Zip code 28774: Sapphire, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28774?

28774 is assigned to Sapphire, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28774 in?

28774 is mostly in Transylvania County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 28774?

About 1,451 people live in 28774, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28774?

The median household income in 28774 is $154,635.

Q: What zip codes are near 28774?

The closest zip codes to 28774 are 28747, 28717, 28736, 28772, 29676.

Residential delivery areaTransylvania CountyEastern Time

Population

1,451

Median household income

$155K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$798K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

—

U.S. $1,413

Median age

63.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

54 sq mi

27 people/sq mi

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

About 28774

28774 is a rural zip code in Sapphire, North Carolina (Transylvania County), covering 54 sq mi of land. About 1,451 people live here, or 27 per square mile. The median resident is 63.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $154,635 a year, about 1.9× the national median of $80,734. 3.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $797,900, or 5.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 89% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

68% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21.8 minutes each way, and 29% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales, healthcare and education. 19% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 28774 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age63.2
99th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.112th of 802 in NC
Broadband access99%
99th
StrengthU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%30th of 788 in NC
Housing vacancy75.4%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%10th of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older41.8%
99th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%16th of 802 in NC
Self-employed workers18.7%
97th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%66th of 798 in NC
Per capita income$83,680
96th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,38511th of 799 in NC
Median household income$154,635
95th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,3889th of 748 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher68.3%
94th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%26th of 799 in NC
Homeownership rate88.6%
94th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%97th of 788 in NC
Work from home28.6%
93rd
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%49th of 799 in NC
Median home value$797,900
91st
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,9004th of 757 in NC
Veterans9.2%
86th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%208th of 801 in NC
Healthcare workers12.6%
86th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%164th of 798 in NC
Tech workers4.8%
77th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%111th of 798 in NC
Median earnings per worker$57,639
72nd
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,27991st of 788 in NC
Uninsured rate4.8%
31st
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%686th of 797 in NC
Rent-burdened renters44.4%
27th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%433rd of 760 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.406
25th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477549th of 781 in NC
Foreign-born residents3.9%
23rd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%425th of 802 in NC
Average commute21.8 min
22nd
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min631st of 771 in NC
Diversity index12.1
5th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4738th of 802 in NC
Population density27/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi726th of 802 in NC
Poverty rate3.2%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · NC 13%745th of 788 in NC
Population1,451
2nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404654th of 802 in NC
Residents under 189.4%
2nd
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%735th of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%793rd of 799 in NC
Government workers3.5%
1st
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%769th of 798 in NC

Measure	28774	Transylvania	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	63.2	51.6	39.1	38.9	99th	12th of 802
Broadband accessStrength	99%	86.9%	90.1%	91%	99th	30th of 788
Housing vacancy	75.4%	24.3%	12.5%	10.1%	99th	10th of 789
Residents 65 and older	41.8%	30.9%	17.2%	17.2%	99th	16th of 802
Self-employed workers	18.7%	12.7%	9.8%	10%	97th	66th of 798
Per capita incomeStrength	$83,680	$40,147	$41,385	$44,673	96th	11th of 799
Median household incomeStrength	$154,635	$66,184	$72,388	$80,734	95th	9th of 748
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	68.3%	40%	35.7%	35.7%	94th	26th of 799
Homeownership rateStrength	88.6%	74.7%	66.6%	65.2%	94th	97th of 788
Work from home	28.6%	12.5%	16.3%	15.1%	93rd	49th of 799
Median home value	$797,900	$373,600	$288,900	$332,700	91st	4th of 757
Veterans	9.2%	9.8%	7.4%	6.2%	86th	208th of 801
Healthcare workers	12.6%	7.6%	9.5%	9.7%	86th	164th of 798
Tech workers	4.8%	1.3%	3.9%	3.8%	77th	111th of 798
Median earnings per worker	$57,639	$39,873	$46,279	$49,666	72nd	91st of 788
Uninsured rate	4.8%	11.3%	9.9%	8.4%	31st	686th of 797
Rent-burdened renters	44.4%	47.8%	48.9%	51.1%	27th	433rd of 760
Income inequality (Gini)	0.406	0.462	0.477	0.483	25th	549th of 781
Foreign-born residents	3.9%	4.3%	9.1%	14.1%	23rd	425th of 802
Average commute	21.8 min	21.9 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	22nd	631st of 771
Diversity index	12.1	22.8	58.4	61.4	5th	738th of 802
Population density	27/sq mi	89/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	726th of 802
Poverty rateStrength	3.2%	13.2%	13%	12.5%	3rd	745th of 788
Population	1,451	33,691	10,730,404	334,922,499	2nd	654th of 802
Residents under 18	9.4%	15.7%	21.8%	22%	2nd	735th of 802
Unemployment rateStrength	0%	2.8%	4.7%	5.2%	1st	793rd of 799
Government workers	3.5%	13.1%	13.8%	14.5%	1st	769th of 798

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

18–24

25–34

11%

35–44

10%

45–54

22%

55–64

22%

65–74

20%

75+

Median age

63.2

Under 18

9.4%

65 and over

41.8%

Race and ethnicity

White94%
Black0%
Hispanic4%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other2%
Multiracial0.8%

Diversity index

12.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

12.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

96%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 703
Average household size: 2.1
Family households: 67%
Married couples: 65%
Living alone: 21.5%
Veterans (of adults): 9.2%
Male / female: 42% / 58%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

12%

$50–75k

$75–100k

$100–150k

13%

$150–200k

13%

$200k+

40%

Median household income

28774

$154,635

Transylvania Co.

$66,184

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$83,680

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

3.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

52.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.406

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28774

$797,900

Transylvania Co.

$373,600

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28774

—

Transylvania Co.

$967

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

82%

2–4 units

11%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

0.3%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,859
Owner-occupied: 88.6%
Vacant: 75.4%
Median year built: 1996
Median rooms: 5.7
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 44.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 44.4%
Home value to income: 5.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

58%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

29%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

28%

10–19

33%

20–29

11%

30–44

45–59

15%

60+

Average commute

21.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

53.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

30%

Healthcare

13%

Education

12%

Business and finance

11%

Food service

Office and admin

Computer and math

Management

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Production

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Construction and repair

Farming, fishing and forestry

Transportation and moving

Industries

Finance, insurance and real estate

22%

Retail

15%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Education

12%

Professional and technical services

Manufacturing

Restaurants and hotels

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Construction

Information

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Other services

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$57,639

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

18.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

3.5%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28774	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$73,173	$74,888
Service	$27,143	$26,804
Sales and office	$85,042	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	—	$49,199
Production and transportation	—	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

12%

Some college

11%

Associate's

Bachelor's

35%

Graduate

33%

High school graduate or higher: 96.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 68.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 32.8%
Households with broadband: 99%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 73.4%
No internet access: 0%
Without health insurance: 4.8%
Limited-English households: 2.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Sapphire
State: North Carolina
County: Transylvania County
Center point: 35.0935° N, 82.9950° W
Land area: 54 sq mi
Water area: 0.3 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28774 spans 2 counties

Transylvania County62% of land
Jackson County38% of land

Zip codes near 28774

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28747	Lake Toxaway, NC	5.7 mi	2,021	$66,000	$294,600
28717	Cashiers, NC	6.3 mi	1,265	$76,085	$440,000
28736	Glenville, NC	7.7 mi	1,000	$70,855	$428,400
28772	Rosman, NC	9.5 mi	1,375	$74,583	$248,900
29676	Salem, SC	9.7 mi	6,016	$92,798	$416,800
29686	Tamassee, SC	9.9 mi	989	$58,313	$332,500
28783	Tuckasegee, NC	10 mi	1,785	$51,350	$290,900
29685	Sunset, SC	11 mi	1,964	$116,742	$828,500
28741	Highlands, NC	12 mi	4,257	$70,392	$631,000
28712	Brevard, NC	14 mi	19,977	$63,045	$414,300
28708	Balsam Grove, NC	14 mi	456	$70,435	$242,900
28723	Cullowhee, NC	15 mi	12,756	$45,568	$347,900

Zip codes like 28774 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28774

What city is zip code 28774?

28774 is assigned to Sapphire, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28774 in?

28774 is mostly in Transylvania County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 28774?

About 1,451 people live in 28774, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28774 in?

28774 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28774?

The median household income in 28774 is $154,635.

What zip codes are near 28774?

The closest zip codes to 28774 are 28747, 28717, 28736, 28772, 29676.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28774, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.