Charlotte, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28204
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 4,796
- 1,071/sq mi High-density area
- $92,054
- Median income Above-median income area
- $585,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 77.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Charlotte pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- Top 25%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 10%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,071
- people per sq mi
- 28%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28204 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 28204 (Charlotte, NC) rose +12.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 388.4 in 2023 to 437.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28204 covers 4.5 square miles in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 4,796 residents on file, a density of 1,071 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28204 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $92,054 (33% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $88,392. The poverty rate is 9.1%, with unemployment at 3.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $585,200 (126% above the average North Carolina ZIP), with only 28.4% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,735.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 77.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Mecklenburg County, so 28204 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 28204
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Charlotte, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28204.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
211 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
142 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 78
Real estate and rental and leasing
78 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 77
Accommodation and food services
77 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 73
Other services (except public administration)
73 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 28204, Charlotte, 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
4,796
Population
4.5
Area (sq mi)
1,071
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28204?
31.0
Median Age
49.5%
Male
50.5%
Female
10.2%
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?
$92,054
Median Household Income
+33% vs state ZIP avg
$88,392
Per Capita Income
9.1%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
23.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28204 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Charlotte, 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)
$92,054 Top 13% higher than 87% 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
6,288housing units
6,288
Total Housing Units
5,582
Occupied Units
706
Vacant Units
1.62
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$585,200
Median Home Value
+126% vs state ZIP avg
$1,735
Median Rent
2010
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
+12.6%
YoY Change (2024)
437
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+337%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28204 have increased 12.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +337% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.3% | 275 |
| 2021 | +10.6% | 304 |
| 2022 | +17.0% | 356 |
| 2023 | +9.1% | 388 |
| 2024 | +12.6% | 437 |
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 844 business establishments in ZIP 28204, employing approximately 18,668 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,180,767,000.
844
Businesses
18,668
Employees
$1.2B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 211 | 25.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 142 | 16.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 78 | 9.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 77 | 9.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 73 | 8.7% |
| Retail trade | 57 | 6.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 55 | 6.5% |
| Construction | 33 | 3.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 28 | 3.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 22 | 2.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 19 | 2.3% |
| Educational services | 16 | 1.9% |
| Information | 12 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 1.1% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 0.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.6% |
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 28204 vs 28207 →
ZIP 28204 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28205
Charlotte (28205)
43,931 residents
- 28211
Charlotte (28211)
28,523 residents
- 28209
Charlotte (28209)
20,317 residents
- 28206 11,898
Charlotte (28206)
11,898 residents
- 28203 11,315
Charlotte (28203)
11,315 residents
- 28202 11,195
Charlotte (28202)
11,195 residents
- 28207 9,280
Charlotte (28207)
9,280 residents
- 28204 4,796
Charlotte (28204)
4,796 residents
- 28280 10
Charlotte (28280)
10 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28204 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28204 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28207
Charlotte (28207)
$217,204 median income
- 28211
Charlotte (28211)
$132,917 median income
- 28202
Charlotte (28202)
$105,889 median income
- 28203
Charlotte (28203)
$104,696 median income
- 28209
Charlotte (28209)
$101,873 median income
- 28204
Charlotte (28204)
$92,054 median income
- 28205 $75,622
Charlotte (28205)
$75,622 median income
- 28206 $61,818
Charlotte (28206)
$61,818 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28204 ranks #6 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28207 | Charlotte, NC | 9,280 | 1.3 mi |
| 28244 | Charlotte, NC | 0 | 1.1 mi |
| 28280 | Charlotte, NC | 10 | 1.2 mi |
| 28282 | Charlotte, NC | 0 | 1.2 mi |
| 28202 | Charlotte, NC | 11,195 | 1.3 mi |
| 28203 | Charlotte, NC | 11,315 | 1.9 mi |
| 28205 | Charlotte, NC | 43,931 | 2.2 mi |
| 28206 | Charlotte, NC | 11,898 | 2.9 mi |
| 28209 | Charlotte, NC | 20,317 | 2.9 mi |
| 28211 | Charlotte, NC | 28,523 | 3.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28204, 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 (4,796 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Mecklenburg County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28204 in?
ZIP code 28204 (Charlotte) is located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Mecklenburg County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/mecklenburg-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28204?
ZIP code 28204 in Charlotte, NC has a population of 4,796 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28204?
The median household income in ZIP 28204 is $92,054, which is 21% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28204?
The median home value in ZIP 28204 is $585,200, which is 110% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28204?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28204 is White at 67.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28204?
ZIP code 28204 has 844 business establishments employing approximately 18,668 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28204?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28204 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (211), Health care and social assistance (142), Real estate and rental and leasing (78). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28204?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28204 increased by 12.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 337%. 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 28204?
In ZIP code 28204, 84.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 77.7% 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 28204?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28204 is 23.4 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 28204?
In ZIP code 28204, approximately 28.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 71.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28204?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28204 is 9.1% 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 28204's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28204 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Charlotte, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.