Zip code 28789: Whittier, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28789?

28789 is assigned to Whittier, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28789 in?

28789 is mostly in Jackson County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 28789?

About 5,788 people live in 28789, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28789?

The median household income in 28789 is $51,713.

Q: What zip codes are near 28789?

The closest zip codes to 28789 are 28725, 28788, 28779, 28713, 28751.

Residential delivery areaJackson CountyEastern Time

Population

5,788

Median household income

$52K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$222K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$990/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

42.9

U.S. 38.9

Land area

59 sq mi

99 people/sq mi

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

About 28789

28789 is a small-town zip code in Whittier, North Carolina (Jackson County), covering 59 sq mi of land. About 5,788 people live here, or 99 per square mile. The median resident is 42.9 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $51,713 a year, 36% below the national median of $80,734. 20.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $221,600, or 4.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 73% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $990 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 16.8 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in cleaning and personal care; healthcare; and food service.

How 28789 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy35.2%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%80th of 789 in NC
Government workers24.2%
94th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%96th of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.513
92nd
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.47771st of 781 in NC
Uninsured rate15.5%
89th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%108th of 797 in NC
Residents 65 and older23.3%
88th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%252nd of 802 in NC
Poverty rate20.6%
86th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · NC 13%134th of 788 in NC
Healthcare workers12.3%
83rd
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%179th of 798 in NC
Veterans8.3%
80th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%268th of 801 in NC
Unemployment rate6.8%
78th
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%161st of 799 in NC
Median age42.9
76th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1377th of 802 in NC
Tech workers3.9%
67th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%148th of 798 in NC
Homeownership rate73%
61st
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%453rd of 788 in NC
Self-employed workers8.7%
42nd
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%499th of 798 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher24.5%
32nd
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%364th of 799 in NC
Diversity index36.7
32nd
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4515th of 802 in NC
Per capita income$32,846
27th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385433rd of 799 in NC
Median home value$221,600
26th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900387th of 757 in NC
Residents under 1819.2%
26th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%472nd of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$990
20th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228318th of 688 in NC
Work from home7.6%
20th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%486th of 799 in NC
Foreign-born residents2.9%
18th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%506th of 802 in NC
Median earnings per worker$36,992
14th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279597th of 788 in NC
Population density99/sq mi
13th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi491st of 802 in NC
Median household income$51,713
10th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388593rd of 748 in NC
Population5,788
9th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404418th of 802 in NC
Rent-burdened renters31.1%
5th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%632nd of 760 in NC
Average commute16.8 min
3rd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min745th of 771 in NC
Broadband access75.6%
2nd
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%714th of 788 in NC

Measure	28789	Jackson	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Housing vacancy	35.2%	33.7%	12.5%	10.1%	99th	80th of 789
Government workers	24.2%	19.6%	13.8%	14.5%	94th	96th of 798
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.513	0.488	0.477	0.483	92nd	71st of 781
Uninsured rateWeakness	15.5%	15.8%	9.9%	8.4%	89th	108th of 797
Residents 65 and older	23.3%	20.2%	17.2%	17.2%	88th	252nd of 802
Poverty rateWeakness	20.6%	18%	13%	12.5%	86th	134th of 788
Healthcare workers	12.3%	8.3%	9.5%	9.7%	83rd	179th of 798
Veterans	8.3%	8%	7.4%	6.2%	80th	268th of 801
Unemployment rate	6.8%	4.9%	4.7%	5.2%	78th	161st of 799
Median age	42.9	38.1	39.1	38.9	76th	377th of 802
Tech workers	3.9%	2.3%	3.9%	3.8%	67th	148th of 798
Homeownership rate	73%	60.8%	66.6%	65.2%	61st	453rd of 788
Self-employed workers	8.7%	10.9%	9.8%	10%	42nd	499th of 798
Bachelor's degree or higher	24.5%	31.1%	35.7%	35.7%	32nd	364th of 799
Diversity index	36.7	37.3	58.4	61.4	32nd	515th of 802
Per capita income	$32,846	$33,850	$41,385	$44,673	27th	433rd of 799
Median home value	$221,600	$284,700	$288,900	$332,700	26th	387th of 757
Residents under 18	19.2%	16.4%	21.8%	22%	26th	472nd of 802
Median gross rent	$990	$904	$1,228	$1,413	20th	318th of 688
Work from home	7.6%	7.8%	16.3%	15.1%	20th	486th of 799
Foreign-born residents	2.9%	4.5%	9.1%	14.1%	18th	506th of 802
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$36,992	$35,139	$46,279	$49,666	14th	597th of 788
Population density	99/sq mi	89/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	13th	491st of 802
Median household incomeWeakness	$51,713	$55,815	$72,388	$80,734	10th	593rd of 748
Population	5,788	43,771	10,730,404	334,922,499	9th	418th of 802
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	31.1%	42.2%	48.9%	51.1%	5th	632nd of 760
Average commuteStrength	16.8 min	20.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	3rd	745th of 771
Broadband accessWeakness	75.6%	78.9%	90.1%	91%	2nd	714th 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

16%

5–17

18–24

10%

25–34

19%

35–44

45–54

15%

55–64

13%

65–74

11%

75+

Median age

42.9

Under 18

19.2%

65 and over

23.3%

Race and ethnicity

White79%
Black1%
Hispanic7%
Asian0.6%
Native American7%
Pacific Islander0.5%
Other0.1%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

36.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

2.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

53%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 2,385
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 69.6%
Married couples: 47.8%
Living alone: 23.7%
Veterans (of adults): 8.3%
Male / female: 54% / 46%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

22%

$25–50k

27%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

$100–150k

11%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28789

$51,713

Jackson Co.

$55,815

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,846

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

20.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

14.5%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.513

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28789

$221,600

Jackson Co.

$284,700

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28789

$990

Jackson Co.

$904

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

66%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

32%

Boat, RV, van

0.9%

Housing units: 3,680
Owner-occupied: 73%
Vacant: 35.2%
Median year built: 1993
Median rooms: 5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 31.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 17.4%
Home value to income: 4.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

83%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.1%

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

15%

10–19

56%

20–29

18%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

16.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

6.8%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

52.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Cleaning and personal care

18%

Healthcare

12%

Food service

11%

Management

Transportation and moving

Construction and repair

Office and admin

Engineering and science

Sales

Police and fire

Business and finance

Computer and math

Education

Arts, media and sports

Production

Legal and social services

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Arts and recreation

15%

Restaurants and hotels

14%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Public administration

11%

Construction

11%

Admin, support and management

Professional and technical services

Retail

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Manufacturing

Finance, insurance and real estate

Information

Other services

Agriculture and mining

0.9%

Wholesale

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$36,992

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

24.2%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.4%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28789	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$53,782	$74,888
Service	$32,329	$26,804
Sales and office	$40,542	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$26,903	$49,199
Production and transportation	$26,494	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

18%

High school

32%

Some college

16%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

14%

Graduate

11%

High school graduate or higher: 82.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.9%
Households with broadband: 75.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 42.6%
No internet access: 20.7%
Without health insurance: 15.5%
Limited-English households: 2.2%

Geography

City (USPS): Whittier
State: North Carolina
County: Jackson County
Center point: 35.4071° N, 83.3168° W
Land area: 59 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28789 spans 2 counties

Jackson County73% of land
Swain County28% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Cherokee (unincorporated)1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28789

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28725	Dillsboro, NC	3.2 mi	90	$57,750	—
28788	Webster, NC	6.6 mi	198	$80,938	$382,600
28779	Sylva, NC	7 mi	18,064	$57,727	$243,700
28713	Bryson City, NC	11 mi	8,425	$50,882	$221,900
28751	Maggie Valley, NC	13 mi	4,159	$69,057	$313,500
28719	Cherokee, NC	14 mi	6,786	$60,658	$188,400
28707	Balsam, NC	14 mi	461	—	$334,000
28744	Franklin, NC · PO box	16 mi	—	—	—
28734	Franklin, NC	17 mi	29,659	$54,021	$228,500
28738	Hazelwood, NC · PO box	18 mi	—	—	—
28723	Cullowhee, NC	18 mi	12,756	$45,568	$347,900
28702	Almond, NC	18 mi	588	$37,275	$332,300

Zip codes like 28789 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28789

What city is zip code 28789?

28789 is assigned to Whittier, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28789 in?

28789 is mostly in Jackson County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 28789?

About 5,788 people live in 28789, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28789 in?

28789 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28789?

The median household income in 28789 is $51,713.

What zip codes are near 28789?

The closest zip codes to 28789 are 28725, 28788, 28779, 28713, 28751.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28789, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.