repair.

How 28655 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Population55,100
85th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,40424th of 802 in NC
Uninsured rate13.8%
85th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%161st of 797 in NC
Median age44.3
83rd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1313th of 802 in NC
Residents 65 and older21.9%
83rd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%295th of 802 in NC
Poverty rate18.4%
81st
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · NC 13%189th of 788 in NC
Government workers18%
76th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%238th of 798 in NC
Healthcare workers11.2%
73rd
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%237th of 798 in NC
Housing vacancy10.2%
72nd
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%488th of 789 in NC
Homeownership rate72.7%
61st
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%464th of 788 in NC
Veterans6.3%
57th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%487th of 801 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.440
54th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477351st of 781 in NC
Diversity index42.7
40th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4444th of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate4.3%
39th
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%388th of 799 in NC
Self-employed workers8.5%
39th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%511th of 798 in NC
Foreign-born residents6%
34th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%281st of 802 in NC
Average commute22.6 min
27th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min579th of 771 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher22.2%
26th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%412th of 799 in NC
Per capita income$31,976
24th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385473rd of 799 in NC
Residents under 1818.5%
21st
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%503rd of 802 in NC
Population density170/sq mi
19th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi372nd of 802 in NC
Median home value$191,800
19th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900473rd of 757 in NC
Median household income$57,713
17th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388503rd of 748 in NC
Broadband access86.5%
17th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%442nd of 788 in NC
Median earnings per worker$37,597
16th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279563rd of 788 in NC
Tech workers1.1%
15th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%478th of 798 in NC
Median gross rent$905
14th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228398th of 688 in NC
Rent-burdened renters39%
14th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%529th of 760 in NC
Work from home5.5%
9th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%583rd of 799 in NC

Measure	28655	Burke	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Population	55,100	87,795	10,730,404	334,922,499	85th	24th of 802
Uninsured rateWeakness	13.8%	11%	9.9%	8.4%	85th	161st of 797
Median age	44.3	44.9	39.1	38.9	83rd	313th of 802
Residents 65 and older	21.9%	21.7%	17.2%	17.2%	83rd	295th of 802
Poverty rateWeakness	18.4%	15.6%	13%	12.5%	81st	189th of 788
Government workers	18%	16.8%	13.8%	14.5%	76th	238th of 798
Healthcare workers	11.2%	10.7%	9.5%	9.7%	73rd	237th of 798
Housing vacancy	10.2%	10%	12.5%	10.1%	72nd	488th of 789
Homeownership rate	72.7%	74.5%	66.6%	65.2%	61st	464th of 788
Veterans	6.3%	6.4%	7.4%	6.2%	57th	487th of 801
Income inequality (Gini)	0.440	0.443	0.477	0.483	54th	351st of 781
Diversity index	42.7	36.1	58.4	61.4	40th	444th of 802
Unemployment rate	4.3%	4.4%	4.7%	5.2%	39th	388th of 799
Self-employed workers	8.5%	8.5%	9.8%	10%	39th	511th of 798
Foreign-born residents	6%	5.3%	9.1%	14.1%	34th	281st of 802
Average commute	22.6 min	23.4 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	27th	579th of 771
Bachelor's degree or higher	22.2%	21%	35.7%	35.7%	26th	412th of 799
Per capita income	$31,976	$32,977	$41,385	$44,673	24th	473rd of 799
Residents under 18	18.5%	18.4%	21.8%	22%	21st	503rd of 802
Population density	170/sq mi	173/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	19th	372nd of 802
Median home value	$191,800	$185,400	$288,900	$332,700	19th	473rd of 757
Median household incomeWeakness	$57,713	$58,592	$72,388	$80,734	17th	503rd of 748
Broadband accessWeakness	86.5%	84.7%	90.1%	91%	17th	442nd of 788
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$37,597	$39,540	$46,279	$49,666	16th	563rd of 788
Tech workers	1.1%	1.3%	3.9%	3.8%	15th	478th of 798
Median gross rent	$905	$884	$1,228	$1,413	14th	398th of 688
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	39%	36.9%	48.9%	51.1%	14th	529th of 760
Work from home	5.5%	5.4%	16.3%	15.1%	9th	583rd of 799

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

13%

5–17

18–24

13%

25–34

12%

35–44

13%

45–54

15%

55–64

13%

65–74

75+

Median age

44.3

Under 18

18.5%

65 and over

21.9%

Race and ethnicity

White74%
Black9%
Hispanic11%
Asian3%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.1%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

42.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

68%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

90%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.7%

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.7%

Households

Households: 22,219
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 67.2%
Married couples: 47%
Living alone: 27.9%
Veterans (of adults): 6.3%
Male / female: 51% / 49%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

20%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

20%

$75–100k

12%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28655

$57,713

Burke Co.

$58,592

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$31,976

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

18.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

10.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.440

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28655

$191,800

Burke Co.

$185,400

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28655

$905

Burke Co.

$884

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

70%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

19%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 24,750
Owner-occupied: 72.7%
Vacant: 10.2%
Median year built: 1981
Median rooms: 5.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 39%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 21.5%
Home value to income: 3.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

82%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

0.0%

Walked

0.4%

Bicycle

0.3%

Worked from home

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

14%

10–19

42%

20–29

18%

30–44

16%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

57%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

13%

Healthcare

11%

Construction and repair

10%

Management

Sales

Transportation and moving

Office and admin

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.6%

Industries

Manufacturing

23%

Health care and social assistance

18%

Retail

11%

Education

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Other services

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Information

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$37,597

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

18%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.3%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28655	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$53,993	$74,888
Service	$23,995	$26,804
Sales and office	$38,553	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$34,688	$49,199
Production and transportation	$33,878	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

31%

Some college

20%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 85.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 8%
Households with broadband: 86.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 68.6%
No internet access: 11%
Without health insurance: 13.8%
Limited-English households: 2.5%

Geography

City (USPS): Morganton
State: North Carolina
County: Burke County
Center point: 35.7633° N, 81.7499° W
Land area: 325 sq mi
Water area: 2.5 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Morganton6% of zip
Salem (unincorporated)1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28655

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28628	Glen Alpine, NC	2.8 mi	60	$74,375	—
28680	Morganton, NC · PO box	3.2 mi	—	—	—
28619	Drexel, NC	8 mi	487	$34,881	$198,600
28690	Valdese, NC	10 mi	9,196	$67,000	$211,300
28761	Nebo, NC	10 mi	8,150	$54,869	$176,700
28671	Rutherford College, NC	13 mi	375	$73,929	$317,500
28612	Connelly Springs, NC	14 mi	11,290	$54,934	$162,400
28633	Lenoir, NC · PO box	16 mi	—	—	—
28666	Icard, NC	16 mi	273	—	—
28638	Hudson, NC	16 mi	12,363	$67,135	$207,500
28752	Marion, NC	16 mi	30,292	$55,783	$166,000
28641	Jonas Ridge, NC	17 mi	59	—	—

Zip codes like 28655 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28655

What city is zip code 28655?

28655 is assigned to Morganton, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28655 in?

28655 is in Burke County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28655?

About 55,100 people live in 28655, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28655 in?

28655 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28655?

The median household income in 28655 is $57,713.

What zip codes are near 28655?

The closest zip codes to 28655 are 28628, 28680, 28619, 28690, 28761.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28655, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.