Zip code 28659: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28659?

28659 is assigned to North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28659 in?

28659 is in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28659?

About 21,422 people live in 28659, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28659?

The median household income in 28659 is $50,280.

Q: What zip codes are near 28659?

The closest zip codes to 28659 are 28697, 28656, 28635, 28669, 28649.

Residential delivery areaWilkes CountyEastern Time

Population

21,422

Median household income

$50K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$159K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$708/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

42.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

101 sq mi

213 people/sq mi

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

About 28659

28659 is a small-town zip code in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina (Wilkes County), covering 101 sq mi of land. About 21,422 people live here, or 213 per square mile. The median resident is 42.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $50,280 a year, 38% below the national median of $80,734. 19.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $159,300, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 68% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $708 a month.

18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 23.6 minutes each way, and 9% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; transportation and moving goods; and office and administrative support.

How 28659 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Poverty rate19.2%
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · NC 13%161st of 788 in NC
Residents 65 and older21.4%
81st
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%317th of 802 in NC
Uninsured rate11.5%
78th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%267th of 797 in NC
Median age42.8
76th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1384th of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy10.6%
74th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%472nd of 789 in NC
Government workers17.2%
73rd
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%266th of 798 in NC
Unemployment rate6.1%
70th
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%210th of 799 in NC
Homeownership rate68%
49th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%560th of 788 in NC
Healthcare workers9.2%
46th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%406th of 798 in NC
Veterans5.3%
43rd
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%608th of 801 in NC
Broadband access90.4%
37th
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%300th of 788 in NC
Residents under 1820.7%
37th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%382nd of 802 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.418
35th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477475th of 781 in NC
Average commute23.6 min
34th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min527th of 771 in NC
Population21,422
33rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404188th of 802 in NC
Foreign-born residents5.2%
30th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%337th of 802 in NC
Tech workers1.8%
29th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%382nd of 798 in NC
Self-employed workers7.6%
27th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%574th of 798 in NC
Work from home8.7%
26th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%429th of 799 in NC
Diversity index32.5
26th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4550th of 802 in NC
Population density213/sq mi
21st
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi337th of 802 in NC
Rent-burdened renters41.1%
18th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%492nd of 760 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher17.7%
15th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%559th of 799 in NC
Median home value$159,300
12th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900581st of 757 in NC
Per capita income$26,821
11th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385646th of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$35,554
10th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279637th of 788 in NC
Median household income$50,280
9th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388612th of 748 in NC
Median gross rent$708
3rd
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228625th of 688 in NC

Measure	28659	Wilkes	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Poverty rateWeakness	19.2%	16.7%	13%	12.5%	83rd	161st of 788
Residents 65 and older	21.4%	22.9%	17.2%	17.2%	81st	317th of 802
Uninsured rate	11.5%	10.5%	9.9%	8.4%	78th	267th of 797
Median age	42.8	45.7	39.1	38.9	76th	384th of 802
Housing vacancy	10.6%	14.9%	12.5%	10.1%	74th	472nd of 789
Government workers	17.2%	14.2%	13.8%	14.5%	73rd	266th of 798
Unemployment rate	6.1%	5%	4.7%	5.2%	70th	210th of 799
Homeownership rate	68%	73.5%	66.6%	65.2%	49th	560th of 788
Healthcare workers	9.2%	9.3%	9.5%	9.7%	46th	406th of 798
Veterans	5.3%	6.1%	7.4%	6.2%	43rd	608th of 801
Broadband access	90.4%	88.1%	90.1%	91%	37th	300th of 788
Residents under 18	20.7%	20%	21.8%	22%	37th	382nd of 802
Income inequality (Gini)	0.418	0.418	0.477	0.483	35th	475th of 781
Average commute	23.6 min	25.9 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	34th	527th of 771
Population	21,422	65,935	10,730,404	334,922,499	33rd	188th of 802
Foreign-born residents	5.2%	3.7%	9.1%	14.1%	30th	337th of 802
Tech workers	1.8%	1.3%	3.9%	3.8%	29th	382nd of 798
Self-employed workers	7.6%	9.3%	9.8%	10%	27th	574th of 798
Work from home	8.7%	9.1%	16.3%	15.1%	26th	429th of 799
Diversity index	32.5	25.8	58.4	61.4	26th	550th of 802
Population density	213/sq mi	88/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	21st	337th of 802
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	41.1%	42.9%	48.9%	51.1%	18th	492nd of 760
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	17.7%	16.9%	35.7%	35.7%	15th	559th of 799
Median home value	$159,300	$168,800	$288,900	$332,700	12th	581st of 757
Per capita incomeWeakness	$26,821	$27,947	$41,385	$44,673	11th	646th of 799
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$35,554	$35,581	$46,279	$49,666	10th	637th of 788
Median household incomeWeakness	$50,280	$51,721	$72,388	$80,734	9th	612th of 748
Median gross rent	$708	$723	$1,228	$1,413	3rd	625th 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

16%

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

12%

35–44

14%

45–54

12%

55–64

12%

65–74

10%

75+

Median age

42.8

Under 18

20.7%

65 and over

21.4%

Race and ethnicity

White81%
Black3%
Hispanic11%
Asian0.7%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

32.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

5.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

80.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

92%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.6%

Other

Households

Households: 8,869
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 65.9%
Married couples: 44.9%
Living alone: 28.2%
Veterans (of adults): 5.3%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

21%

$25–50k

29%

$50–75k

20%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

14%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28659

$50,280

Wilkes Co.

$51,721

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$26,821

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

19.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.418

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28659

$159,300

Wilkes Co.

$168,800

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28659

$708

Wilkes Co.

$723

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

66%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

20%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 9,922
Owner-occupied: 68%
Vacant: 10.6%
Median year built: 1976
Median rooms: 5.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 41.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 18.1%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

0.1%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.2%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

20%

10–19

33%

20–29

20%

30–44

15%

45–59

60+

Average commute

23.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

6.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

54.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

11%

Transportation and moving

11%

Office and admin

Healthcare

Management

Construction and repair

Education

Sales

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Legal and social services

Industries

Retail

15%

Manufacturing

15%

Health care and social assistance

15%

Education

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Other services

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Agriculture and mining

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Finance, insurance and real estate

Information

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$35,554

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

17.2%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28659	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$50,291	$74,888
Service	$19,259	$26,804
Sales and office	$29,406	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$40,633	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,094	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

23%

High school

28%

Some college

18%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

11%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 77.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.5%
Households with broadband: 90.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 80.2%
No internet access: 9%
Without health insurance: 11.5%
Limited-English households: 0.6%

Geography

City (USPS): North Wilkesboro
State: North Carolina
County: Wilkes County
Center point: 36.2160° N, 81.1482° W
Land area: 101 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

North Wilkesboro7% of zip
Mulberry (unincorporated)5% of zip
Fairplains (unincorporated)4% of zip
Cricket (unincorporated)3% of zip
Hays (unincorporated)1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28659

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28697	Wilkesboro, NC	5.5 mi	13,412	$52,988	$218,500
28656	North Wilkesboro, NC · PO box	5.9 mi	—	—	—
28635	Hays, NC	8.2 mi	2,669	$44,901	$145,900
28669	Roaring River, NC	8.8 mi	2,935	$47,358	$137,500
28649	Mc Grady, NC	9 mi	1,355	$47,016	$122,100
28651	Millers Creek, NC	11 mi	5,578	$61,623	$175,300
28654	Moravian Falls, NC	11 mi	3,168	$57,438	$228,700
28685	Traphill, NC	11 mi	2,181	$46,406	$123,200
28665	Purlear, NC	13 mi	2,483	$45,685	$167,400
28670	Ronda, NC	13 mi	2,124	$49,567	$155,800
28606	Boomer, NC	14 mi	2,187	$56,600	$95,900
28629	Glendale Springs, NC	15 mi	72	—	—

Zip codes like 28659 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28659

What city is zip code 28659?

28659 is assigned to North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28659 in?

28659 is in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28659?

About 21,422 people live in 28659, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28659 in?

28659 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28659?

The median household income in 28659 is $50,280.

What zip codes are near 28659?

The closest zip codes to 28659 are 28697, 28656, 28635, 28669, 28649.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28659, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.