Zip code 28719: Cherokee, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28719?

28719 is assigned to Cherokee, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28719 in?

28719 is mostly in Swain County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 28719?

About 6,786 people live in 28719, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28719?

The median household income in 28719 is $60,658.

Q: What zip codes are near 28719?

The closest zip codes to 28719 are 28713, 28702, 37738, 28789, 28733.

Residential delivery areaSwain CountyEastern Time

Population

6,786

Median household income

$61K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$188K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$892/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

36.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

400 sq mi

17 people/sq mi

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

About 28719

28719 is a rural zip code in Cherokee, North Carolina (Swain County), covering 400 sq mi of land. About 6,786 people live here, or 17 per square mile. The median resident is 36.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $60,658 a year, 25% below the national median of $80,734. 17.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $188,400, or 3.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 74% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $892 a month.

18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 13.5 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in cleaning and personal care; construction and repair; and office and administrative support. 29% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often another language, such as Arabic or a Native American language.

How 28719 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Uninsured rate41%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%10th of 797 in NC
Government workers34.7%
99th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%29th of 798 in NC
Unemployment rate9.5%
93rd
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%81st of 799 in NC
Housing vacancy12.3%
80th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%399th of 789 in NC
Poverty rate17.7%
79th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%218th of 788 in NC
Veterans7.7%
74th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%325th of 801 in NC
Residents under 1824.4%
70th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%184th of 802 in NC
Homeownership rate73.5%
63rd
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%440th of 788 in NC
Residents 65 and older15.5%
42nd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%575th of 802 in NC
Diversity index43.4
41st
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4439th of 802 in NC
Median age36.5
31st
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1642nd of 802 in NC
Tech workers1.9%
31st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%362nd of 798 in NC
Foreign-born residents4.7%
28th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%373rd of 802 in NC
Median household income$60,658
21st
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388449th of 748 in NC
Self-employed workers7.1%
21st
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%611th of 798 in NC
Median home value$188,400
19th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900484th of 757 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher17.7%
15th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%558th of 799 in NC
Healthcare workers7%
15th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%600th of 798 in NC
Median gross rent$892
13th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228413th of 688 in NC
Per capita income$27,051
12th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385640th of 799 in NC
Population6,786
11th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404383rd of 802 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.384
11th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477639th of 781 in NC
Work from home5.6%
10th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%582nd of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$35,374
9th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279641st of 788 in NC
Rent-burdened renters34.4%
8th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%601st of 760 in NC
Population density17/sq mi
2nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi769th of 802 in NC
Broadband access75.2%
2nd
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%719th of 788 in NC
Average commute13.5 min
1st
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min756th of 771 in NC

Measure	28719	Swain	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Uninsured rateWeakness	41%	23.8%	9.9%	8.4%	99th	10th of 797
Government workers	34.7%	31.2%	13.8%	14.5%	99th	29th of 798
Unemployment rateWeakness	9.5%	7.6%	4.7%	5.2%	93rd	81st of 799
Housing vacancy	12.3%	30.3%	12.5%	10.1%	80th	399th of 789
Poverty rate	17.7%	19.1%	13%	12.5%	79th	218th of 788
Veterans	7.7%	7.2%	7.4%	6.2%	74th	325th of 801
Residents under 18	24.4%	20.8%	21.8%	22%	70th	184th of 802
Homeownership rate	73.5%	72.7%	66.6%	65.2%	63rd	440th of 788
Residents 65 and older	15.5%	19.9%	17.2%	17.2%	42nd	575th of 802
Diversity index	43.4	56.9	58.4	61.4	41st	439th of 802
Median age	36.5	42.6	39.1	38.9	31st	642nd of 802
Tech workers	1.9%	1.8%	3.9%	3.8%	31st	362nd of 798
Foreign-born residents	4.7%	2.8%	9.1%	14.1%	28th	373rd of 802
Median household income	$60,658	$52,349	$72,388	$80,734	21st	449th of 748
Self-employed workers	7.1%	10.8%	9.8%	10%	21st	611th of 798
Median home value	$188,400	$207,000	$288,900	$332,700	19th	484th of 757
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	17.7%	21.4%	35.7%	35.7%	15th	558th of 799
Healthcare workers	7%	8.4%	9.5%	9.7%	15th	600th of 798
Median gross rent	$892	$742	$1,228	$1,413	13th	413th of 688
Per capita incomeWeakness	$27,051	$31,803	$41,385	$44,673	12th	640th of 799
Population	6,786	14,013	10,730,404	334,922,499	11th	383rd of 802
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.384	0.462	0.477	0.483	11th	639th of 781
Work from home	5.6%	6%	16.3%	15.1%	10th	582nd of 799
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$35,374	$37,472	$46,279	$49,666	9th	641st of 788
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	34.4%	38.2%	48.9%	51.1%	8th	601st of 760
Population density	17/sq mi	27/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	2nd	769th of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	75.2%	77.3%	90.1%	91%	2nd	719th of 788
Average commuteStrength	13.5 min	20.5 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	1st	756th of 771

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

20%

5–17

11%

18–24

12%

25–34

13%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

36.5

Under 18

24.4%

65 and over

15.5%

Race and ethnicity

White11%
Black2%
Hispanic4%
Asian3%
Native American74%
Pacific Islander0.5%
Other0%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

43.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

4.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

78.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

71%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.9%

Asian / Pacific

Other

22%

Households

Households: 2,820
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 66.5%
Married couples: 33.2%
Living alone: 28%
Veterans (of adults): 7.7%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

29%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

10%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28719

$60,658

Swain Co.

$52,349

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$27,051

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

17.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

7.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.384

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28719

$188,400

Swain Co.

$207,000

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28719

$892

Swain Co.

$742

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

67%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.8%

Mobile home

25%

Boat, RV, van

0.5%

Housing units: 3,215
Owner-occupied: 73.5%
Vacant: 12.3%
Median year built: 1988
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 34.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 9.6%
Home value to income: 3.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

84%

Carpooled

Transit

0.0%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

33%

10–19

47%

20–29

30–44

12%

45–59

0.1%

60+

Average commute

13.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

9.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

51.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Cleaning and personal care

17%

Construction and repair

13%

Office and admin

12%

Sales

10%

Food service

Management

Healthcare

Production

Education

Farming, fishing and forestry

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Transportation and moving

Computer and math

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

0.7%

Engineering and science

0.6%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

16%

Restaurants and hotels

14%

Public administration

13%

Arts and recreation

10%

Retail

Education

Construction

Agriculture and mining

Professional and technical services

Other services

Admin, support and management

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Manufacturing

Wholesale

0.4%

Information

Median earnings per worker

$35,374

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

34.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28719	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$53,355	$74,888
Service	$31,415	$26,804
Sales and office	$36,818	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$35,833	$49,199
Production and transportation	$7,201	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

12%

High school

40%

Some college

20%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

11%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 87.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.9%
Households with broadband: 75.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 38.9%
No internet access: 21.8%
Without health insurance: 41%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Cherokee
State: North Carolina
County: Swain County
Center point: 35.5109° N, 83.5203° W
Land area: 400 sq mi
Water area: 6.4 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28719 spans 2 counties

Swain County92% of land
Jackson County8% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Cherokee (unincorporated)3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28719

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28713	Bryson City, NC	10 mi	8,425	$50,882	$221,900
28702	Almond, NC	11 mi	588	$37,275	$332,300
37738	Gatlinburg, TN	11 mi	4,952	$57,330	$334,100
28789	Whittier, NC	14 mi	5,788	$51,713	$221,600
28733	Fontana Dam, NC	16 mi	63	$150,300	$276,000
28725	Dillsboro, NC	17 mi	90	$57,750	—
37862	Sevierville, TN	18 mi	21,767	$59,792	$321,700
37882	Townsend, TN	18 mi	2,914	$69,012	$344,500
37863	Pigeon Forge, TN	19 mi	6,617	$53,191	$284,100
28788	Webster, NC	20 mi	198	$80,938	$382,600
28779	Sylva, NC	21 mi	18,064	$57,727	$243,700
28781	Topton, NC	21 mi	881	$62,045	$276,800

Zip codes like 28719 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28719

What city is zip code 28719?

28719 is assigned to Cherokee, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28719 in?

28719 is mostly in Swain County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 28719?

About 6,786 people live in 28719, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28719 in?

28719 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28719?

The median household income in 28719 is $60,658.

What zip codes are near 28719?

The closest zip codes to 28719 are 28713, 28702, 37738, 28789, 28733.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28719, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.