Zip code 28779: Sylva, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28779?

28779 is assigned to Sylva, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28779 in?

28779 is in Jackson County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28779?

About 18,064 people live in 28779, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28779?

The median household income in 28779 is $57,727.

Q: What zip codes are near 28779?

The closest zip codes to 28779 are 28788, 28725, 28789, 28707, 28723.

Residential delivery areaJackson CountyEastern Time

Population

18,064

Median household income

$58K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$244K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$827/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

42.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

108 sq mi

167 people/sq mi

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

About 28779

28779 is a small-town zip code in Sylva, North Carolina (Jackson County), covering 108 sq mi of land. About 18,064 people live here, or 167 per square mile. The median resident is 42.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $57,727 a year, 28% below the national median of $80,734. 15.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $243,700, or 4.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 63% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $827 a month.

28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21 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 healthcare.

How 28779 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Government workers23.6%
93rd
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%106th of 798 in NC
Uninsured rate14.4%
87th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%143rd of 797 in NC
Housing vacancy14.4%
85th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%325th of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older21.9%
83rd
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%299th of 802 in NC
Veterans8.4%
81st
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%262nd of 801 in NC
Self-employed workers11.8%
76th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%262nd of 798 in NC
Median age42.4
74th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1398th of 802 in NC
Poverty rate15.2%
70th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%304th of 788 in NC
Healthcare workers9.1%
44th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%413th of 798 in NC
Residents under 1821.4%
43rd
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%339th of 802 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher27.9%
41st
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%293rd of 799 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.423
39th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477442nd of 781 in NC
Homeownership rate63.4%
38th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%634th of 788 in NC
Median home value$243,700
32nd
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900321st of 757 in NC
Population18,064
28th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404217th of 802 in NC
Tech workers1.7%
27th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%393rd of 798 in NC
Per capita income$32,438
26th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385448th of 799 in NC
Population density167/sq mi
19th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi377th of 802 in NC
Diversity index25.3
18th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4621st of 802 in NC
Foreign-born residents3%
18th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%495th of 802 in NC
Median household income$57,727
17th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388501st of 748 in NC
Average commute21 min
17th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min667th of 771 in NC
Median earnings per worker$36,709
13th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279606th of 788 in NC
Work from home6.2%
12th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%551st of 799 in NC
Unemployment rate2.6%
11th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%585th of 799 in NC
Rent-burdened renters35.9%
10th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%578th of 760 in NC
Median gross rent$827
8th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228496th of 688 in NC
Broadband access81.9%
6th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%592nd of 788 in NC

Measure	28779	Jackson	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Government workers	23.6%	19.6%	13.8%	14.5%	93rd	106th of 798
Uninsured rateWeakness	14.4%	15.8%	9.9%	8.4%	87th	143rd of 797
Housing vacancy	14.4%	33.7%	12.5%	10.1%	85th	325th of 789
Residents 65 and older	21.9%	20.2%	17.2%	17.2%	83rd	299th of 802
Veterans	8.4%	8%	7.4%	6.2%	81st	262nd of 801
Self-employed workers	11.8%	10.9%	9.8%	10%	76th	262nd of 798
Median age	42.4	38.1	39.1	38.9	74th	398th of 802
Poverty rate	15.2%	18%	13%	12.5%	70th	304th of 788
Healthcare workers	9.1%	8.3%	9.5%	9.7%	44th	413th of 798
Residents under 18	21.4%	16.4%	21.8%	22%	43rd	339th of 802
Bachelor's degree or higher	27.9%	31.1%	35.7%	35.7%	41st	293rd of 799
Income inequality (Gini)	0.423	0.488	0.477	0.483	39th	442nd of 781
Homeownership rate	63.4%	60.8%	66.6%	65.2%	38th	634th of 788
Median home value	$243,700	$284,700	$288,900	$332,700	32nd	321st of 757
Population	18,064	43,771	10,730,404	334,922,499	28th	217th of 802
Tech workers	1.7%	2.3%	3.9%	3.8%	27th	393rd of 798
Per capita income	$32,438	$33,850	$41,385	$44,673	26th	448th of 799
Population density	167/sq mi	89/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	19th	377th of 802
Diversity index	25.3	37.3	58.4	61.4	18th	621st of 802
Foreign-born residents	3%	4.5%	9.1%	14.1%	18th	495th of 802
Median household incomeWeakness	$57,727	$55,815	$72,388	$80,734	17th	501st of 748
Average commuteStrength	21 min	20.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	17th	667th of 771
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$36,709	$35,139	$46,279	$49,666	13th	606th of 788
Work from home	6.2%	7.8%	16.3%	15.1%	12th	551st of 799
Unemployment rateStrength	2.6%	4.9%	4.7%	5.2%	11th	585th of 799
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	35.9%	42.2%	48.9%	51.1%	10th	578th of 760
Median gross rent	$827	$904	$1,228	$1,413	8th	496th of 688
Broadband accessWeakness	81.9%	78.9%	90.1%	91%	6th	592nd 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

17%

5–17

18–24

14%

25–34

11%

35–44

12%

45–54

13%

55–64

14%

65–74

75+

Median age

42.4

Under 18

21.4%

65 and over

21.9%

Race and ethnicity

White86%
Black0.8%
Hispanic6%
Asian0.9%
Native American3%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.1%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

25.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

58.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.8%

Asian / Pacific

0.8%

Other

0.9%

Households

Households: 8,295
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 60.1%
Married couples: 42.5%
Living alone: 31.3%
Veterans (of adults): 8.4%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

27%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28779

$57,727

Jackson Co.

$55,815

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,438

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

7.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.423

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28779

$243,700

Jackson Co.

$284,700

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28779

$827

Jackson Co.

$904

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

71%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.5%

Mobile home

20%

Boat, RV, van

0.3%

Housing units: 9,692
Owner-occupied: 63.4%
Vacant: 14.4%
Median year built: 1985
Median rooms: 5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 35.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 17.2%
Home value to income: 4.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

83%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

17%

10–19

32%

20–29

25%

30–44

14%

45–59

60+

Average commute

21 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

54.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Cleaning and personal care

15%

Construction and repair

12%

Healthcare

Food service

Office and admin

Management

Sales

Education

Transportation and moving

Arts, media and sports

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Production

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.2%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

17%

Education

13%

Construction

11%

Retail

10%

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Manufacturing

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Information

Wholesale

0.6%

Agriculture and mining

0.3%

Median earnings per worker

$36,709

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.8%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

23.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28779	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$50,982	$74,888
Service	$27,597	$26,804
Sales and office	$35,102	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$36,738	$49,199
Production and transportation	$28,702	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

29%

Some college

22%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

11%

High school graduate or higher: 92%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 11.1%
Households with broadband: 81.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 58.2%
No internet access: 15.6%
Without health insurance: 14.4%
Limited-English households: 0.6%

Geography

City (USPS): Sylva
State: North Carolina
County: Jackson County
Center point: 35.3558° N, 83.2097° W
Land area: 108 sq mi
Water area: under 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

Sylva3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28779

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28788	Webster, NC	0.8 mi	198	$80,938	$382,600
28725	Dillsboro, NC	3.8 mi	90	$57,750	—
28789	Whittier, NC	7 mi	5,788	$51,713	$221,600
28707	Balsam, NC	8.6 mi	461	—	$334,000
28723	Cullowhee, NC	11 mi	12,756	$45,568	$347,900
28751	Maggie Valley, NC	12 mi	4,159	$69,057	$313,500
28783	Tuckasegee, NC	13 mi	1,785	$51,350	$290,900
28738	Hazelwood, NC · PO box	14 mi	—	—	—
28736	Glenville, NC	14 mi	1,000	$70,855	$428,400
28786	Waynesville, NC	14 mi	22,056	$59,371	$297,800
28744	Franklin, NC · PO box	15 mi	—	—	—
28713	Bryson City, NC	17 mi	8,425	$50,882	$221,900

Zip codes like 28779 elsewhere

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

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Questions about 28779

What city is zip code 28779?

28779 is assigned to Sylva, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28779 in?

28779 is in Jackson County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28779?

About 18,064 people live in 28779, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28779 in?

28779 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28779?

The median household income in 28779 is $57,727.

What zip codes are near 28779?

The closest zip codes to 28779 are 28788, 28725, 28789, 28707, 28723.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28779, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.