Zip code 28723: Cullowhee, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28723?

28723 is assigned to Cullowhee, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28723 in?

28723 is in Jackson County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28723?

About 12,756 people live in 28723, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28723?

The median household income in 28723 is $45,568.

Q: What zip codes are near 28723?

The closest zip codes to 28723 are 28783, 28707, 28708, 28786, 28736.

Residential delivery areaJackson CountyEastern Time

Population

12,756

Median household income

$46K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$348K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$892/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

22.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

112 sq mi

114 people/sq mi

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

About 28723

28723 is a small-town zip code in Cullowhee, North Carolina (Jackson County), covering 112 sq mi of land. About 12,756 people live here, or 114 per square mile. The median resident is 22.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $45,568 a year, 44% below the national median of $80,734. 29.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $347,900, or 7.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 37% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $892 a month.

36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 20.2 minutes each way, and 9% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; cleaning and personal care; and food service.

How 28723 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy27.1%
97th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%130th of 789 in NC
Poverty rate29.3%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · NC 13%40th of 788 in NC
Unemployment rate7.9%
86th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%117th of 799 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.486
84th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477145th of 781 in NC
Uninsured rate11.9%
80th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%244th of 797 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher35.9%
58th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%195th of 799 in NC
Veterans6.1%
54th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%514th of 801 in NC
Median home value$347,900
53rd
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900163rd of 757 in NC
Tech workers2.9%
50th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%236th of 798 in NC
Government workers13.7%
50th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%440th of 798 in NC
Rent-burdened renters48.6%
42nd
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%338th of 760 in NC
Foreign-born residents5.6%
32nd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%309th of 802 in NC
Work from home9.3%
30th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%389th of 799 in NC
Diversity index35
30th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4534th of 802 in NC
Self-employed workers7.7%
28th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%565th of 798 in NC
Healthcare workers7.5%
21st
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%554th of 798 in NC
Population12,756
19th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404268th of 802 in NC
Residents 65 and older12.1%
18th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%690th of 802 in NC
Population density114/sq mi
15th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi450th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$892
13th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228410th of 688 in NC
Average commute20.2 min
13th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min698th of 771 in NC
Per capita income$23,977
7th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385717th of 799 in NC
Homeownership rate36.5%
7th
WeaknessU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%761st of 788 in NC
Median household income$45,568
6th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388659th of 748 in NC
Residents under 188.4%
2nd
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%743rd of 802 in NC
Median age22.2
1st
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1778th of 802 in NC
Broadband access70.9%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%742nd of 788 in NC
Median earnings per worker$21,977
1st
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279770th of 788 in NC

Measure	28723	Jackson	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Housing vacancy	27.1%	33.7%	12.5%	10.1%	97th	130th of 789
Poverty rateWeakness	29.3%	18%	13%	12.5%	95th	40th of 788
Unemployment rateWeakness	7.9%	4.9%	4.7%	5.2%	86th	117th of 799
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.486	0.488	0.477	0.483	84th	145th of 781
Uninsured rateWeakness	11.9%	15.8%	9.9%	8.4%	80th	244th of 797
Bachelor's degree or higher	35.9%	31.1%	35.7%	35.7%	58th	195th of 799
Veterans	6.1%	8%	7.4%	6.2%	54th	514th of 801
Median home value	$347,900	$284,700	$288,900	$332,700	53rd	163rd of 757
Tech workers	2.9%	2.3%	3.9%	3.8%	50th	236th of 798
Government workers	13.7%	19.6%	13.8%	14.5%	50th	440th of 798
Rent-burdened renters	48.6%	42.2%	48.9%	51.1%	42nd	338th of 760
Foreign-born residents	5.6%	4.5%	9.1%	14.1%	32nd	309th of 802
Work from home	9.3%	7.8%	16.3%	15.1%	30th	389th of 799
Diversity index	35	37.3	58.4	61.4	30th	534th of 802
Self-employed workers	7.7%	10.9%	9.8%	10%	28th	565th of 798
Healthcare workers	7.5%	8.3%	9.5%	9.7%	21st	554th of 798
Population	12,756	43,771	10,730,404	334,922,499	19th	268th of 802
Residents 65 and older	12.1%	20.2%	17.2%	17.2%	18th	690th of 802
Population density	114/sq mi	89/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	15th	450th of 802
Median gross rent	$892	$904	$1,228	$1,413	13th	410th of 688
Average commuteStrength	20.2 min	20.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	13th	698th of 771
Per capita incomeWeakness	$23,977	$33,850	$41,385	$44,673	7th	717th of 799
Homeownership rateWeakness	36.5%	60.8%	66.6%	65.2%	7th	761st of 788
Median household incomeWeakness	$45,568	$55,815	$72,388	$80,734	6th	659th of 748
Residents under 18	8.4%	16.4%	21.8%	22%	2nd	743rd of 802
Median age	22.2	38.1	39.1	38.9	1st	778th of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	70.9%	78.9%	90.1%	91%	1st	742nd of 788
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$21,977	$35,139	$46,279	$49,666	1st	770th of 788

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

5–17

52%

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

22.2

Under 18

8.4%

65 and over

12.1%

Race and ethnicity

White80%
Black5%
Hispanic10%
Asian0.4%
Native American0.6%
Pacific Islander0.0%
Other0.5%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

5.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

49.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

93%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.3%

Other

0.5%

Households

Households: 4,384
Average household size: 2.1
Family households: 37.8%
Married couples: 28.4%
Living alone: 36.4%
Veterans (of adults): 6.1%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

28%

$25–50k

25%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28723

$45,568

Jackson Co.

$55,815

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$23,977

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

29.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

7.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.486

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28723

$347,900

Jackson Co.

$284,700

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28723

$892

Jackson Co.

$904

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

51%

2–4 units

5–19 units

15%

20+ units

14%

Mobile home

10%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 6,012
Owner-occupied: 36.5%
Vacant: 27.1%
Median year built: 1997
Median rooms: 4.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 48.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 31.3%
Home value to income: 7.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

73%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

22%

10–19

36%

20–29

10%

30–44

21%

45–59

60+

Average commute

20.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

7.9%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

60.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

15%

Cleaning and personal care

14%

Food service

10%

Management

Transportation and moving

Construction and repair

Healthcare

Office and admin

Education

Production

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Business and finance

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.6%

Industries

Retail

21%

Education

15%

Restaurants and hotels

13%

Health care and social assistance

10%

Arts and recreation

Construction

Admin, support and management

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Manufacturing

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Agriculture and mining

Information

0.5%

Wholesale

0.1%

Median earnings per worker

$21,977

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28723	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$38,279	$74,888
Service	$13,363	$26,804
Sales and office	$11,198	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$35,737	$49,199
Production and transportation	$23,058	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

31%

Some college

19%

Associate's

Bachelor's

19%

Graduate

17%

High school graduate or higher: 94.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 35.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 17.1%
Households with broadband: 70.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 47.4%
No internet access: 4.9%
Without health insurance: 11.9%
Limited-English households: 1.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Cullowhee
State: North Carolina
County: Jackson County
Center point: 35.3141° N, 83.0135° W
Land area: 112 sq mi
Water area: 2.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Cullowhee (unincorporated)3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28723

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28783	Tuckasegee, NC	5 mi	1,785	$51,350	$290,900
28707	Balsam, NC	6.6 mi	461	—	$334,000
28708	Balsam Grove, NC	9.2 mi	456	$70,435	$242,900
28786	Waynesville, NC	10 mi	22,056	$59,371	$297,800
28736	Glenville, NC	10 mi	1,000	$70,855	$428,400
28738	Hazelwood, NC · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
28779	Sylva, NC	11 mi	18,064	$57,727	$243,700
28788	Webster, NC	12 mi	198	$80,938	$382,600
28716	Canton, NC	13 mi	16,863	$63,141	$237,800
28747	Lake Toxaway, NC	13 mi	2,021	$66,000	$294,600
28751	Maggie Valley, NC	15 mi	4,159	$69,057	$313,500
28745	Lake Junaluska, NC	15 mi	670	$117,824	$356,600

Zip codes like 28723 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28723

What city is zip code 28723?

28723 is assigned to Cullowhee, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28723 in?

28723 is in Jackson County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28723?

About 12,756 people live in 28723, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28723 in?

28723 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28723?

The median household income in 28723 is $45,568.

What zip codes are near 28723?

The closest zip codes to 28723 are 28783, 28707, 28708, 28786, 28736.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28723, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.