Zip code 28665: Purlear, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28665?

28665 is assigned to Purlear, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28665 in?

28665 is in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28665?

About 2,483 people live in 28665, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28665?

The median household income in 28665 is $45,685.

Q: What zip codes are near 28665?

The closest zip codes to 28665 are 28624, 28651, 28618, 28629, 28626.

Residential delivery areaWilkes CountyEastern Time

Population

2,483

Median household income

$46K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$167K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$684/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

49.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

65 sq mi

38 people/sq mi

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

About 28665

28665 is a rural zip code in Purlear, North Carolina (Wilkes County), covering 65 sq mi of land. About 2,483 people live here, or 38 per square mile. The median resident is 49.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $45,685 a year, 43% below the national median of $80,734. 22.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $167,400, or 3.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 82% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $684 a month.

12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26.3 minutes each way, and 16% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; construction and repair; and office and administrative support.

How 28665 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Unemployment rate13.5%
98th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%27th of 799 in NC
Housing vacancy27.5%
97th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%129th of 789 in NC
Median age49.1
94th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1176th of 802 in NC
Poverty rate22.3%
89th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · NC 13%111th of 788 in NC
Homeownership rate82.4%
84th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%223rd of 788 in NC
Residents 65 and older19.7%
72nd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%399th of 802 in NC
Broadband access94.1%
67th
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%145th of 788 in NC
Uninsured rate9.1%
66th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%437th of 797 in NC
Work from home15.7%
64th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%195th of 799 in NC
Self-employed workers10.3%
62nd
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%373rd of 798 in NC
Average commute26.3 min
52nd
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min370th of 771 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.419
36th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477469th of 781 in NC
Veterans3.8%
24th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%709th of 801 in NC
Rent-burdened renters40%
16th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%511th of 760 in NC
Median home value$167,400
14th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900549th of 757 in NC
Foreign-born residents2%
12th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%593rd of 802 in NC
Government workers8%
7th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%706th of 798 in NC
Median household income$45,685
6th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388658th of 748 in NC
Per capita income$23,355
6th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385734th of 799 in NC
Population density38/sq mi
5th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi681st of 802 in NC
Diversity index11.2
5th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4743rd of 802 in NC
Median earnings per worker$32,419
5th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279700th of 788 in NC
Population2,483
4th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404550th of 802 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher11.7%
4th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%713th of 799 in NC
Residents under 1812.4%
4th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%698th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$684
2nd
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228643rd of 688 in NC
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%795th of 798 in NC
Healthcare workers2.6%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%735th of 798 in NC

Measure	28665	Wilkes	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Unemployment rateWeakness	13.5%	5%	4.7%	5.2%	98th	27th of 799
Housing vacancy	27.5%	14.9%	12.5%	10.1%	97th	129th of 789
Median age	49.1	45.7	39.1	38.9	94th	176th of 802
Poverty rateWeakness	22.3%	16.7%	13%	12.5%	89th	111th of 788
Homeownership rateStrength	82.4%	73.5%	66.6%	65.2%	84th	223rd of 788
Residents 65 and older	19.7%	22.9%	17.2%	17.2%	72nd	399th of 802
Broadband access	94.1%	88.1%	90.1%	91%	67th	145th of 788
Uninsured rate	9.1%	10.5%	9.9%	8.4%	66th	437th of 797
Work from home	15.7%	9.1%	16.3%	15.1%	64th	195th of 799
Self-employed workers	10.3%	9.3%	9.8%	10%	62nd	373rd of 798
Average commute	26.3 min	25.9 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	52nd	370th of 771
Income inequality (Gini)	0.419	0.418	0.477	0.483	36th	469th of 781
Veterans	3.8%	6.1%	7.4%	6.2%	24th	709th of 801
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	40%	42.9%	48.9%	51.1%	16th	511th of 760
Median home value	$167,400	$168,800	$288,900	$332,700	14th	549th of 757
Foreign-born residents	2%	3.7%	9.1%	14.1%	12th	593rd of 802
Government workers	8%	14.2%	13.8%	14.5%	7th	706th of 798
Median household incomeWeakness	$45,685	$51,721	$72,388	$80,734	6th	658th of 748
Per capita incomeWeakness	$23,355	$27,947	$41,385	$44,673	6th	734th of 799
Population density	38/sq mi	88/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	5th	681st of 802
Diversity index	11.2	25.8	58.4	61.4	5th	743rd of 802
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$32,419	$35,581	$46,279	$49,666	5th	700th of 788
Population	2,483	65,935	10,730,404	334,922,499	4th	550th of 802
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	11.7%	16.9%	35.7%	35.7%	4th	713th of 799
Residents under 18	12.4%	20%	21.8%	22%	4th	698th of 802
Median gross rent	$684	$723	$1,228	$1,413	2nd	643rd of 688
Tech workers	0%	1.3%	3.9%	3.8%	1st	795th of 798
Healthcare workers	2.6%	9.3%	9.5%	9.7%	1st	735th 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

5–17

10%

18–24

14%

25–34

11%

35–44

45–54

25%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

49.1

Under 18

12.4%

65 and over

19.7%

Race and ethnicity

White94%
Black0.8%
Hispanic4%
Asian0%
Native American0.3%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial0.7%

Diversity index

11.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

76.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

92%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 998
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 81.2%
Married couples: 54.1%
Living alone: 17.6%
Veterans (of adults): 3.8%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

31%

$25–50k

25%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

$100–150k

14%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28665

$45,685

Wilkes Co.

$51,721

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$23,355

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

22.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

4.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.419

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28665

$167,400

Wilkes Co.

$168,800

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28665

$684

Wilkes Co.

$723

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

64%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

36%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,376
Owner-occupied: 82.4%
Vacant: 27.5%
Median year built: 1987
Median rooms: 5.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 40%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 34.2%
Home value to income: 3.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

79%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

16%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

41%

20–29

11%

30–44

21%

45–59

10%

60+

Average commute

26.3 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

13.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

48.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

23%

Construction and repair

21%

Office and admin

17%

Production

Cleaning and personal care

Management

Transportation and moving

Education

Food service

Healthcare

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Retail

28%

Manufacturing

15%

Construction

13%

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Health care and social assistance

Admin, support and management

Education

Wholesale

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

0.9%

Information

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$32,419

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

19.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28665	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$41,250	$74,888
Service	$30,745	$26,804
Sales and office	$17,768	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$38,295	$49,199
Production and transportation	$40,682	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

28%

High school

36%

Some college

16%

Associate's

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 72.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 11.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.8%
Households with broadband: 94.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 91%
No internet access: 5.9%
Without health insurance: 9.1%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Purlear
State: North Carolina
County: Wilkes County
Center point: 36.2097° N, 81.3739° W
Land area: 65 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 28665

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28624	Ferguson, NC	6.6 mi	1,438	$51,836	$202,500
28651	Millers Creek, NC	7.6 mi	5,578	$61,623	$175,300
28618	Deep Gap, NC	8 mi	2,208	$59,653	$338,400
28629	Glendale Springs, NC	9.6 mi	72	—	—
28626	Fleetwood, NC	9.8 mi	3,173	$73,675	$291,900
28606	Boomer, NC	12 mi	2,187	$56,600	$95,900
28694	West Jefferson, NC	12 mi	7,626	$58,486	$273,200
28649	Mc Grady, NC	13 mi	1,355	$47,016	$122,100
28659	North Wilkesboro, NC	13 mi	21,422	$50,280	$159,300
28697	Wilkesboro, NC	13 mi	13,412	$52,988	$218,500
28640	Jefferson, NC	14 mi	4,820	$53,155	$282,900
28607	Boone, NC	15 mi	35,679	$46,639	$378,600

Zip codes like 28665 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28665

What city is zip code 28665?

28665 is assigned to Purlear, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28665 in?

28665 is in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28665?

About 2,483 people live in 28665, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28665 in?

28665 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28665?

The median household income in 28665 is $45,685.

What zip codes are near 28665?

The closest zip codes to 28665 are 28624, 28651, 28618, 28629, 28626.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28665, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.