Charlotte, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28226

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

37,286
965/sq mi
$118,606
Median income
$617,600
Median home value
65.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Charlotte pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 10%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 9%
home value, US ZIPs
965
people per sq mi
68%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28226 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28226 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 38.6 square miles in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The area is home to 37,286 residents, producing a population density of 965 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 28226 against North Carolina and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 28226 sits at $118,606 (71% above the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $77,844. The poverty rate stands at 4.3% and the unemployment rate at 4.1%. On housing, the median home value is $617,600 (138% above the state average) with median rent at $1,622 per month, and 67.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 28226 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 65.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.6, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Mecklenburg County, so you can benchmark 28226 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 28226

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28226.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 28226, Charlotte, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

37,286

Population

38.6

Area (sq mi)

965

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 28226?

40.6

Median Age

48.0%

Male

52.0%

Female

14.0%

Foreign-Born

White 71.2%
African American 8.1%
Asian 3.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 13.9%
Hispanic or Latino 13.7%

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?

$118,606

Median Household Income

+71% vs state

$77,844

Per Capita Income

4.3%

Poverty Rate

4.1%

Unemployment Rate

25.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28226 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$118,606 Top 10% higher than 90% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 75.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 65.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

16,752

Total Housing Units

15,651

Occupied Units

1,101

Vacant Units

2.50

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 67.6%
Renter 32.4%

$617,600

Median Home Value

+138% vs state

$1,622

Median Rent

1986

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+4.2%

YoY Change (2024)

317

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+217%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28226 have increased 4.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +217% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.5% 198
2021 +12.7% 223
2022 +19.8% 267
2023 +13.6% 304
2024 +4.2% 317

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 1,324 business establishments in ZIP 28226, employing approximately 14,405 people with a combined annual payroll of $885,216,000.

1,324

Businesses

14,405

Employees

$885.2M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 257 19.4%
Health care and social assistance 193 14.6%
Finance and insurance 130 9.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 125 9.4%
Accommodation and food services 102 7.7%
Other services (except public administration) 95 7.2%
Retail trade 90 6.8%
Construction 73 5.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 72 5.4%
Wholesale trade 61 4.6%
Information 30 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 29 2.2%
Transportation and warehousing 27 2.0%
Educational services 21 1.6%
Manufacturing 8 0.6%
Management of companies and enterprises 7 0.5%

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 28226 vs 28277 →

ZIP 28226 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28226 ranks #4 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 28226 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 28226 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
28277 Charlotte, NC 59,664 3.8 mi
28210 Charlotte, NC 42,263 2.5 mi
28270 Charlotte, NC 31,525 3.4 mi
28211 Charlotte, NC 28,523 4.4 mi
28134 Pineville, NC 9,453 4.3 mi
28207 Charlotte, NC 9,280 6.1 mi
28209 Charlotte, NC 20,317 5.3 mi
28204 Charlotte, NC 4,796 7.5 mi
28105 Matthews, NC 39,586 6.1 mi
28203 Charlotte, NC 11,315 7.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Mecklenburg County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28226 in?
ZIP code 28226 (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 28226?
ZIP code 28226 in Charlotte, NC has a population of 37,286 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28226?
The median household income in ZIP 28226 is $118,606, which is 55% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28226?
The median home value in ZIP 28226 is $617,600, which is 122% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28226?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28226 is White at 71.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28226?
ZIP code 28226 has 1,324 business establishments employing approximately 14,405 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28226?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28226 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (257), Health care and social assistance (193), Finance and insurance (130). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28226?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28226 increased by 4.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 217%. 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 28226?
In ZIP code 28226, 75.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 65.1% 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 28226?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28226 is 25.1 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 28226?
In ZIP code 28226, approximately 67.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28226?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28226 is 4.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Charlotte, NC

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.