Zip code 28694: West Jefferson, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28694?

28694 is assigned to West Jefferson, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28694 in?

28694 is in Ashe County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28694?

About 7,626 people live in 28694, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28694?

The median household income in 28694 is $58,486.

Q: What zip codes are near 28694?

The closest zip codes to 28694 are 28640, 28626, 28629, 28684, 28693.

Residential delivery areaAshe CountyEastern Time

Population

7,626

Median household income

$58K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$273K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$818/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

50.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

70 sq mi

109 people/sq mi

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

About 28694

28694 is a small-town zip code in West Jefferson, North Carolina (Ashe County), covering 70 sq mi of land. About 7,626 people live here, or 109 per square mile. The median resident is 50.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $58,486 a year, 28% below the national median of $80,734. 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $273,200, or 4.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 80% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $818 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 20.7 minutes each way, and 10% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; management; and construction and repair.

How 28694 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age50.6
96th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1149th of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy24.1%
96th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%155th of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older27.7%
95th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%132nd of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate7.8%
86th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%121st of 799 in NC
Homeownership rate80%
78th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%278th of 788 in NC
Healthcare workers10.4%
64th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%296th of 798 in NC
Self-employed workers10%
59th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%387th of 798 in NC
Veterans6.2%
55th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%496th of 801 in NC
Uninsured rate7%
52nd
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%557th of 797 in NC
Government workers13.8%
51st
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%426th of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.428
43rd
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477411th of 781 in NC
Poverty rate9.6%
42nd
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%532nd of 788 in NC
Per capita income$36,615
39th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385309th of 799 in NC
Median home value$273,200
38th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900271st of 757 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher25%
34th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%348th of 799 in NC
Work from home9.6%
32nd
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%373rd of 799 in NC
Broadband access88.5%
26th
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%367th of 788 in NC
Foreign-born residents3.6%
22nd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%442nd of 802 in NC
Median household income$58,486
18th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388488th of 748 in NC
Diversity index24.9
18th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4625th of 802 in NC
Average commute20.7 min
16th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min680th of 771 in NC
Median earnings per worker$37,907
16th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279555th of 788 in NC
Population density109/sq mi
14th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi464th of 802 in NC
Population7,626
12th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404359th of 802 in NC
Residents under 1816%
11th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%600th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$818
8th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228508th of 688 in NC
Tech workers0.5%
6th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%566th of 798 in NC
Rent-burdened renters29.6%
5th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%642nd of 760 in NC

Measure	28694	Ashe	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	50.6	49.8	39.1	38.9	96th	149th of 802
Housing vacancy	24.1%	29.1%	12.5%	10.1%	96th	155th of 789
Residents 65 and older	27.7%	27.2%	17.2%	17.2%	95th	132nd of 802
Unemployment rateWeakness	7.8%	4.8%	4.7%	5.2%	86th	121st of 799
Homeownership rate	80%	79.4%	66.6%	65.2%	78th	278th of 788
Healthcare workers	10.4%	8.7%	9.5%	9.7%	64th	296th of 798
Self-employed workers	10%	11.4%	9.8%	10%	59th	387th of 798
Veterans	6.2%	6.6%	7.4%	6.2%	55th	496th of 801
Uninsured rate	7%	9.8%	9.9%	8.4%	52nd	557th of 797
Government workers	13.8%	14.4%	13.8%	14.5%	51st	426th of 798
Income inequality (Gini)	0.428	0.443	0.477	0.483	43rd	411th of 781
Poverty rate	9.6%	13.5%	13%	12.5%	42nd	532nd of 788
Per capita income	$36,615	$33,675	$41,385	$44,673	39th	309th of 799
Median home value	$273,200	$243,100	$288,900	$332,700	38th	271st of 757
Bachelor's degree or higher	25%	25.9%	35.7%	35.7%	34th	348th of 799
Work from home	9.6%	9%	16.3%	15.1%	32nd	373rd of 799
Broadband access	88.5%	85.2%	90.1%	91%	26th	367th of 788
Foreign-born residents	3.6%	2.8%	9.1%	14.1%	22nd	442nd of 802
Median household incomeWeakness	$58,486	$56,866	$72,388	$80,734	18th	488th of 748
Diversity index	24.9	17.1	58.4	61.4	18th	625th of 802
Average commuteStrength	20.7 min	25.3 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	16th	680th of 771
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$37,907	$37,988	$46,279	$49,666	16th	555th of 788
Population density	109/sq mi	63/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	14th	464th of 802
Population	7,626	26,950	10,730,404	334,922,499	12th	359th of 802
Residents under 18	16%	16.9%	21.8%	22%	11th	600th of 802
Median gross rent	$818	$859	$1,228	$1,413	8th	508th of 688
Tech workers	0.5%	0.7%	3.9%	3.8%	6th	566th of 798
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	29.6%	41.4%	48.9%	51.1%	5th	642nd of 760

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

12%

5–17

18–24

25–34

11%

35–44

12%

45–54

17%

55–64

14%

65–74

13%

75+

Median age

50.6

Under 18

16%

65 and over

27.7%

Race and ethnicity

White86%
Black1%
Hispanic10%
Asian0.3%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.7%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

24.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

67.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

93%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.5%

Other

Households

Households: 3,678
Average household size: 2
Family households: 61.8%
Married couples: 48.7%
Living alone: 33.2%
Veterans (of adults): 6.2%
Male / female: 45% / 55%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

17%

$25–50k

24%

$50–75k

22%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

10%

$150–200k

10%

$200k+

Median household income

28694

$58,486

Ashe Co.

$56,866

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$36,615

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

9.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

12.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.428

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28694

$273,200

Ashe Co.

$243,100

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28694

$818

Ashe Co.

$859

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

80%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.7%

Mobile home

13%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,847
Owner-occupied: 80%
Vacant: 24.1%
Median year built: 1979
Median rooms: 5.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 29.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 13.4%
Home value to income: 4.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

82%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.6%

Bicycle

Worked from home

10%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

12%

10–19

45%

20–29

18%

30–44

18%

45–59

60+

Average commute

20.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

7.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

55.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

14%

Management

12%

Construction and repair

11%

Office and admin

11%

Healthcare

10%

Education

10%

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Transportation and moving

Production

Arts, media and sports

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Business and finance

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.7%

Computer and math

0.5%

Police and fire

0.2%

Industries

Retail

16%

Health care and social assistance

15%

Manufacturing

13%

Education

13%

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Admin, support and management

Other services

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Information

Public administration

Professional and technical services

0.9%

Arts and recreation

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$37,907

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28694	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$50,958	$74,888
Service	$19,872	$26,804
Sales and office	$28,346	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$37,850	$49,199
Production and transportation	$39,167	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

28%

Some college

27%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

16%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 91.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.8%
Households with broadband: 88.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 80.9%
No internet access: 10.8%
Without health insurance: 7%
Limited-English households: 1.7%

Geography

City (USPS): West Jefferson
State: North Carolina
County: Ashe County
Center point: 36.3663° N, 81.4680° W
Land area: 70 sq mi
Water area: 0.5 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

West Jefferson3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28694

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28640	Jefferson, NC	4.7 mi	4,820	$53,155	$282,900
28626	Fleetwood, NC	5.8 mi	3,173	$73,675	$291,900
28629	Glendale Springs, NC	6.2 mi	72	—	—
28684	Todd, NC	8 mi	1,961	$69,307	$325,300
28693	Warrensville, NC	8.9 mi	1,071	$62,596	$171,800
28651	Millers Creek, NC	9.8 mi	5,578	$61,623	$175,300
28617	Crumpler, NC	9.9 mi	1,839	$62,204	$244,600
28618	Deep Gap, NC	11 mi	2,208	$59,653	$338,400
28672	Scottville, NC	11 mi	136	$163,210	$182,100
28644	Laurel Springs, NC	11 mi	1,433	$52,798	$222,400
28665	Purlear, NC	12 mi	2,483	$45,685	$167,400
28643	Lansing, NC	12 mi	3,615	$44,509	$149,500

Zip codes like 28694 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28694

What city is zip code 28694?

28694 is assigned to West Jefferson, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28694 in?

28694 is in Ashe County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28694?

About 7,626 people live in 28694, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28694 in?

28694 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28694?

The median household income in 28694 is $58,486.

What zip codes are near 28694?

The closest zip codes to 28694 are 28640, 28626, 28629, 28684, 28693.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28694, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.