Zip code 28761: Nebo, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28761?

28761 is assigned to Nebo, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28761 in?

28761 is mostly in McDowell County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 28761?

About 8,150 people live in 28761, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28761?

The median household income in 28761 is $54,869.

Q: What zip codes are near 28761?

The closest zip codes to 28761 are 28752, 28628, 28737, 28655, 28680.

Residential delivery areaMcDowell CountyEastern Time

Population

8,150

Median household income

$55K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$177K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,088/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

47.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

104 sq mi

79 people/sq mi

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

About 28761

28761 is a small-town zip code in Nebo, North Carolina (McDowell County), covering 104 sq mi of land. About 8,150 people live here, or 79 per square mile. The median resident is 47.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $54,869 a year, 32% below the national median of $80,734. 12.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $176,700, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 84% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,088 a month.

20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 29.6 minutes each way, and 4% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; production and manufacturing; and healthcare.

How 28761 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age47.9
93rd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1201st of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy18.2%
91st
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%234th of 789 in NC
Homeownership rate84.3%
88th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%169th of 788 in NC
Veterans9.2%
86th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%203rd of 801 in NC
Residents 65 and older22.3%
84th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%284th of 802 in NC
Uninsured rate13%
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%192nd of 797 in NC
Rent-burdened renters59.9%
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%128th of 760 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.485
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477150th of 781 in NC
Tech workers5.4%
82nd
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%84th of 798 in NC
Healthcare workers11.6%
78th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%206th of 798 in NC
Average commute29.6 min
72nd
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min203rd of 771 in NC
Government workers15.4%
62nd
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%346th of 798 in NC
Poverty rate12.9%
60th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%399th of 788 in NC
Self-employed workers9.5%
53rd
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%426th of 798 in NC
Per capita income$36,384
39th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385316th of 799 in NC
Median gross rent$1,088
28th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228260th of 688 in NC
Residents under 1818.7%
23rd
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%498th of 802 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher20.4%
22nd
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%468th of 799 in NC
Median home value$176,700
16th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900505th of 757 in NC
Median household income$54,869
14th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388543rd of 748 in NC
Population8,150
13th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404345th of 802 in NC
Median earnings per worker$36,875
13th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279601st of 788 in NC
Population density79/sq mi
11th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi530th of 802 in NC
Broadband access83.6%
9th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%545th of 788 in NC
Diversity index12
5th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4739th of 802 in NC
Work from home3.8%
4th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%659th of 799 in NC
Foreign-born residents0.6%
3rd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%696th of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate0.7%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%702nd of 799 in NC

Measure	28761	McDowell	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	47.9	44.3	39.1	38.9	93rd	201st of 802
Housing vacancy	18.2%	13.6%	12.5%	10.1%	91st	234th of 789
Homeownership rateStrength	84.3%	75.6%	66.6%	65.2%	88th	169th of 788
Veterans	9.2%	7.6%	7.4%	6.2%	86th	203rd of 801
Residents 65 and older	22.3%	21%	17.2%	17.2%	84th	284th of 802
Uninsured rateWeakness	13%	11.5%	9.9%	8.4%	83rd	192nd of 797
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	59.9%	39.7%	48.9%	51.1%	83rd	128th of 760
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.485	0.422	0.477	0.483	83rd	150th of 781
Tech workers	5.4%	2%	3.9%	3.8%	82nd	84th of 798
Healthcare workers	11.6%	11.6%	9.5%	9.7%	78th	206th of 798
Average commute	29.6 min	24.7 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	72nd	203rd of 771
Government workers	15.4%	17.6%	13.8%	14.5%	62nd	346th of 798
Poverty rate	12.9%	14.8%	13%	12.5%	60th	399th of 788
Self-employed workers	9.5%	8%	9.8%	10%	53rd	426th of 798
Per capita income	$36,384	$30,395	$41,385	$44,673	39th	316th of 799
Median gross rent	$1,088	$806	$1,228	$1,413	28th	260th of 688
Residents under 18	18.7%	19.4%	21.8%	22%	23rd	498th of 802
Bachelor's degree or higher	20.4%	18.1%	35.7%	35.7%	22nd	468th of 799
Median home value	$176,700	$171,100	$288,900	$332,700	16th	505th of 757
Median household incomeWeakness	$54,869	$57,168	$72,388	$80,734	14th	543rd of 748
Population	8,150	44,817	10,730,404	334,922,499	13th	345th of 802
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$36,875	$41,051	$46,279	$49,666	13th	601st of 788
Population density	79/sq mi	102/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	11th	530th of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	83.6%	83.6%	90.1%	91%	9th	545th of 788
Diversity index	12	26	58.4	61.4	5th	739th of 802
Work from home	3.8%	6%	16.3%	15.1%	4th	659th of 799
Foreign-born residents	0.6%	3.2%	9.1%	14.1%	3rd	696th of 802
Unemployment rateStrength	0.7%	4.1%	4.7%	5.2%	1st	702nd of 799

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

10%

25–34

10%

35–44

13%

45–54

17%

55–64

15%

65–74

75+

Median age

47.9

Under 18

18.7%

65 and over

22.3%

Race and ethnicity

White94%
Black3%
Hispanic0.9%
Asian0.5%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

70.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

98%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.1%

Other

Households

Households: 3,288
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 67.5%
Married couples: 54.7%
Living alone: 26.3%
Veterans (of adults): 9.2%
Male / female: 54% / 46%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

15%

$25–50k

23%

$50–75k

21%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

14%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28761

$54,869

McDowell Co.

$57,168

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$36,384

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.485

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28761

$176,700

McDowell Co.

$171,100

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28761

$1,088

McDowell Co.

$806

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

73%

2–4 units

0.3%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

26%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,018
Owner-occupied: 84.3%
Vacant: 18.2%
Median year built: 1993
Median rooms: 5.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 59.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 20.8%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

86%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

23%

20–29

25%

30–44

22%

45–59

14%

60+

Average commute

29.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

0.7%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

51.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

14%

Production

14%

Healthcare

12%

Sales

11%

Transportation and moving

10%

Office and admin

Computer and math

Police and fire

Management

Cleaning and personal care

Business and finance

Education

Food service

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

0.4%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Manufacturing

21%

Retail

19%

Health care and social assistance

15%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

10%

Construction

Public administration

Other services

Education

Finance, insurance and real estate

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

0.4%

Arts and recreation

0.3%

Information

Median earnings per worker

$36,875

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28761	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$57,143	$74,888
Service	$32,188	$26,804
Sales and office	$15,740	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$39,844	$49,199
Production and transportation	$42,145	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

17%

High school

33%

Some college

16%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

10%

High school graduate or higher: 82.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 10%
Households with broadband: 83.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 53.5%
No internet access: 13%
Without health insurance: 13%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Nebo
State: North Carolina
County: McDowell County
Center point: 35.6903° N, 81.9068° W
Land area: 104 sq mi
Water area: 7.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28761 spans 2 counties

McDowell County71% of land
Burke County29% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Nebo (unincorporated)5% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28761

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28752	Marion, NC	7.3 mi	30,292	$55,783	$166,000
28628	Glen Alpine, NC	7.7 mi	60	$74,375	—
28737	Glenwood, NC · PO box	9.2 mi	—	—	—
28655	Morganton, NC	10 mi	55,100	$57,713	$191,800
28680	Morganton, NC · PO box	13 mi	—	—	—
28167	Union Mills, NC	13 mi	2,253	$59,732	$234,500
28749	Little Switzerland, NC	15 mi	0	—	—
28018	Bostic, NC	15 mi	5,034	$50,727	$169,200
28762	Old Fort, NC	16 mi	6,599	$66,410	$196,600
28777	Spruce Pine, NC	17 mi	10,178	$63,378	$228,400
28619	Drexel, NC	18 mi	487	$34,881	$198,600
28647	Linville Falls, NC · PO box	19 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 28761 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28761

What city is zip code 28761?

28761 is assigned to Nebo, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28761 in?

28761 is mostly in McDowell County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 28761?

About 8,150 people live in 28761, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28761 in?

28761 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28761?

The median household income in 28761 is $54,869.

What zip codes are near 28761?

The closest zip codes to 28761 are 28752, 28628, 28737, 28655, 28680.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28761, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.