Zip code 28697: Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28697?

28697 is assigned to Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28697 in?

28697 is in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28697?

About 13,412 people live in 28697, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28697?

The median household income in 28697 is $52,988.

Q: What zip codes are near 28697?

The closest zip codes to 28697 are 28654, 28659, 28656, 28606, 28669.

Residential delivery areaWilkes CountyEastern Time

Population

13,412

Median household income

$53K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$219K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$768/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

43.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

62 sq mi

215 people/sq mi

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

About 28697

28697 is a small-town zip code in Wilkesboro, North Carolina (Wilkes County), covering 62 sq mi of land. About 13,412 people live here, or 215 per square mile. The median resident is 43.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $52,988 a year, 34% below the national median of $80,734. 14.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $218,500, or 4.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 67% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $768 a month.

24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.6 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; sales; and management.

How 28697 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents 65 and older22%
83rd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%294th of 802 in NC
Median age43.4
79th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1368th of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy11.2%
76th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%444th of 789 in NC
Poverty rate14.6%
68th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%336th of 788 in NC
Veterans7.1%
67th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%387th of 801 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.456
67th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477275th of 781 in NC
Rent-burdened renters54.5%
65th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%210th of 760 in NC
Government workers15.9%
65th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%325th of 798 in NC
Uninsured rate8.1%
60th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%500th of 797 in NC
Self-employed workers9.2%
49th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%458th of 798 in NC
Residents under 1821.9%
48th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%305th of 802 in NC
Homeownership rate66.7%
45th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%589th of 788 in NC
Tech workers2%
33rd
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%351st of 798 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher23.9%
31st
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%374th of 799 in NC
Broadband access89.6%
31st
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%332nd of 788 in NC
Unemployment rate3.8%
30th
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%452nd of 799 in NC
Diversity index34.8
29th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4536th of 802 in NC
Average commute22.6 min
27th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min586th of 771 in NC
Foreign-born residents4.4%
26th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%394th of 802 in NC
Median home value$218,500
25th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900397th of 757 in NC
Population density215/sq mi
22nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi336th of 802 in NC
Population13,412
20th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404261st of 802 in NC
Per capita income$29,097
16th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385583rd of 799 in NC
Healthcare workers7.1%
16th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%594th of 798 in NC
Median household income$52,988
12th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388574th of 748 in NC
Work from home5.5%
9th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%590th of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$34,011
7th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279675th of 788 in NC
Median gross rent$768
5th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228574th of 688 in NC

Measure	28697	Wilkes	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Residents 65 and older	22%	22.9%	17.2%	17.2%	83rd	294th of 802
Median age	43.4	45.7	39.1	38.9	79th	368th of 802
Housing vacancy	11.2%	14.9%	12.5%	10.1%	76th	444th of 789
Poverty rate	14.6%	16.7%	13%	12.5%	68th	336th of 788
Veterans	7.1%	6.1%	7.4%	6.2%	67th	387th of 801
Income inequality (Gini)	0.456	0.418	0.477	0.483	67th	275th of 781
Rent-burdened renters	54.5%	42.9%	48.9%	51.1%	65th	210th of 760
Government workers	15.9%	14.2%	13.8%	14.5%	65th	325th of 798
Uninsured rate	8.1%	10.5%	9.9%	8.4%	60th	500th of 797
Self-employed workers	9.2%	9.3%	9.8%	10%	49th	458th of 798
Residents under 18	21.9%	20%	21.8%	22%	48th	305th of 802
Homeownership rate	66.7%	73.5%	66.6%	65.2%	45th	589th of 788
Tech workers	2%	1.3%	3.9%	3.8%	33rd	351st of 798
Bachelor's degree or higher	23.9%	16.9%	35.7%	35.7%	31st	374th of 799
Broadband access	89.6%	88.1%	90.1%	91%	31st	332nd of 788
Unemployment rate	3.8%	5%	4.7%	5.2%	30th	452nd of 799
Diversity index	34.8	25.8	58.4	61.4	29th	536th of 802
Average commute	22.6 min	25.9 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	27th	586th of 771
Foreign-born residents	4.4%	3.7%	9.1%	14.1%	26th	394th of 802
Median home value	$218,500	$168,800	$288,900	$332,700	25th	397th of 757
Population density	215/sq mi	88/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	22nd	336th of 802
Population	13,412	65,935	10,730,404	334,922,499	20th	261st of 802
Per capita incomeWeakness	$29,097	$27,947	$41,385	$44,673	16th	583rd of 799
Healthcare workers	7.1%	9.3%	9.5%	9.7%	16th	594th of 798
Median household incomeWeakness	$52,988	$51,721	$72,388	$80,734	12th	574th of 748
Work from home	5.5%	9.1%	16.3%	15.1%	9th	590th of 799
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$34,011	$35,581	$46,279	$49,666	7th	675th of 788
Median gross rent	$768	$723	$1,228	$1,413	5th	574th 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

18%

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

10%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

10%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

43.4

Under 18

21.9%

65 and over

22%

Race and ethnicity

White80%
Black8%
Hispanic11%
Asian0%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

34.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

4.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

73.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

92%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 5,471
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 65.5%
Married couples: 45.9%
Living alone: 32.6%
Veterans (of adults): 7.1%
Male / female: 47% / 53%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

23%

$25–50k

26%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

10%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28697

$52,988

Wilkes Co.

$51,721

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$29,097

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

8.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.456

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28697

$218,500

Wilkes Co.

$168,800

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28697

$768

Wilkes Co.

$723

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

63%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

16%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 6,158
Owner-occupied: 66.7%
Vacant: 11.2%
Median year built: 1980
Median rooms: 5.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 54.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 22.3%
Home value to income: 4.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

84%

Carpooled

Transit

0.7%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.6%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

24%

10–19

41%

20–29

30–44

10%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

56.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

13%

Sales

11%

Management

11%

Food service

Transportation and moving

Healthcare

Cleaning and personal care

Legal and social services

Office and admin

Construction and repair

Education

Business and finance

Police and fire

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

0.3%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.0%

Industries

Retail

15%

Manufacturing

15%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Restaurants and hotels

10%

Education

Other services

Construction

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

Arts and recreation

Information

0.9%

Wholesale

0.8%

Agriculture and mining

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$34,011

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

11.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28697	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$56,028	$74,888
Service	$17,368	$26,804
Sales and office	$36,838	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$37,120	$49,199
Production and transportation	$30,425	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

12%

High school

31%

Some college

21%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

10%

High school graduate or higher: 87.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 9.6%
Households with broadband: 89.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 81.3%
No internet access: 8.7%
Without health insurance: 8.1%
Limited-English households: 0.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Wilkesboro
State: North Carolina
County: Wilkes County
Center point: 36.1367° N, 81.1627° W
Land area: 62 sq mi
Water area: 1.8 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Wilkesboro10% of zip
Moravian Falls (unincorporated)5% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28697

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28654	Moravian Falls, NC	5.4 mi	3,168	$57,438	$228,700
28659	North Wilkesboro, NC	5.5 mi	21,422	$50,280	$159,300
28656	North Wilkesboro, NC · PO box	9.6 mi	—	—	—
28606	Boomer, NC	10 mi	2,187	$56,600	$95,900
28669	Roaring River, NC	11 mi	2,935	$47,358	$137,500
28665	Purlear, NC	13 mi	2,483	$45,685	$167,400
28635	Hays, NC	14 mi	2,669	$44,901	$145,900
28624	Ferguson, NC	14 mi	1,438	$51,836	$202,500
28649	Mc Grady, NC	14 mi	1,355	$47,016	$122,100
28651	Millers Creek, NC	14 mi	5,578	$61,623	$175,300
28689	Union Grove, NC	14 mi	2,188	$70,565	$157,100
28670	Ronda, NC	15 mi	2,124	$49,567	$155,800

Zip codes like 28697 elsewhere

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

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Questions about 28697

What city is zip code 28697?

28697 is assigned to Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28697 in?

28697 is in Wilkes County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28697?

About 13,412 people live in 28697, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28697 in?

28697 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28697?

The median household income in 28697 is $52,988.

What zip codes are near 28697?

The closest zip codes to 28697 are 28654, 28659, 28656, 28606, 28669.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28697, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.