Charlotte, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28208
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 34,167
- 599/sq mi High-density area
- $55,431
- Median income Below-median income area
- $236,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 26.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Charlotte pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 22nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 46%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 599
- people per sq mi
- 39%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28208 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 28208 (Charlotte, NC) rose +9.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 343.7 in 2023 to 377.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28208 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, with 34,167 residents across 57.0 square miles, a density of 599 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28208 reports a modest median household income of $55,431 (20% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $34,791. The poverty rate is 19.4%, with unemployment at 7.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $236,300 (9% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $1,244; 39.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34, 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 28208 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 28208
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Charlotte, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28208.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
166 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
162 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
138 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
133 establishments
- Construction
Construction
128 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 28208, 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
34,167
Population
57.0
Area (sq mi)
599
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28208?
34.0
Median Age
49.4%
Male
50.6%
Female
11.2%
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?
$55,431
Median Household Income
-20% vs state ZIP avg
$34,791
Per Capita Income
19.4%
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Unemployment Rate
23.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28208 ranks nationally
Charlotte, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$55,431 22nd percentile higher than 22% 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
18,539housing units
18,539
Total Housing Units
16,548
Occupied Units
1,991
Vacant Units
2.40
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$236,300
Median Home Value
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$1,244
Median Rent
1974
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
+9.8%
YoY Change (2024)
377
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+277%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28208 have increased 9.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +277% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.7% | 241 |
| 2021 | +14.6% | 276 |
| 2022 | +8.1% | 298 |
| 2023 | +15.2% | 344 |
| 2024 | +9.8% | 377 |
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 1,464 business establishments in ZIP 28208, employing approximately 48,001 people with a combined annual payroll of $3,838,963,000.
1,464
Businesses
48,001
Employees
$3.8B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 166 | 11.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 162 | 11.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 138 | 9.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 133 | 9.1% |
| Construction | 128 | 8.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 125 | 8.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 117 | 8.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 105 | 7.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 93 | 6.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 82 | 5.6% |
| Manufacturing | 69 | 4.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 51 | 3.5% |
| Information | 34 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 21 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 18 | 1.2% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 17 | 1.2% |
| Industries not classified | 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 28208 vs 28217 →
ZIP 28208 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28216
Charlotte (28216)
47,208 residents
- 28214
Charlotte (28214)
34,721 residents
- 28208
Charlotte (28208)
34,167 residents
- 28217
Charlotte (28217)
24,204 residents
- 28209
Charlotte (28209)
20,317 residents
- 28203 11,315
Charlotte (28203)
11,315 residents
- 28202 11,195
Charlotte (28202)
11,195 residents
- 28204 4,796
Charlotte (28204)
4,796 residents
- 28280 10
Charlotte (28280)
10 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28208 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28208 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 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
- 28214
Charlotte (28214)
$86,447 median income
- 28216
Charlotte (28216)
$65,795 median income
- 28217
Charlotte (28217)
$64,028 median income
- 28208
Charlotte (28208)
$55,431 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28208 ranks #8 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28217 | Charlotte, NC | 24,204 | 4.1 mi |
| 28202 | Charlotte, NC | 11,195 | 3.7 mi |
| 28282 | Charlotte, NC | 0 | 3.7 mi |
| 28280 | Charlotte, NC | 10 | 3.8 mi |
| 28244 | Charlotte, NC | 0 | 3.8 mi |
| 28203 | Charlotte, NC | 11,315 | 3.3 mi |
| 28204 | Charlotte, NC | 4,796 | 4.8 mi |
| 28214 | Charlotte, NC | 34,721 | 4.5 mi |
| 28216 | Charlotte, NC | 47,208 | 5.7 mi |
| 28209 | Charlotte, NC | 20,317 | 4.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28208, 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 (34,167 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 28208 in?
ZIP code 28208 (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 28208?
ZIP code 28208 in Charlotte, NC has a population of 34,167 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28208?
The median household income in ZIP 28208 is $55,431, which is 27% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28208?
The median home value in ZIP 28208 is $236,300, which is 15% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28208?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28208 is African American at 60.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 14.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28208?
ZIP code 28208 has 1,464 business establishments employing approximately 48,001 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28208?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28208 are: Retail trade (166), Professional, scientific, and technical services (162), Wholesale trade (138). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28208?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28208 increased by 9.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 277%. 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 28208?
In ZIP code 28208, 58.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.8% 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 28208?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28208 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 28208?
In ZIP code 28208, approximately 39.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 60.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28208?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28208 is 19.4% 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 28208's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28208 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.