Charlotte, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28205
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 43,931
- 1,435/sq mi High-density area
- $75,622
- Median income Near-median income area
- $457,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 47.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Charlotte pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 44%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 16%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,435
- people per sq mi
- 43%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28205 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 28205 (Charlotte, NC) rose +5.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 424.3 in 2023 to 447.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28205 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, with 43,931 residents across 30.6 square miles, a density of 1,435 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28205 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $75,622 (9% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $53,446. The poverty rate is 16.5%, with unemployment at 5.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $457,200 (76% above the average North Carolina ZIP), with only 42.5% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,460.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 47.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.2, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Mecklenburg County, so 28205 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 28205
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Charlotte, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28205.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
206 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
190 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
187 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
176 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
164 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 28205, 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
43,931
Population
30.6
Area (sq mi)
1,435
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28205?
34.2
Median Age
51.5%
Male
48.5%
Female
21.0%
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?
$75,622
Median Household Income
+9% vs state ZIP avg
$53,446
Per Capita Income
16.5%
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Unemployment Rate
24.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28205 ranks nationally
Charlotte, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$75,622 Top 44% higher than 56% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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
24,963housing units
24,963
Total Housing Units
23,357
Occupied Units
1,606
Vacant Units
2.20
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$457,200
Median Home Value
+76% vs state ZIP avg
$1,460
Median Rent
1972
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)
448
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+348%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28205 have increased 5.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +348% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.3% | 295 |
| 2021 | +12.4% | 331 |
| 2022 | +15.3% | 382 |
| 2023 | +11.1% | 424 |
| 2024 | +5.6% | 448 |
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 1,539 business establishments in ZIP 28205, employing approximately 13,424 people with a combined annual payroll of $647,026,000.
1,539
Businesses
13,424
Employees
$647.0M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 206 | 13.4% |
| Retail trade | 190 | 12.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 187 | 12.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 176 | 11.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 164 | 10.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 145 | 9.4% |
| Construction | 138 | 9.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 75 | 4.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 50 | 3.3% |
| Manufacturing | 43 | 2.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 40 | 2.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 37 | 2.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 32 | 2.1% |
| Information | 26 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 22 | 1.4% |
| Industries not classified | 4 | 0.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.2% |
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 28205 vs 28204 →
ZIP 28205 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
- 28212
Charlotte (28212)
38,457 residents
- 28211
Charlotte (28211)
28,523 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 28205 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28205 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
- 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
- 28212 $52,723
Charlotte (28212)
$52,723 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28205 ranks #6 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28204 | Charlotte, NC | 4,796 | 2.2 mi |
| 28211 | Charlotte, NC | 28,523 | 3.6 mi |
| 28244 | Charlotte, NC | 0 | 3.1 mi |
| 28280 | Charlotte, NC | 10 | 3.1 mi |
| 28282 | Charlotte, NC | 0 | 3.3 mi |
| 28207 | Charlotte, NC | 9,280 | 2.7 mi |
| 28202 | Charlotte, NC | 11,195 | 3.2 mi |
| 28206 | Charlotte, NC | 11,898 | 3.2 mi |
| 28212 | Charlotte, NC | 38,457 | 3.2 mi |
| 28203 | Charlotte, NC | 11,315 | 4.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28205, 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 (43,931 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 28205 in?
ZIP code 28205 (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 28205?
ZIP code 28205 in Charlotte, NC has a population of 43,931 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28205?
The median household income in ZIP 28205 is $75,622, which is 1% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28205?
The median home value in ZIP 28205 is $457,200, which is 64% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28205?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28205 is White at 46.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 21.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28205?
ZIP code 28205 has 1,539 business establishments employing approximately 13,424 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28205?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28205 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (206), Retail trade (190), Accommodation and food services (187). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28205?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28205 increased by 5.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 348%. 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 28205?
In ZIP code 28205, 64.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 47.8% 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 28205?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28205 is 24.2 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 28205?
In ZIP code 28205, approximately 42.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 57.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28205?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28205 is 16.5% 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 28205's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28205 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
- 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.