County ZIP codes · North Carolina · FIPS 37111
McDowell County, NC ZIP Codes
McDowell County, North Carolina has 8 ZIP codes (Census 2020 ZCTA-county file; GeoNames postal codes, October 2026): 7 residential and 1 for PO boxes or a single organization. 4 of the residential ones lie mainly in McDowell County and 3 mainly in a neighboring county; 5 cross the county line. Median household income ranges from $55,783 in 28752 (Marion) to $74,761 in 28711 (Black Mountain) (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
Where are the ZIP codes of McDowell County?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries; ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B19013).
How different are its ZIP codes?
The middle half of its ranked ZIP codes (1,000+ people living in households) report median household incomes between $55,783 and $66,410.
They carry 7 postal town names: Marion, Black Mountain, Spruce Pine, Nebo, Old Fort, Union Mills, Little Switzerland.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B19013).
All 7 residential ZIP codes in McDowell County
4 ZIP codes lie mainly in McDowell County; 3 more reach into it from a neighboring county and follow the first table.
| In this county | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28752 | Marion | 30,292 | 122 | $56k | $166k | 100% |
| 28761 | Nebo | 8,150 | 79 | $55k | $177k | 71% |
| 28762 | Old Fort | 6,599 | 69 | $66k | $197k | 100% |
| 28749 | Little Switzerland | no residents | 0 | – | – | 73% |
Partly in McDowell County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; county shares by land area (Census 2020 ZCTA-county relationship file).
Which ZIP codes cross the county line?
5 ZIP codes of McDowell County extend into another county. A ZIP code follows mail routes, not county borders.
| ZIP | In McDowell | Elsewhere |
|---|---|---|
| 28711 | 11% | Buncombe County 79%; Rutherford County 9% |
| 28777 | 3% | Mitchell County 80%; Avery County 15%; Yancey County 2% |
| 28761 | 71% | Burke County 29% |
| 28167 | 7% | Rutherford County 93% |
| 28749 | 73% | Mitchell County 27% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA-county relationship file (shares of land area).
PO Box and single-organization ZIP codes
| ZIP | Postal name |
|---|---|
| 28737 | Glenwood |
Source: GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
Which first three digits do McDowell County's ZIP codes use?
The first three digits of a ZIP code name the sectional center, the mail processing plant that sorts it. McDowell County's ZIP codes use 2 prefixes: 281 and 287.
Source: U.S. Postal Service, labeling list L005 (3-digit ZIP Code prefix groups, SCF sortation), effective October 1, 2026.