County ZIP codes · North Carolina · FIPS 37189
Watauga County, NC ZIP Codes
Watauga County, North Carolina has 11 ZIP codes (Census 2020 ZCTA-county file; GeoNames postal codes, October 2026): 9 residential and 2 for PO boxes or a single organization. 7 of the residential ones lie mainly in Watauga County and 2 mainly in a neighboring county; 7 cross the county line. Median household income ranges from $43,103 in 28692 (Vilas) to $76,477 in 28605 (Blowing Rock) (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
Where are the ZIP codes of Watauga 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 $46,639 and $69,307.
They carry 9 postal town names.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B19013).
All 9 residential ZIP codes in Watauga County
7 ZIP codes lie mainly in Watauga County; 2 more reach into it from a neighboring county and follow the first table.
| In this county | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28607 | Boone | 35,679 | 351 | $47k | $379k | 100% |
| 28604 | Banner Elk | 7,869 | 115 | $76k | $384k | 58% |
| 28692 | Vilas | 4,367 | 109 | $43k | $325k | 100% |
| 28605 | Blowing Rock | 3,883 | 118 | $77k | $552k | 71% |
| 28679 | Sugar Grove | 2,454 | 96 | $65k | $287k | 96% |
| 28698 | Zionville | 2,320 | 90 | $54k | $219k | 76% |
| 28618 | Deep Gap | 2,208 | 59 | $60k | $338k | 88% |
Partly in Watauga 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?
7 ZIP codes of Watauga County extend into another county. A ZIP code follows mail routes, not county borders.
| ZIP | In Watauga | Elsewhere |
|---|---|---|
| 28645 | 2% | Caldwell County 96% |
| 28604 | 58% | Avery County 42% |
| 28605 | 71% | Caldwell County 23%; Avery County 6% |
| 28679 | 96% | Avery County 4% |
| 28698 | 76% | Ashe County 24% |
| 28618 | 88% | Wilkes County 12% |
| 28684 | 44% | Ashe County 56% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA-county relationship file (shares of land area).
PO Box and single-organization ZIP codes
| ZIP | Postal name |
|---|---|
| 28608 | Boone |
| 28691 | Valle Crucis |
Source: GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
Which first three digits do Watauga County's ZIP codes use?
The first three digits of a ZIP code name the sectional center, the mail processing plant that sorts it. Every ZIP code of Watauga County starts with 286.
| Prefix | Sectional center | Here | All codes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 286 | Charlotte, NC (SCF 282) | 11 | 90 |
Source: U.S. Postal Service, labeling list L005 (3-digit ZIP Code prefix groups, SCF sortation), effective October 1, 2026.