Zip code 28906: Murphy, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28906?

28906 is assigned to Murphy, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28906 in?

28906 is in Cherokee County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28906?

About 20,526 people live in 28906, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28906?

The median household income in 28906 is $55,759.

Q: What zip codes are near 28906?

The closest zip codes to 28906 are 28903, 28902, 30559, 28905, 37391.

Residential delivery areaCherokee CountyEastern Time

Population

20,526

Median household income

$56K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$250K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$797/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

56.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

333 sq mi

62 people/sq mi

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

About 28906

28906 is a small-town zip code in Murphy, North Carolina (Cherokee County), covering 333 sq mi of land. About 20,526 people live here, or 62 per square mile. The median resident is 56.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $55,759 a year, 31% below the national median of $80,734. 11.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $250,300, or 4.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 84% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $797 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26 minutes each way, and 12% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in sales; healthcare; and office and administrative support.

How 28906 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age56.5
98th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.166th of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy31.2%
98th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%101st of 789 in NC
Residents 65 and older34.9%
98th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%53rd of 802 in NC
Veterans10.6%
91st
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%154th of 801 in NC
Homeownership rate84.2%
87th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%175th of 788 in NC
Uninsured rate11.7%
79th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%251st of 797 in NC
Self-employed workers11.7%
75th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%269th of 798 in NC
Healthcare workers10.8%
69th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%264th of 798 in NC
Poverty rate11.6%
54th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%452nd of 788 in NC
Average commute26 min
50th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min388th of 771 in NC
Work from home11.7%
45th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%305th of 799 in NC
Government workers12.4%
39th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%515th of 798 in NC
Tech workers2.2%
37th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%311th of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.421
37th
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477456th of 781 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher25%
34th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%350th of 799 in NC
Median home value$250,300
33rd
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900306th of 757 in NC
Population20,526
32nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404196th of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate3.9%
32nd
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%426th of 799 in NC
Per capita income$32,506
26th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385445th of 799 in NC
Median household income$55,759
15th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388533rd of 748 in NC
Rent-burdened renters38.3%
13th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%545th of 760 in NC
Broadband access84.4%
11th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%518th of 788 in NC
Median earnings per worker$35,927
11th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279628th of 788 in NC
Diversity index17.6
10th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4686th of 802 in NC
Population density62/sq mi
9th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi578th of 802 in NC
Residents under 1815.2%
8th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%632nd of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$797
7th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228528th of 688 in NC
Foreign-born residents1.2%
7th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%646th of 802 in NC

Measure	28906	Cherokee	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	56.5	53.5	39.1	38.9	98th	66th of 802
Housing vacancy	31.2%	28.1%	12.5%	10.1%	98th	101st of 789
Residents 65 and older	34.9%	31.5%	17.2%	17.2%	98th	53rd of 802
Veterans	10.6%	10.2%	7.4%	6.2%	91st	154th of 801
Homeownership rateStrength	84.2%	83.7%	66.6%	65.2%	87th	175th of 788
Uninsured rate	11.7%	12.5%	9.9%	8.4%	79th	251st of 797
Self-employed workers	11.7%	10.9%	9.8%	10%	75th	269th of 798
Healthcare workers	10.8%	10.1%	9.5%	9.7%	69th	264th of 798
Poverty rate	11.6%	12.4%	13%	12.5%	54th	452nd of 788
Average commute	26 min	25.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	50th	388th of 771
Work from home	11.7%	10.8%	16.3%	15.1%	45th	305th of 799
Government workers	12.4%	12.2%	13.8%	14.5%	39th	515th of 798
Tech workers	2.2%	1.9%	3.9%	3.8%	37th	311th of 798
Income inequality (Gini)	0.421	0.419	0.477	0.483	37th	456th of 781
Bachelor's degree or higher	25%	24.2%	35.7%	35.7%	34th	350th of 799
Median home value	$250,300	$232,300	$288,900	$332,700	33rd	306th of 757
Population	20,526	29,562	10,730,404	334,922,499	32nd	196th of 802
Unemployment rate	3.9%	4.1%	4.7%	5.2%	32nd	426th of 799
Per capita income	$32,506	$31,569	$41,385	$44,673	26th	445th of 799
Median household incomeWeakness	$55,759	$53,628	$72,388	$80,734	15th	533rd of 748
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	38.3%	43.4%	48.9%	51.1%	13th	545th of 760
Broadband accessWeakness	84.4%	83.6%	90.1%	91%	11th	518th of 788
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$35,927	$35,372	$46,279	$49,666	11th	628th of 788
Diversity index	17.6	20	58.4	61.4	10th	686th of 802
Population density	62/sq mi	65/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	9th	578th of 802
Residents under 18	15.2%	16%	21.8%	22%	8th	632nd of 802
Median gross rent	$797	$813	$1,228	$1,413	7th	528th of 688
Foreign-born residents	1.2%	1.9%	9.1%	14.1%	7th	646th 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

11%

5–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

11%

45–54

17%

55–64

21%

65–74

14%

75+

Median age

56.5

Under 18

15.2%

65 and over

34.9%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black1%
Hispanic3%
Asian0.2%
Native American0.4%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.1%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

17.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

29.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

96%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.4%

Other

0.1%

Households

Households: 9,195
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 63.9%
Married couples: 52.3%
Living alone: 32%
Veterans (of adults): 10.6%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

27%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28906

$55,759

Cherokee Co.

$53,628

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,506

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

11.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

7.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.421

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28906

$250,300

Cherokee Co.

$232,300

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28906

$797

Cherokee Co.

$813

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

81%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.4%

20+ units

0.2%

Mobile home

15%

Boat, RV, van

0.7%

Housing units: 13,362
Owner-occupied: 84.2%
Vacant: 31.2%
Median year built: 1996
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 38.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 16%
Home value to income: 4.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

79%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

12%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

19%

10–19

28%

20–29

20%

30–44

20%

45–59

60+

Average commute

26 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.9%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

45.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Sales

17%

Healthcare

11%

Office and admin

10%

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Management

Education

Production

Transportation and moving

Food service

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Business and finance

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Retail

19%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Construction

10%

Manufacturing

10%

Education

Finance, insurance and real estate

Restaurants and hotels

Arts and recreation

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Other services

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Public administration

Agriculture and mining

Information

0.9%

Wholesale

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$35,927

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28906	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$60,995	$74,888
Service	$30,391	$26,804
Sales and office	$31,745	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$33,056	$49,199
Production and transportation	$34,236	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

32%

Some college

24%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 92.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.5%
Households with broadband: 84.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 61.2%
No internet access: 12.7%
Without health insurance: 11.7%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Murphy
State: North Carolina
County: Cherokee County
Center point: 35.0872° N, 84.1366° W
Land area: 333 sq mi
Water area: 11 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 28906

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28903	Culberson, NC · PO box	6.8 mi	—	—	—
28902	Brasstown, NC	11 mi	986	$88,456	$252,700
30559	Mineral Bluff, GA	12 mi	5,024	$57,389	$332,400
28905	Marble, NC	12 mi	3,056	$57,708	$228,200
37391	Turtletown, TN	12 mi	1,530	$39,464	$213,100
37333	Farner, TN	13 mi	513	$26,786	$143,300
37326	Ducktown, TN	14 mi	411	—	$145,000
37314	Cokercreek, TN · PO box	15 mi	—	—	—
28909	Warne, NC	15 mi	1,002	$80,875	$285,400
30560	Morganton, GA	15 mi	4,295	$66,016	$321,300
30582	Young Harris, GA	16 mi	5,284	$59,360	$329,900
30514	Blairsville, GA · PO box	18 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 28906 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28906

What city is zip code 28906?

28906 is assigned to Murphy, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28906 in?

28906 is in Cherokee County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28906?

About 20,526 people live in 28906, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28906 in?

28906 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28906?

The median household income in 28906 is $55,759.

What zip codes are near 28906?

The closest zip codes to 28906 are 28903, 28902, 30559, 28905, 37391.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28906, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.