Tarboro, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27886
Edgecombe County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,591
- 43/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $52,850
- Median income Below-median income area
- $133,200
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 19.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Tarboro pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 18th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 21st pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 43
- people per sq mi
- 65%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27886 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 27886 (Tarboro, NC) fell -14.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 211.3 in 2023 to 180.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27886 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina, with 21,591 residents across 499.8 square miles, a density of 43 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27886 reports a modest median household income of $52,850 (24% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,693. The poverty rate is 19.6%, with unemployment at 4.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $133,200 (49% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $843; owner occupancy is 64.8%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 19.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.9, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Edgecombe County, so 27886 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 27886
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Tarboro, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27886.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
68 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
47 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
37 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
36 establishments
- Construction
Construction
31 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 27886, Tarboro, 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
21,591
Population
499.8
Area (sq mi)
43
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27886?
47.9
Median Age
46.0%
Male
54.0%
Female
5.7%
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?
$52,850
Median Household Income
-24% vs state ZIP avg
$31,693
Per Capita Income
19.6%
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Unemployment Rate
21.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27886 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Tarboro, 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)
$52,850 23rd percentile higher than 23% 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
8,946housing units
8,946
Total Housing Units
7,825
Occupied Units
1,121
Vacant Units
2.27
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$133,200
Median Home Value
-49% vs state ZIP avg
$843
Median Rent
1978
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
-14.4%
YoY Change (2024)
181
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+81%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27886 have decreased 14.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +81% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.0% | 137 |
| 2021 | +11.9% | 153 |
| 2022 | +10.5% | 169 |
| 2023 | +24.8% | 211 |
| 2024 | -14.4% | 181 |
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 360 business establishments in ZIP 27886, employing approximately 6,112 people with a combined annual payroll of $265,899,000.
360
Businesses
6,112
Employees
$265.9M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 68 | 18.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 47 | 13.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 37 | 10.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 36 | 10.0% |
| Construction | 31 | 8.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 23 | 6.4% |
| Manufacturing | 22 | 6.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 22 | 6.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 16 | 4.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 16 | 4.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 12 | 3.3% |
| Information | 11 | 3.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 2.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 0.8% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.8% |
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 27886 vs 27819 →
ZIP 27886 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27886
Tarboro (27886)
21,591 residents
- 27864 4,779
Pinetops (27864)
4,779 residents
- 27843 1,157
Hobgood (27843)
1,157 residents
- 27819 330
Conetoe (27819)
330 residents
- 27881 61
Speed (27881)
61 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 27886 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 27886 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27843
Hobgood (27843)
$69,306 median income
- 27864
Pinetops (27864)
$64,201 median income
- 27886
Tarboro (27886)
$52,850 median income
- 27819
Conetoe (27819)
$38,776 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 27886 ranks #3 of 4 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 27886, 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 (21,591 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Edgecombe County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 27886 in?
ZIP code 27886 (Tarboro) is located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Edgecombe County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/edgecombe-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 27886?
ZIP code 27886 in Tarboro, NC has a population of 21,591 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27886?
The median household income in ZIP 27886 is $52,850, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27886?
The median home value in ZIP 27886 is $133,200, which is 52% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27886?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27886 is African American at 47.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27886?
ZIP code 27886 has 360 business establishments employing approximately 6,112 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27886?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27886 are: Retail trade (68), Health care and social assistance (47), Other services (except public administration) (37). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27886?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27886 decreased by 14.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 81%. 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 27886?
In ZIP code 27886, 60.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 19.7% 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 27886?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27886 is 21.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 27886?
In ZIP code 27886, approximately 64.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 35.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27886?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27886 is 19.6% 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 27886's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27886 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Tarboro, 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.