Washington, NC · standard
ZIP Code 27889
Beaufort County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 27,468
- 54/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $53,179
- Median income Below-median income area
- $194,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 21.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Washington pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 19th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 42nd pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 54
- people per sq mi
- 61%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 27889 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 27889 (Washington, NC) rose +5.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 243.4 in 2023 to 257.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 27889 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina, with 27,468 residents across 512.5 square miles, a density of 54 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 27889 reports a modest median household income of $53,179 (23% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,729. The poverty rate is 16.6%, with unemployment at 3.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $194,200 (25% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $865; owner occupancy is 60.9%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 46.9, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Beaufort County, so 27889 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 27889
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Washington, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 27889.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
140 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
114 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
92 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
74 establishments
- Construction
Construction
67 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 27889, Washington, 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
27,468
Population
512.5
Area (sq mi)
54
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 27889?
46.9
Median Age
48.1%
Male
51.9%
Female
5.2%
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?
$53,179
Median Household Income
-23% vs state ZIP avg
$33,729
Per Capita Income
16.6%
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Unemployment Rate
23.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 27889 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Washington, 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)
$53,179 24th percentile higher than 24% 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
12,871housing units
12,871
Total Housing Units
11,086
Occupied Units
1,785
Vacant Units
2.16
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$194,200
Median Home Value
-25% vs state ZIP avg
$865
Median Rent
1979
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
+5.6%
YoY Change (2024)
257
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+157%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 27889 have increased 5.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +157% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.8% | 153 |
| 2021 | +12.2% | 171 |
| 2022 | +18.3% | 203 |
| 2023 | +20.1% | 243 |
| 2024 | +5.6% | 257 |
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 789 business establishments in ZIP 27889, employing approximately 10,290 people with a combined annual payroll of $424,512,000.
789
Businesses
10,290
Employees
$424.5M
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 140 | 17.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 114 | 14.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 92 | 11.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 74 | 9.4% |
| Construction | 67 | 8.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 54 | 6.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 52 | 6.6% |
| Manufacturing | 39 | 4.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 34 | 4.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 31 | 3.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 30 | 3.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 20 | 2.5% |
| Information | 13 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 9 | 1.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 0.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.4% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.4% |
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 27889 vs 27817 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27817 | Chocowinity, NC | 7,358 | 10.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 27889, 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 (27,468 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Beaufort County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 27889 in?
ZIP code 27889 (Washington) is located in Beaufort County, North Carolina. Beaufort County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/beaufort-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 27889?
ZIP code 27889 in Washington, NC has a population of 27,468 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 27889?
The median household income in ZIP 27889 is $53,179, which is 30% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 27889?
The median home value in ZIP 27889 is $194,200, which is 30% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 27889?
The largest racial group in ZIP 27889 is White at 62.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 27889?
ZIP code 27889 has 789 business establishments employing approximately 10,290 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 27889?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 27889 are: Retail trade (140), Health care and social assistance (114), Other services (except public administration) (92). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 27889?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 27889 increased by 5.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 157%. 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 27889?
In ZIP code 27889, 50.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.7% 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 27889?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 27889 is 23.1 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 27889?
In ZIP code 27889, approximately 60.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 39.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 27889?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 27889 is 16.6% 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 27889's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 27889 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Washington, 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.