Zip code 28685: Traphill, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28685?

28685 is assigned to Traphill, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28685 in?

28685 is in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28685?

About 2,181 people live in 28685, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28685?

The median household income in 28685 is $46,406.

Q: What zip codes are near 28685?

The closest zip codes to 28685 are 28635, 28668, 28627, 28656, 28683.

Residential delivery areaWilkes CountyEastern Time

Population

2,181

Median household income

$46K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$123K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$776/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

35.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

47 sq mi

46 people/sq mi

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

About 28685

28685 is a rural zip code in Traphill, North Carolina (Wilkes County), covering 47 sq mi of land. About 2,181 people live here, or 46 per square mile. The median resident is 35.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $46,406 a year, 43% below the national median of $80,734. 24.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $123,200, or 2.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 84% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $776 a month.

8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 38.8 minutes each way, and 2% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; healthcare; and sales.

How 28685 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Unemployment rate13.5%
98th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%28th of 799 in NC
Average commute38.8 min
96th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min30th of 771 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.512
92nd
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.47777th of 781 in NC
Poverty rate24.6%
91st
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · NC 13%86th of 788 in NC
Homeownership rate84.3%
88th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%173rd of 788 in NC
Healthcare workers12.4%
84th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%175th of 798 in NC
Rent-burdened renters59.7%
82nd
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%132nd of 760 in NC
Uninsured rate12.2%
81st
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%231st of 797 in NC
Housing vacancy11.9%
78th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%414th of 789 in NC
Self-employed workers12%
77th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%254th of 798 in NC
Residents 65 and older18.4%
63rd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%457th of 802 in NC
Residents under 1822.6%
55th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%266th of 802 in NC
Government workers12.3%
38th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%528th of 798 in NC
Median earnings per worker$41,029
24th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279441st of 788 in NC
Median age35.1
22nd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1675th of 802 in NC
Per capita income$29,884
18th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385553rd of 799 in NC
Tech workers0.9%
11th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%527th of 798 in NC
Diversity index15.4
8th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4710th of 802 in NC
Broadband access83%
8th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%562nd of 788 in NC
Population density46/sq mi
7th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi649th of 802 in NC
Median household income$46,406
6th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388651st of 748 in NC
Median home value$123,200
6th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900658th of 757 in NC
Median gross rent$776
6th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228563rd of 688 in NC
Foreign-born residents0.8%
5th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%680th of 802 in NC
Population2,181
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404583rd of 802 in NC
Work from home2.4%
2nd
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%712th of 799 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher7.7%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%760th of 799 in NC
Veterans1%
1st
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%770th of 801 in NC

Measure	28685	Wilkes	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Unemployment rateWeakness	13.5%	5%	4.7%	5.2%	98th	28th of 799
Average commuteWeakness	38.8 min	25.9 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	96th	30th of 771
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.512	0.418	0.477	0.483	92nd	77th of 781
Poverty rateWeakness	24.6%	16.7%	13%	12.5%	91st	86th of 788
Homeownership rateStrength	84.3%	73.5%	66.6%	65.2%	88th	173rd of 788
Healthcare workers	12.4%	9.3%	9.5%	9.7%	84th	175th of 798
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	59.7%	42.9%	48.9%	51.1%	82nd	132nd of 760
Uninsured rateWeakness	12.2%	10.5%	9.9%	8.4%	81st	231st of 797
Housing vacancy	11.9%	14.9%	12.5%	10.1%	78th	414th of 789
Self-employed workers	12%	9.3%	9.8%	10%	77th	254th of 798
Residents 65 and older	18.4%	22.9%	17.2%	17.2%	63rd	457th of 802
Residents under 18	22.6%	20%	21.8%	22%	55th	266th of 802
Government workers	12.3%	14.2%	13.8%	14.5%	38th	528th of 798
Median earnings per worker	$41,029	$35,581	$46,279	$49,666	24th	441st of 788
Median age	35.1	45.7	39.1	38.9	22nd	675th of 802
Per capita incomeWeakness	$29,884	$27,947	$41,385	$44,673	18th	553rd of 799
Tech workers	0.9%	1.3%	3.9%	3.8%	11th	527th of 798
Diversity index	15.4	25.8	58.4	61.4	8th	710th of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	83%	88.1%	90.1%	91%	8th	562nd of 788
Population density	46/sq mi	88/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	7th	649th of 802
Median household incomeWeakness	$46,406	$51,721	$72,388	$80,734	6th	651st of 748
Median home value	$123,200	$168,800	$288,900	$332,700	6th	658th of 757
Median gross rent	$776	$723	$1,228	$1,413	6th	563rd of 688
Foreign-born residents	0.8%	3.7%	9.1%	14.1%	5th	680th of 802
Population	2,181	65,935	10,730,404	334,922,499	3rd	583rd of 802
Work from home	2.4%	9.1%	16.3%	15.1%	2nd	712th of 799
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	7.7%	16.9%	35.7%	35.7%	1st	760th of 799
Veterans	1%	6.1%	7.4%	6.2%	1st	770th of 801

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

15%

5–17

18–24

20%

25–34

35–44

14%

45–54

12%

55–64

65–74

11%

75+

Median age

35.1

Under 18

22.6%

65 and over

18.4%

Race and ethnicity

White92%
Black0%
Hispanic2%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial7%

Diversity index

15.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

88.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.5%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 769
Average household size: 2.8
Family households: 77.8%
Married couples: 54.9%
Living alone: 20.3%
Veterans (of adults): 1%
Male / female: 43% / 57%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

16%

$25–50k

37%

$50–75k

12%

$75–100k

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28685

$46,406

Wilkes Co.

$51,721

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$29,884

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

24.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

8.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.512

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28685

$123,200

Wilkes Co.

$168,800

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28685

$776

Wilkes Co.

$723

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

65%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

35%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 873
Owner-occupied: 84.3%
Vacant: 11.9%
Median year built: 1982
Median rooms: 5.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 59.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 2.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

79%

Carpooled

17%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

20–29

13%

30–44

47%

45–59

60+

27%

Average commute

38.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

13.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

50.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

17%

Healthcare

12%

Sales

11%

Cleaning and personal care

10%

Production

Management

Office and admin

Food service

Business and finance

Arts, media and sports

Transportation and moving

Education

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Computer and math

0.9%

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Retail

32%

Construction

12%

Professional and technical services

10%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Health care and social assistance

Education

Manufacturing

Restaurants and hotels

Agriculture and mining

Information

Arts and recreation

Other services

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

0.9%

Wholesale

0.3%

Admin, support and management

Median earnings per worker

$41,029

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

0.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28685	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$42,589	$74,888
Service	$30,956	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,438	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$27,392	$49,199
Production and transportation	$52,583	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

33%

High school

40%

Some college

16%

Associate's

Bachelor's

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 66.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.3%
Households with broadband: 83%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 77.1%
No internet access: 17%
Without health insurance: 12.2%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Traphill
State: North Carolina
County: Wilkes County
Center point: 36.3473° N, 81.0410° W
Land area: 47 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 28685

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28635	Hays, NC	4.8 mi	2,669	$44,901	$145,900
28668	Roaring Gap, NC	6.4 mi	40	—	—
28627	Glade Valley, NC	7.5 mi	1,193	$46,474	$246,400
28656	North Wilkesboro, NC · PO box	7.5 mi	—	—	—
28683	Thurmond, NC	7.8 mi	1,614	$45,423	$176,600
28669	Roaring River, NC	9 mi	2,935	$47,358	$137,500
28649	Mc Grady, NC	9.6 mi	1,355	$47,016	$122,100
28676	State Road, NC	10 mi	3,100	$60,833	$242,600
28659	North Wilkesboro, NC	11 mi	21,422	$50,280	$159,300
28675	Sparta, NC	12 mi	6,745	$44,560	$215,300
28670	Ronda, NC	13 mi	2,124	$49,567	$155,800
28623	Ennice, NC	13 mi	1,814	$53,384	$170,600

Zip codes like 28685 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28685

What city is zip code 28685?

28685 is assigned to Traphill, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28685 in?

28685 is in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28685?

About 2,181 people live in 28685, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28685 in?

28685 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28685?

The median household income in 28685 is $46,406.

What zip codes are near 28685?

The closest zip codes to 28685 are 28635, 28668, 28627, 28656, 28683.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28685, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.