Zip code 28679: Sugar Grove, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28679?

28679 is assigned to Sugar Grove, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28679 in?

28679 is mostly in Watauga County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 28679?

About 2,454 people live in 28679, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28679?

The median household income in 28679 is $65,246.

Q: What zip codes are near 28679?

The closest zip codes to 28679 are 28692, 28691, 28604, 28698, 28622.

Residential delivery areaWatauga CountyEastern Time

Population

2,454

Median household income

$65K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$287K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,014/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

45.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

26 sq mi

96 people/sq mi

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

About 28679

28679 is a small-town zip code in Sugar Grove, North Carolina (Watauga County), covering 26 sq mi of land. About 2,454 people live here, or 96 per square mile. The median resident is 45.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $65,246 a year, 19% below the national median of $80,734. 15% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $287,100, or 4.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 88% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,014 a month.

35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 34.7 minutes each way, and 16% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; food service; and construction and repair.

How 28679 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy23.6%
96th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%163rd of 789 in NC
Homeownership rate87.5%
93rd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%108th of 788 in NC
Average commute34.7 min
91st
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min69th of 771 in NC
Residents 65 and older23.4%
88th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%250th of 802 in NC
Median age45.3
87th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1272nd of 802 in NC
Self-employed workers13.9%
87th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%178th of 798 in NC
Veterans7.5%
72nd
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%344th of 801 in NC
Government workers16.8%
71st
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%284th of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.461
71st
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477241st of 781 in NC
Poverty rate15%
69th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%319th of 788 in NC
Work from home15.5%
63rd
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%198th of 799 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher35.1%
57th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%199th of 799 in NC
Uninsured rate6.2%
44th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%614th of 797 in NC
Median home value$287,100
41st
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900249th of 757 in NC
Foreign-born residents6.2%
35th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%277th of 802 in NC
Per capita income$34,992
34th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385351st of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$42,692
32nd
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279371st of 788 in NC
Residents under 1819.8%
30th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%440th of 802 in NC
Median household income$65,246
29th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388370th of 748 in NC
Unemployment rate3.7%
28th
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%464th of 799 in NC
Broadband access87.9%
23rd
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%387th of 788 in NC
Median gross rent$1,014
22nd
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228299th of 688 in NC
Diversity index22.7
15th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4648th of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers7%
15th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%601st of 798 in NC
Population density96/sq mi
13th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi498th of 802 in NC
Rent-burdened renters32.3%
6th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%621st of 760 in NC
Population2,454
4th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404552nd of 802 in NC
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%790th of 798 in NC

Measure	28679	Watauga	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Housing vacancy	23.6%	36.4%	12.5%	10.1%	96th	163rd of 789
Homeownership rateStrength	87.5%	62.1%	66.6%	65.2%	93rd	108th of 788
Average commuteWeakness	34.7 min	21.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	91st	69th of 771
Residents 65 and older	23.4%	17.1%	17.2%	17.2%	88th	250th of 802
Median age	45.3	31.4	39.1	38.9	87th	272nd of 802
Self-employed workers	13.9%	14%	9.8%	10%	87th	178th of 798
Veterans	7.5%	4.4%	7.4%	6.2%	72nd	344th of 801
Government workers	16.8%	18.9%	13.8%	14.5%	71st	284th of 798
Income inequality (Gini)	0.461	0.539	0.477	0.483	71st	241st of 781
Poverty rate	15%	25.5%	13%	12.5%	69th	319th of 788
Work from home	15.5%	10.4%	16.3%	15.1%	63rd	198th of 799
Bachelor's degree or higher	35.1%	48.1%	35.7%	35.7%	57th	199th of 799
Uninsured rate	6.2%	9.3%	9.9%	8.4%	44th	614th of 797
Median home value	$287,100	$358,900	$288,900	$332,700	41st	249th of 757
Foreign-born residents	6.2%	3.5%	9.1%	14.1%	35th	277th of 802
Per capita income	$34,992	$34,167	$41,385	$44,673	34th	351st of 799
Median earnings per worker	$42,692	$26,949	$46,279	$49,666	32nd	371st of 788
Residents under 18	19.8%	12.1%	21.8%	22%	30th	440th of 802
Median household income	$65,246	$51,693	$72,388	$80,734	29th	370th of 748
Unemployment rate	3.7%	7.9%	4.7%	5.2%	28th	464th of 799
Broadband access	87.9%	90.7%	90.1%	91%	23rd	387th of 788
Median gross rent	$1,014	$1,127	$1,228	$1,413	22nd	299th of 688
Diversity index	22.7	21.2	58.4	61.4	15th	648th of 802
Healthcare workers	7%	6.4%	9.5%	9.7%	15th	601st of 798
Population density	96/sq mi	176/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	13th	498th of 802
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	32.3%	65.9%	48.9%	51.1%	6th	621st of 760
Population	2,454	55,123	10,730,404	334,922,499	4th	552nd of 802
Tech workers	0%	2.2%	3.9%	3.8%	1st	790th 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

16%

5–17

18–24

25–34

13%

35–44

14%

45–54

13%

55–64

17%

65–74

75+

Median age

45.3

Under 18

19.8%

65 and over

23.4%

Race and ethnicity

White87%
Black0%
Hispanic9%
Asian0.8%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

22.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

6.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

56%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

93%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 952
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 71%
Married couples: 60.2%
Living alone: 23.9%
Veterans (of adults): 7.5%
Male / female: 46% / 54%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

18%

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

25%

$75–100k

$100–150k

13%

$150–200k

11%

$200k+

Median household income

28679

$65,246

Watauga Co.

$51,693

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$34,992

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

17.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.461

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28679

$287,100

Watauga Co.

$358,900

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28679

$1,014

Watauga Co.

$1,127

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

84%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

15%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,246
Owner-occupied: 87.5%
Vacant: 23.6%
Median year built: 1984
Median rooms: 6.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 32.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 13.5%
Home value to income: 4.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

72%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

15%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

12%

10–19

16%

20–29

28%

30–44

22%

45–59

60+

16%

Average commute

34.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.7%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

65.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

14%

Food service

11%

Construction and repair

10%

Business and finance

10%

Sales

10%

Management

Education

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Production

Legal and social services

Police and fire

0.6%

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Education

19%

Retail

15%

Admin, support and management

12%

Health care and social assistance

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Arts and recreation

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Agriculture and mining

Manufacturing

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

0.6%

Wholesale

Information

Median earnings per worker

$42,692

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

13.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

22.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28679	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$67,143	$74,888
Service	$47,633	$26,804
Sales and office	$11,974	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$26,705	$49,199
Production and transportation	$30,476	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

11%

High school

17%

Some college

32%

Associate's

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

17%

High school graduate or higher: 89.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 35.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 17.4%
Households with broadband: 87.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 75.1%
No internet access: 10.3%
Without health insurance: 6.2%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Sugar Grove
State: North Carolina
County: Watauga County
Center point: 36.2602° N, 81.8403° W
Land area: 26 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28679 spans 2 counties

Watauga County96% of land
Avery County4% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Valle Crucis (unincorporated)8% of zip
Cove Creek (unincorporated)6% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28679

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28692	Vilas, NC	3.8 mi	4,367	$43,103	$324,900
28691	Valle Crucis, NC · PO box	4.9 mi	—	—	—
28604	Banner Elk, NC	5.8 mi	7,869	$76,319	$383,800
28698	Zionville, NC	5.8 mi	2,320	$54,402	$219,400
28622	Elk Park, NC	7.5 mi	2,565	$44,028	$169,900
37640	Butler, TN	8.8 mi	3,851	$55,402	$174,000
37691	Trade, TN	8.8 mi	475	$13,976	$310,300
28608	Boone, NC · PO box	9.7 mi	—	—	—
28607	Boone, NC	11 mi	35,679	$46,639	$378,600
28605	Blowing Rock, NC	12 mi	3,883	$76,477	$552,400
28646	Linville, NC	13 mi	382	$76,736	$371,300
37683	Mountain City, TN	13 mi	12,943	$55,979	$177,000

Zip codes like 28679 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28679

What city is zip code 28679?

28679 is assigned to Sugar Grove, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28679 in?

28679 is mostly in Watauga County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 28679?

About 2,454 people live in 28679, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28679 in?

28679 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28679?

The median household income in 28679 is $65,246.

What zip codes are near 28679?

The closest zip codes to 28679 are 28692, 28691, 28604, 28698, 28622.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28679, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.