Zip code 28690: Valdese, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28690?

28690 is assigned to Valdese, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28690 in?

28690 is in Burke County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28690?

About 9,196 people live in 28690, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28690?

The median household income in 28690 is $67,000.

Q: What zip codes are near 28690?

The closest zip codes to 28690 are 28619, 28671, 28666, 28612, 28680.

Residential delivery areaBurke CountyEastern Time

Population

9,196

Median household income

$67K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$211K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$810/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

51.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

22 sq mi

427 people/sq mi

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

About 28690

28690 is a small-town zip code in Valdese, North Carolina (Burke County), covering 22 sq mi of land. About 9,196 people live here, or 427 per square mile. The median resident is 51.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $67,000 a year, 17% below the national median of $80,734. 10.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $211,300, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 79% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $810 a month.

32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.6 minutes each way, and 9% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare, management and sales.

How 28690 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age51.2
96th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1137th of 802 in NC
Residents 65 and older24.9%
92nd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%192nd of 802 in NC
Government workers20%
84th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%171st of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.487
84th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477139th of 781 in NC
Healthcare workers12%
81st
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%187th of 798 in NC
Homeownership rate79.4%
77th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%295th of 788 in NC
Self-employed workers11.5%
73rd
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%283rd of 798 in NC
Veterans6.8%
63rd
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%417th of 801 in NC
Per capita income$42,141
56th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385191st of 799 in NC
Unemployment rate5%
52nd
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%312th of 799 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher32%
50th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%238th of 799 in NC
Poverty rate10.4%
47th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%500th of 788 in NC
Median earnings per worker$47,251
47th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279231st of 788 in NC
Tech workers2.7%
47th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%253rd of 798 in NC
Housing vacancy6.1%
45th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%681st of 789 in NC
Median household income$67,000
31st
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388331st of 748 in NC
Population density427/sq mi
30th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi226th of 802 in NC
Foreign-born residents5%
29th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%348th of 802 in NC
Average commute22.6 min
27th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min580th of 771 in NC
Work from home8.6%
26th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%430th of 799 in NC
Uninsured rate4.2%
24th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%712th of 797 in NC
Median home value$211,300
23rd
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900425th of 757 in NC
Residents under 1817.9%
18th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%535th of 802 in NC
Diversity index23.7
16th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4632nd of 802 in NC
Population9,196
14th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404327th of 802 in NC
Broadband access85.5%
14th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%470th of 788 in NC
Rent-burdened renters35.4%
9th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%585th of 760 in NC
Median gross rent$810
7th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228516th of 688 in NC

Measure	28690	Burke	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	51.2	44.9	39.1	38.9	96th	137th of 802
Residents 65 and older	24.9%	21.7%	17.2%	17.2%	92nd	192nd of 802
Government workers	20%	16.8%	13.8%	14.5%	84th	171st of 798
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.487	0.443	0.477	0.483	84th	139th of 781
Healthcare workers	12%	10.7%	9.5%	9.7%	81st	187th of 798
Homeownership rate	79.4%	74.5%	66.6%	65.2%	77th	295th of 788
Self-employed workers	11.5%	8.5%	9.8%	10%	73rd	283rd of 798
Veterans	6.8%	6.4%	7.4%	6.2%	63rd	417th of 801
Per capita income	$42,141	$32,977	$41,385	$44,673	56th	191st of 799
Unemployment rate	5%	4.4%	4.7%	5.2%	52nd	312th of 799
Bachelor's degree or higher	32%	21%	35.7%	35.7%	50th	238th of 799
Poverty rate	10.4%	15.6%	13%	12.5%	47th	500th of 788
Median earnings per worker	$47,251	$39,540	$46,279	$49,666	47th	231st of 788
Tech workers	2.7%	1.3%	3.9%	3.8%	47th	253rd of 798
Housing vacancy	6.1%	10%	12.5%	10.1%	45th	681st of 789
Median household income	$67,000	$58,592	$72,388	$80,734	31st	331st of 748
Population density	427/sq mi	173/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	30th	226th of 802
Foreign-born residents	5%	5.3%	9.1%	14.1%	29th	348th of 802
Average commute	22.6 min	23.4 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	27th	580th of 771
Work from home	8.6%	5.4%	16.3%	15.1%	26th	430th of 799
Uninsured rate	4.2%	11%	9.9%	8.4%	24th	712th of 797
Median home value	$211,300	$185,400	$288,900	$332,700	23rd	425th of 757
Residents under 18	17.9%	18.4%	21.8%	22%	18th	535th of 802
Diversity index	23.7	36.1	58.4	61.4	16th	632nd of 802
Population	9,196	87,795	10,730,404	334,922,499	14th	327th of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	85.5%	84.7%	90.1%	91%	14th	470th of 788
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	35.4%	36.9%	48.9%	51.1%	9th	585th of 760
Median gross rent	$810	$884	$1,228	$1,413	7th	516th 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

14%

5–17

18–24

25–34

13%

35–44

16%

45–54

16%

55–64

13%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

51.2

Under 18

17.9%

65 and over

24.9%

Race and ethnicity

White87%
Black2%
Hispanic4%
Asian3%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0.2%
Other0.3%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

23.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

74.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 4,510
Average household size: 2
Family households: 58.9%
Married couples: 46.4%
Living alone: 36.3%
Veterans (of adults): 6.8%
Male / female: 44% / 56%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

25%

$25–50k

16%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

16%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28690

$67,000

Burke Co.

$58,592

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$42,141

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

12.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.487

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28690

$211,300

Burke Co.

$185,400

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28690

$810

Burke Co.

$884

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

79%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

10%

Boat, RV, van

0.3%

Housing units: 4,801
Owner-occupied: 79.4%
Vacant: 6.1%
Median year built: 1972
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 35.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 14.1%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

89%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.8%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

15%

10–19

41%

20–29

18%

30–44

10%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

58%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

12%

Management

11%

Sales

Office and admin

Production

Police and fire

Transportation and moving

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Construction and repair

Education

Legal and social services

Food service

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

0.3%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Manufacturing

18%

Health care and social assistance

17%

Retail

11%

Public administration

10%

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

0.6%

Arts and recreation

0.5%

Information

0.4%

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$47,251

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28690	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$61,886	$74,888
Service	$35,000	$26,804
Sales and office	$43,750	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$32,083	$49,199
Production and transportation	$47,643	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

31%

Some college

18%

Associate's

14%

Bachelor's

22%

Graduate

10%

High school graduate or higher: 94.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 32%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.1%
Households with broadband: 85.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 70.3%
No internet access: 12.4%
Without health insurance: 4.2%
Limited-English households: 2.9%

Geography

City (USPS): Valdese
State: North Carolina
County: Burke County
Center point: 35.7327° N, 81.5742° W
Land area: 22 sq mi
Water area: 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

Valdese27% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28690

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28619	Drexel, NC	2.6 mi	487	$34,881	$198,600
28671	Rutherford College, NC	2.9 mi	375	$73,929	$317,500
28666	Icard, NC	5.9 mi	273	—	—
28612	Connelly Springs, NC	6.1 mi	11,290	$54,934	$162,400
28680	Morganton, NC · PO box	6.9 mi	—	—	—
28637	Hildebran, NC	8.7 mi	1,911	$67,500	$197,900
28667	Rhodhiss, NC	8.8 mi	301	$26,354	$121,900
28638	Hudson, NC	9.5 mi	12,363	$67,135	$207,500
28655	Morganton, NC	10 mi	55,100	$57,713	$191,800
28630	Granite Falls, NC	11 mi	19,382	$63,835	$202,400
28628	Glen Alpine, NC	11 mi	60	$74,375	—
28602	Hickory, NC	12 mi	31,113	$62,048	$212,900

Zip codes like 28690 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28690

What city is zip code 28690?

28690 is assigned to Valdese, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28690 in?

28690 is in Burke County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28690?

About 9,196 people live in 28690, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28690 in?

28690 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28690?

The median household income in 28690 is $67,000.

What zip codes are near 28690?

The closest zip codes to 28690 are 28619, 28671, 28666, 28612, 28680.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28690, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.