Zip code 28785: Waynesville, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28785?

28785 is assigned to Waynesville, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28785 in?

28785 is in Haywood County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28785?

About 8,311 people live in 28785, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28785?

The median household income in 28785 is $61,769.

Q: What zip codes are near 28785?

The closest zip codes to 28785 are 28751, 37722, 28721, 37753, 28745.

Residential delivery areaHaywood CountyEastern Time

Population

8,311

Median household income

$62K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$310K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,105/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

48.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

168 sq mi

49 people/sq mi

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

About 28785

28785 is a rural zip code in Waynesville, North Carolina (Haywood County), covering 168 sq mi of land. About 8,311 people live here, or 49 per square mile. The median resident is 48.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $61,769 a year, 23% below the national median of $80,734. 12.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $310,300, or 5.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 83% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,105 a month.

35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.7 minutes each way, and 14% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management, sales and healthcare.

How 28785 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy27.9%
97th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%124th of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older27.4%
95th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%141st of 802 in NC
Median age48.4
93rd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1189th of 802 in NC
Veterans11%
93rd
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%141st of 801 in NC
Homeownership rate83.3%
86th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%205th of 788 in NC
Uninsured rate14%
86th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%153rd of 797 in NC
Self-employed workers13.6%
86th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%186th of 798 in NC
Government workers20.8%
86th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%152nd of 798 in NC
Healthcare workers10.8%
69th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%265th of 798 in NC
Work from home14.4%
58th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%221st of 799 in NC
Poverty rate12.2%
57th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%439th of 788 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher34.6%
56th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%208th of 799 in NC
Median home value$310,300
46th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900216th of 757 in NC
Per capita income$35,911
37th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385327th of 799 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.413
31st
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477503rd of 781 in NC
Median gross rent$1,105
29th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228249th of 688 in NC
Average commute22.7 min
27th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min577th of 771 in NC
Median earnings per worker$41,237
25th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279431st of 788 in NC
Median household income$61,769
23rd
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388432nd of 748 in NC
Rent-burdened renters42.1%
21st
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%473rd of 760 in NC
Broadband access87%
19th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%422nd of 788 in NC
Population8,311
13th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404339th of 802 in NC
Tech workers0.9%
11th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%518th of 798 in NC
Foreign-born residents1.7%
10th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%610th of 802 in NC
Residents under 1815.8%
10th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%610th of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate2.3%
8th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%620th of 799 in NC
Population density49/sq mi
7th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi627th of 802 in NC
Diversity index13.5
6th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4729th of 802 in NC

Measure	28785	Haywood	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Housing vacancy	27.9%	23.7%	12.5%	10.1%	97th	124th of 789
Residents 65 and older	27.4%	25.7%	17.2%	17.2%	95th	141st of 802
Median age	48.4	47.8	39.1	38.9	93rd	189th of 802
Veterans	11%	9.7%	7.4%	6.2%	93rd	141st of 801
Homeownership rateStrength	83.3%	74.9%	66.6%	65.2%	86th	205th of 788
Uninsured rateWeakness	14%	11.4%	9.9%	8.4%	86th	153rd of 797
Self-employed workers	13.6%	11.2%	9.8%	10%	86th	186th of 798
Government workers	20.8%	15.5%	13.8%	14.5%	86th	152nd of 798
Healthcare workers	10.8%	11.2%	9.5%	9.7%	69th	265th of 798
Work from home	14.4%	9.2%	16.3%	15.1%	58th	221st of 799
Poverty rate	12.2%	13.1%	13%	12.5%	57th	439th of 788
Bachelor's degree or higher	34.6%	29.5%	35.7%	35.7%	56th	208th of 799
Median home value	$310,300	$279,200	$288,900	$332,700	46th	216th of 757
Per capita income	$35,911	$36,367	$41,385	$44,673	37th	327th of 799
Income inequality (Gini)	0.413	0.436	0.477	0.483	31st	503rd of 781
Median gross rent	$1,105	$1,067	$1,228	$1,413	29th	249th of 688
Average commute	22.7 min	23.8 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	27th	577th of 771
Median earnings per worker	$41,237	$41,737	$46,279	$49,666	25th	431st of 788
Median household income	$61,769	$61,912	$72,388	$80,734	23rd	432nd of 748
Rent-burdened renters	42.1%	51.6%	48.9%	51.1%	21st	473rd of 760
Broadband accessWeakness	87%	84.4%	90.1%	91%	19th	422nd of 788
Population	8,311	62,662	10,730,404	334,922,499	13th	339th of 802
Tech workers	0.9%	2.1%	3.9%	3.8%	11th	518th of 798
Foreign-born residents	1.7%	2.8%	9.1%	14.1%	10th	610th of 802
Residents under 18	15.8%	17.6%	21.8%	22%	10th	610th of 802
Unemployment rateStrength	2.3%	3.1%	4.7%	5.2%	8th	620th of 799
Population density	49/sq mi	113/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	7th	627th of 802
Diversity index	13.5	17.9	58.4	61.4	6th	729th of 802

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

14%

5–17

18–24

25–34

11%

35–44

15%

45–54

14%

55–64

16%

65–74

11%

75+

Median age

48.4

Under 18

15.8%

65 and over

27.4%

Race and ethnicity

White93%
Black0.1%
Hispanic3%
Asian0.5%
Native American0.3%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.4%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

13.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

54.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.4%

Other

Households

Households: 3,496
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 72%
Married couples: 57.3%
Living alone: 24%
Veterans (of adults): 11%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

16%

$25–50k

24%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

11%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28785

$61,769

Haywood Co.

$61,912

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$35,911

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

11.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.413

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28785

$310,300

Haywood Co.

$279,200

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28785

$1,105

Haywood Co.

$1,067

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

75%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

21%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,852
Owner-occupied: 83.3%
Vacant: 27.9%
Median year built: 1992
Median rooms: 5.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 42.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 20.2%
Home value to income: 5.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

80%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.7%

Bicycle

Worked from home

14%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

13%

10–19

30%

20–29

27%

30–44

15%

45–59

12%

60+

Average commute

22.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

2.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

53.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

15%

Sales

12%

Healthcare

11%

Construction and repair

10%

Food service

Office and admin

Production

Education

Transportation and moving

Cleaning and personal care

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Computer and math

0.9%

Arts, media and sports

0.4%

Industries

Retail

14%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Manufacturing

10%

Restaurants and hotels

10%

Education

Public administration

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Professional and technical services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Other services

Agriculture and mining

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Information

Median earnings per worker

$41,237

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

13.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

3.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28785	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$60,960	$74,888
Service	$22,202	$26,804
Sales and office	$32,917	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$41,618	$49,199
Production and transportation	$57,865	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

10%

High school

21%

Some college

19%

Associate's

15%

Bachelor's

23%

Graduate

12%

High school graduate or higher: 89.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 34.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 12.1%
Households with broadband: 87%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 58.2%
No internet access: 11.9%
Without health insurance: 14%
Limited-English households: 0.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Waynesville
State: North Carolina
County: Haywood County
Center point: 35.6533° N, 83.1396° W
Land area: 168 sq mi
Water area: 0.5 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Lake Junaluska (unincorporated)2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28785

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28751	Maggie Valley, NC	10 mi	4,159	$69,057	$313,500
37722	Cosby, TN	12 mi	6,708	$55,000	$203,500
28721	Clyde, NC	12 mi	10,698	$62,279	$281,800
37753	Hartford, TN	12 mi	917	$49,375	$99,500
28745	Lake Junaluska, NC	13 mi	670	$117,824	$356,600
28738	Hazelwood, NC · PO box	15 mi	—	—	—
28786	Waynesville, NC	16 mi	22,056	$59,371	$297,800
37727	Del Rio, TN	17 mi	1,936	$47,652	$132,600
28743	Hot Springs, NC	18 mi	2,211	$58,011	$162,800
28707	Balsam, NC	18 mi	461	—	$334,000
37738	Gatlinburg, TN	19 mi	4,952	$57,330	$334,100
28789	Whittier, NC	20 mi	5,788	$51,713	$221,600

Zip codes like 28785 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28785

What city is zip code 28785?

28785 is assigned to Waynesville, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28785 in?

28785 is in Haywood County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28785?

About 8,311 people live in 28785, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28785 in?

28785 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28785?

The median household income in 28785 is $61,769.

What zip codes are near 28785?

The closest zip codes to 28785 are 28751, 37722, 28721, 37753, 28745.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28785, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.