Wilmington, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28405
New Hanover County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 29,152
- 468/sq mi High-density area
- $70,274
- Median income Near-median income area
- $368,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 41.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Wilmington pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 47th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 24%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 468
- people per sq mi
- 58%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28405 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 28405 (Wilmington, NC) rose +2.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 301.0 in 2023 to 308.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28405 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, with 29,152 residents across 62.3 square miles, a density of 468 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28405 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $70,274 (2% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $49,013. The poverty rate is 13.8%, with unemployment at 5.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $368,500 (42% above the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $1,440; 57.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 41.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in New Hanover County, so 28405 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 28405
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilmington, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28405.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
252 establishments
- Construction
Construction
211 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
171 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
150 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
132 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 28405, Wilmington, 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
29,152
Population
62.3
Area (sq mi)
468
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28405?
38.0
Median Age
48.5%
Male
51.5%
Female
7.8%
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?
$70,274
Median Household Income
+2% vs state ZIP avg
$49,013
Per Capita Income
13.8%
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Unemployment Rate
21.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28405 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Wilmington, 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)
$70,274 Top 38% higher than 62% 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
17,410housing units
17,410
Total Housing Units
15,899
Occupied Units
1,511
Vacant Units
2.21
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$368,500
Median Home Value
+42% vs state ZIP avg
$1,440
Median Rent
1993
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
+2.3%
YoY Change (2024)
308
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+208%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28405 have increased 2.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +208% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.7% | 191 |
| 2021 | +13.0% | 215 |
| 2022 | +17.9% | 254 |
| 2023 | +18.5% | 301 |
| 2024 | +2.3% | 308 |
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 1,616 business establishments in ZIP 28405, employing approximately 26,113 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,682,060,000.
1,616
Businesses
26,113
Employees
$1.7B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 252 | 15.6% |
| Construction | 211 | 13.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 171 | 10.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 150 | 9.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 132 | 8.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 118 | 7.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 115 | 7.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 102 | 6.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 98 | 6.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 82 | 5.1% |
| Manufacturing | 60 | 3.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 37 | 2.3% |
| Information | 32 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 21 | 1.3% |
| Educational services | 17 | 1.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 16 | 1.0% |
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 28405 vs 28403 →
ZIP 28405 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28403
Wilmington (28403)
36,063 residents
- 28412
Wilmington (28412)
35,573 residents
- 28411
Wilmington (28411)
31,962 residents
- 28409
Wilmington (28409)
31,296 residents
- 28405
Wilmington (28405)
29,152 residents
- 28401
Wilmington (28401)
22,094 residents
- 28429 8,026
Castle Hayne (28429)
8,026 residents
- 28480 2,473
Wrightsville Beach (28480)
2,473 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28405 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28405 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28480
Wrightsville Beach (28480)
$172,500 median income
- 28409
Wilmington (28409)
$111,048 median income
- 28411
Wilmington (28411)
$97,387 median income
- 28429
Castle Hayne (28429)
$72,337 median income
- 28412
Wilmington (28412)
$71,636 median income
- 28405
Wilmington (28405)
$70,274 median income
- 28401 $57,968
Wilmington (28401)
$57,968 median income
- 28403 $54,547
Wilmington (28403)
$54,547 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28405 ranks #6 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28405, 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 (29,152 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in New Hanover County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28405 in?
ZIP code 28405 (Wilmington) is located in New Hanover County, North Carolina. New Hanover County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/new-hanover-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28405?
ZIP code 28405 in Wilmington, NC has a population of 29,152 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28405?
The median household income in ZIP 28405 is $70,274, which is 8% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28405?
The median home value in ZIP 28405 is $368,500, which is 32% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28405?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28405 is White at 71.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28405?
ZIP code 28405 has 1,616 business establishments employing approximately 26,113 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28405?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28405 are: Retail trade (252), Construction (211), Professional, scientific, and technical services (171). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28405?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28405 increased by 2.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 208%. 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 28405?
In ZIP code 28405, 61.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 41.0% 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 28405?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28405 is 21.4 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 28405?
In ZIP code 28405, approximately 57.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 42.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28405?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28405 is 13.8% 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 28405's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28405 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Wilmington, 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.