Zip code 28786: Waynesville, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28786?

28786 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 28786 in?

28786 is in Haywood County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28786?

About 22,056 people live in 28786, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28786?

The median household income in 28786 is $59,371.

Q: What zip codes are near 28786?

The closest zip codes to 28786 are 28738, 28745, 28707, 28751, 28716.

Residential delivery areaHaywood CountyEastern Time

Population

22,056

Median household income

$59K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$298K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,081/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

49.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

73 sq mi

302 people/sq mi

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

About 28786

28786 is a small-town zip code in Waynesville, North Carolina (Haywood County), covering 73 sq mi of land. About 22,056 people live here, or 302 per square mile. The median resident is 49.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $59,371 a year, 26% below the national median of $80,734. 12.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $297,800, 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. 69% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,081 a month.

31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.8 minutes each way, and 9% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales, management and healthcare.

How 28786 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age49.1
94th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1175th of 802 in NC
Residents 65 and older26.3%
94th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%168th of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy19%
92nd
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%227th of 789 in NC
Veterans9.7%
88th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%188th of 801 in NC
Uninsured rate12.9%
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%195th of 797 in NC
Self-employed workers12.7%
81st
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%218th of 798 in NC
Government workers16.6%
69th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%291st of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.451
63rd
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477291st of 781 in NC
Poverty rate12.5%
58th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%420th of 788 in NC
Rent-burdened renters52%
55th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%253rd of 760 in NC
Healthcare workers9.8%
55th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%351st of 798 in NC
Homeownership rate68.7%
50th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%547th of 788 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher31.4%
49th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%253rd of 799 in NC
Median home value$297,800
43rd
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900233rd of 757 in NC
Per capita income$37,262
41st
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385289th of 799 in NC
Unemployment rate4.4%
41st
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%382nd of 799 in NC
Tech workers2.1%
35th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%332nd of 798 in NC
Population22,056
34th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404182nd of 802 in NC
Median earnings per worker$41,950
29th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279398th of 788 in NC
Average commute22.8 min
28th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min571st of 771 in NC
Work from home9%
28th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%403rd of 799 in NC
Median gross rent$1,081
27th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228265th of 688 in NC
Population density302/sq mi
26th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi279th of 802 in NC
Foreign-born residents3.4%
21st
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%464th of 802 in NC
Median household income$59,371
19th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388474th of 748 in NC
Residents under 1816.7%
13th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%573rd of 802 in NC
Broadband access85.1%
12th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%496th of 788 in NC
Diversity index18.5
11th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4677th of 802 in NC

Measure	28786	Haywood	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	49.1	47.8	39.1	38.9	94th	175th of 802
Residents 65 and older	26.3%	25.7%	17.2%	17.2%	94th	168th of 802
Housing vacancy	19%	23.7%	12.5%	10.1%	92nd	227th of 789
Veterans	9.7%	9.7%	7.4%	6.2%	88th	188th of 801
Uninsured rateWeakness	12.9%	11.4%	9.9%	8.4%	83rd	195th of 797
Self-employed workers	12.7%	11.2%	9.8%	10%	81st	218th of 798
Government workers	16.6%	15.5%	13.8%	14.5%	69th	291st of 798
Income inequality (Gini)	0.451	0.436	0.477	0.483	63rd	291st of 781
Poverty rate	12.5%	13.1%	13%	12.5%	58th	420th of 788
Rent-burdened renters	52%	51.6%	48.9%	51.1%	55th	253rd of 760
Healthcare workers	9.8%	11.2%	9.5%	9.7%	55th	351st of 798
Homeownership rate	68.7%	74.9%	66.6%	65.2%	50th	547th of 788
Bachelor's degree or higher	31.4%	29.5%	35.7%	35.7%	49th	253rd of 799
Median home value	$297,800	$279,200	$288,900	$332,700	43rd	233rd of 757
Per capita income	$37,262	$36,367	$41,385	$44,673	41st	289th of 799
Unemployment rate	4.4%	3.1%	4.7%	5.2%	41st	382nd of 799
Tech workers	2.1%	2.1%	3.9%	3.8%	35th	332nd of 798
Population	22,056	62,662	10,730,404	334,922,499	34th	182nd of 802
Median earnings per worker	$41,950	$41,737	$46,279	$49,666	29th	398th of 788
Average commute	22.8 min	23.8 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	28th	571st of 771
Work from home	9%	9.2%	16.3%	15.1%	28th	403rd of 799
Median gross rent	$1,081	$1,067	$1,228	$1,413	27th	265th of 688
Population density	302/sq mi	113/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	26th	279th of 802
Foreign-born residents	3.4%	2.8%	9.1%	14.1%	21st	464th of 802
Median household incomeWeakness	$59,371	$61,912	$72,388	$80,734	19th	474th of 748
Residents under 18	16.7%	17.6%	21.8%	22%	13th	573rd of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	85.1%	84.4%	90.1%	91%	12th	496th of 788
Diversity index	18.5	17.9	58.4	61.4	11th	677th 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

13%

5–17

18–24

11%

25–34

11%

35–44

13%

45–54

15%

55–64

14%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

49.1

Under 18

16.7%

65 and over

26.3%

Race and ethnicity

White90%
Black1%
Hispanic5%
Asian0.2%
Native American0.6%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.0%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

18.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.4%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

51.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.6%

Other

0.1%

Households

Households: 9,816
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 61.4%
Married couples: 47.4%
Living alone: 32.4%
Veterans (of adults): 9.7%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

21%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28786

$59,371

Haywood Co.

$61,912

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$37,262

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

12.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.451

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28786

$297,800

Haywood Co.

$279,200

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28786

$1,081

Haywood Co.

$1,067

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

70%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

15%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 12,112
Owner-occupied: 68.7%
Vacant: 19%
Median year built: 1977
Median rooms: 5.7
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 52%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 22.7%
Home value to income: 5.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

76%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

0.1%

Walked

Bicycle

0.2%

Worked from home

Other

0.3%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

25%

10–19

33%

20–29

11%

30–44

19%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

55.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

11%

Management

10%

Healthcare

10%

Construction and repair

Education

Office and admin

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Business and finance

Food service

Production

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.5%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

14%

Retail

13%

Education

11%

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Manufacturing

Construction

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Agriculture and mining

Information

0.7%

Wholesale

0.5%

Median earnings per worker

$41,950

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.6%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28786	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$56,929	$74,888
Service	$28,241	$26,804
Sales and office	$31,775	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$47,023	$49,199
Production and transportation	$35,525	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

25%

Some college

22%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

13%

High school graduate or higher: 90.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 31.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 13.3%
Households with broadband: 85.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 68.7%
No internet access: 12.1%
Without health insurance: 12.9%
Limited-English households: 0.6%

Geography

City (USPS): Waynesville
State: North Carolina
County: Haywood County
Center point: 35.4620° N, 82.9887° W
Land area: 73 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

Waynesville12% of 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 28786

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28738	Hazelwood, NC · PO box	0.9 mi	—	—	—
28745	Lake Junaluska, NC	4.2 mi	670	$117,824	$356,600
28707	Balsam, NC	6.2 mi	461	—	$334,000
28751	Maggie Valley, NC	7.9 mi	4,159	$69,057	$313,500
28716	Canton, NC	8.1 mi	16,863	$63,141	$237,800
28723	Cullowhee, NC	10 mi	12,756	$45,568	$347,900
28721	Clyde, NC	12 mi	10,698	$62,279	$281,800
28779	Sylva, NC	14 mi	18,064	$57,727	$243,700
28708	Balsam Grove, NC	15 mi	456	$70,435	$242,900
28783	Tuckasegee, NC	15 mi	1,785	$51,350	$290,900
28788	Webster, NC	15 mi	198	$80,938	$382,600
28785	Waynesville, NC	16 mi	8,311	$61,769	$310,300

Zip codes like 28786 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28786

What city is zip code 28786?

28786 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 28786 in?

28786 is in Haywood County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28786?

About 22,056 people live in 28786, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28786 in?

28786 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28786?

The median household income in 28786 is $59,371.

What zip codes are near 28786?

The closest zip codes to 28786 are 28738, 28745, 28707, 28751, 28716.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28786, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.