Zip code 28778: Swannanoa, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28778?

28778 is assigned to Swannanoa, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28778 in?

28778 is in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28778?

About 13,536 people live in 28778, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28778?

The median household income in 28778 is $73,408.

Q: What zip codes are near 28778?

The closest zip codes to 28778 are 28805, 28757, 28730, 28814, 28770.

Residential delivery areaBuncombe CountyEastern Time

Population

13,536

Median household income

$73K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$303K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$994/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.8

U.S. 38.9

Land area

32 sq mi

417 people/sq mi

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

About 28778

28778 is a small-town zip code in Swannanoa, North Carolina (Buncombe County), covering 32 sq mi of land. About 13,536 people live here, or 417 per square mile. The median resident is 40.8 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $73,408 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 15% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $303,300, 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. 77% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $994 a month.

32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 18.9 minutes each way, and 16% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management, food service and healthcare.

How 28778 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Rent-burdened renters69.8%
97th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%66th of 760 in NC
Housing vacancy20.1%
93rd
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%205th of 789 in NC
Uninsured rate15%
88th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%120th of 797 in NC
Self-employed workers12.9%
82nd
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%209th of 798 in NC
Unemployment rate7.2%
81st
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%146th of 799 in NC
Healthcare workers11.3%
74th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%226th of 798 in NC
Homeownership rate77.1%
72nd
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%339th of 788 in NC
Veterans7.4%
71st
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%346th of 801 in NC
Poverty rate15%
69th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%317th of 788 in NC
Work from home15.9%
65th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%192nd of 799 in NC
Median age40.8
63rd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1474th of 802 in NC
Residents 65 and older18.1%
61st
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%469th of 802 in NC
Government workers14.3%
55th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%399th of 798 in NC
Foreign-born residents10.6%
53rd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%119th of 802 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher31.5%
49th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%247th of 799 in NC
Median home value$303,300
44th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900227th of 757 in NC
Median household income$73,408
41st
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388247th of 748 in NC
Diversity index40.9
37th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4463rd of 802 in NC
Tech workers2.2%
37th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%310th of 798 in NC
Median earnings per worker$42,570
31st
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279374th of 788 in NC
Population density417/sq mi
30th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi229th of 802 in NC
Population13,536
21st
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404259th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$994
21st
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228315th of 688 in NC
Broadband access87.2%
20th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%413th of 788 in NC
Residents under 1818.3%
20th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%510th of 802 in NC
Per capita income$28,241
14th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385610th of 799 in NC
Average commute18.9 min
9th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min719th of 771 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.357
4th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477718th of 781 in NC

Measure	28778	Buncombe	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	69.8%	53.9%	48.9%	51.1%	97th	66th of 760
Housing vacancy	20.1%	24.3%	12.5%	10.1%	93rd	205th of 789
Uninsured rateWeakness	15%	10.9%	9.9%	8.4%	88th	120th of 797
Self-employed workers	12.9%	13.1%	9.8%	10%	82nd	209th of 798
Unemployment rateWeakness	7.2%	4.3%	4.7%	5.2%	81st	146th of 799
Healthcare workers	11.3%	11.7%	9.5%	9.7%	74th	226th of 798
Homeownership rate	77.1%	66.2%	66.6%	65.2%	72nd	339th of 788
Veterans	7.4%	6.3%	7.4%	6.2%	71st	346th of 801
Poverty rate	15%	11.8%	13%	12.5%	69th	317th of 788
Work from home	15.9%	17.6%	16.3%	15.1%	65th	192nd of 799
Median age	40.8	42.6	39.1	38.9	63rd	474th of 802
Residents 65 and older	18.1%	21.2%	17.2%	17.2%	61st	469th of 802
Government workers	14.3%	11.1%	13.8%	14.5%	55th	399th of 798
Foreign-born residents	10.6%	6.7%	9.1%	14.1%	53rd	119th of 802
Bachelor's degree or higher	31.5%	45.9%	35.7%	35.7%	49th	247th of 799
Median home value	$303,300	$391,800	$288,900	$332,700	44th	227th of 757
Median household income	$73,408	$74,436	$72,388	$80,734	41st	247th of 748
Diversity index	40.9	33.6	58.4	61.4	37th	463rd of 802
Tech workers	2.2%	3.1%	3.9%	3.8%	37th	310th of 798
Median earnings per worker	$42,570	$42,481	$46,279	$49,666	31st	374th of 788
Population density	417/sq mi	418/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	30th	229th of 802
Population	13,536	274,360	10,730,404	334,922,499	21st	259th of 802
Median gross rent	$994	$1,362	$1,228	$1,413	21st	315th of 688
Broadband accessWeakness	87.2%	90.3%	90.1%	91%	20th	413th of 788
Residents under 18	18.3%	17.8%	21.8%	22%	20th	510th of 802
Per capita incomeWeakness	$28,241	$43,371	$41,385	$44,673	14th	610th of 799
Average commuteStrength	18.9 min	21.1 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	9th	719th of 771
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.357	0.481	0.477	0.483	4th	718th of 781

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

13%

5–17

10%

18–24

12%

25–34

17%

35–44

10%

45–54

15%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

40.8

Under 18

18.3%

65 and over

18.1%

Race and ethnicity

White75%
Black6%
Hispanic14%
Asian2%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

40.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

10.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

51.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

86%

Spanish

11%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.6%

Other

0.7%

Households

Households: 3,931
Average household size: 3.2
Family households: 76%
Married couples: 53.5%
Living alone: 19.4%
Veterans (of adults): 7.4%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

12%

$25–50k

20%

$50–75k

20%

$75–100k

22%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28778

$73,408

Buncombe Co.

$74,436

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$28,241

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

9.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.357

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28778

$303,300

Buncombe Co.

$391,800

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28778

$994

Buncombe Co.

$1,362

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

80%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

13%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,919
Owner-occupied: 77.1%
Vacant: 20.1%
Median year built: 1987
Median rooms: 5.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 69.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 13%
Home value to income: 4.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

76%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

16%

Other

0.5%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

21%

10–19

33%

20–29

21%

30–44

20%

45–59

60+

Average commute

18.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

7.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

51.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

14%

Food service

13%

Healthcare

11%

Cleaning and personal care

11%

Construction and repair

Office and admin

Production

Sales

Education

Transportation and moving

Engineering and science

Business and finance

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Legal and social services

0.8%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.7%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

16%

Restaurants and hotels

11%

Other services

10%

Retail

10%

Education

Construction

Manufacturing

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Information

Arts and recreation

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Public administration

Agriculture and mining

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$42,570

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

14.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28778	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$66,250	$74,888
Service	$19,686	$26,804
Sales and office	$50,523	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$44,850	$49,199
Production and transportation	$37,009	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

20%

High school

29%

Some college

13%

Associate's

Bachelor's

20%

Graduate

12%

High school graduate or higher: 80.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 31.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 11.5%
Households with broadband: 87.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 69.6%
No internet access: 12%
Without health insurance: 15%
Limited-English households: 3%

Geography

City (USPS): Swannanoa
State: North Carolina
County: Buncombe County
Center point: 35.6142° N, 82.3977° W
Land area: 32 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Swannanoa (unincorporated)19% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28778

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28805	Asheville, NC	4.6 mi	19,993	$75,151	$412,500
28757	Montreat, NC	6 mi	630	$115,568	$606,400
28730	Fairview, NC	6.1 mi	7,605	$102,900	$433,300
28814	Asheville, NC · PO box	6.4 mi	—	—	—
28770	Ridgecrest, NC	6.7 mi	0	—	—
28711	Black Mountain, NC	7.3 mi	12,663	$74,761	$370,200
28810	Asheville, NC · PO box	7.4 mi	—	—	—
28815	Asheville, NC · PO box	7.4 mi	—	—	—
28816	Asheville, NC · PO box	7.4 mi	—	—	—
28801	Asheville, NC	9.1 mi	14,691	$58,438	$548,100
28803	Asheville, NC	9.1 mi	33,718	$76,662	$452,900
28804	Asheville, NC	9.2 mi	25,776	$88,312	$566,000

Zip codes like 28778 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28778

What city is zip code 28778?

28778 is assigned to Swannanoa, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28778 in?

28778 is in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28778?

About 13,536 people live in 28778, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28778 in?

28778 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28778?

The median household income in 28778 is $73,408.

What zip codes are near 28778?

The closest zip codes to 28778 are 28805, 28757, 28730, 28814, 28770.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28778, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.