Graham, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27253
Alamance County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 29,827
- 131/sq mi High-density area
- $62,774
- Median income Near-median income area
- $235,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 26.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Graham pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 34th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 46%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 131
- people per sq mi
- 67%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27253 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 27253 (Graham, NC) rose +3.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 215.5 in 2023 to 222.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27253 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Graham, Alamance County, North Carolina, with 29,827 residents across 228.2 square miles, a density of 131 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27253 reports a modest median household income of $62,774 (9% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $34,137. The poverty rate is 12.6%, with unemployment at 5.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $235,800 (9% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $1,041; 66.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.6, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Alamance County, so 27253 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 27253
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Graham, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27253.
- Construction
Construction
103 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
81 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
75 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
51 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
48 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 27253, Graham, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
29,827
Population
228.2
Area (sq mi)
131
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27253?
39.6
Median Age
49.2%
Male
50.8%
Female
8.6%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$62,774
Median Household Income
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$34,137
Per Capita Income
12.6%
Poverty Rate
5.8%
Unemployment Rate
27.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27253 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Graham, NC household income vs. every North Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 749 reporting North Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$62,774 45th percentile higher than 45% of 749 North Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more North Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,339housing units
15,339
Total Housing Units
14,136
Occupied Units
1,203
Vacant Units
2.32
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$235,800
Median Home Value
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$1,041
Median Rent
1989
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+3.3%
YoY Change (2024)
223
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+123%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27253 have increased 3.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +123% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.1% | 137 |
| 2021 | +16.5% | 160 |
| 2022 | +21.5% | 194 |
| 2023 | +11.0% | 216 |
| 2024 | +3.3% | 223 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 577 business establishments in ZIP 27253, employing approximately 6,313 people with a combined annual payroll of $295,008,000.
577
Businesses
6,313
Employees
$295.0M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 103 | 17.9% |
| Retail trade | 81 | 14.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 75 | 13.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 51 | 8.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 48 | 8.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 40 | 6.9% |
| Manufacturing | 35 | 6.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 32 | 5.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 25 | 4.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 23 | 4.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 22 | 3.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13 | 2.3% |
| Educational services | 9 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 8 | 1.4% |
| Information | 6 | 1.0% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 27253 vs 27340 →
ZIP 27253 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27215
Burlington (27215)
38,807 residents
- 27253
Graham (27253)
29,827 residents
- 27258 6,006
Haw River (27258)
6,006 residents
- 27349 5,511
Snow Camp (27349)
5,511 residents
- 27340 120
Saxapahaw (27340)
120 residents
- 27201 63
Alamance (27201)
63 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27253 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27253 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27258
Haw River (27258)
$78,079 median income
- 27215
Burlington (27215)
$68,825 median income
- 27349
Snow Camp (27349)
$68,807 median income
- 27253
Graham (27253)
$62,774 median income
- 27201
Alamance (27201)
$55,250 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 27253 ranks #4 of 5 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 27253, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (29,827 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Alamance County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 27253 in?
ZIP code 27253 (Graham) is located in Alamance County, North Carolina. Alamance County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/alamance-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 27253?
ZIP code 27253 in Graham, NC has a population of 29,827 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27253?
The median household income in ZIP 27253 is $62,774, which is 18% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27253?
The median home value in ZIP 27253 is $235,800, which is 15% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27253?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27253 is White at 65.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27253?
ZIP code 27253 has 577 business establishments employing approximately 6,313 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27253?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27253 are: Construction (103), Retail trade (81), Other services (except public administration) (75). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27253?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27253 increased by 3.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 123%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 27253?
In ZIP code 27253, 57.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 27253?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27253 is 27.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 27253?
In ZIP code 27253, approximately 66.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 33.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27253?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27253 is 12.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 27253's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27253 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Graham, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.