Lake Waccamaw, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28450
Columbus County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,438
- 24/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $69,554
- Median income Near-median income area
- $264,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 29.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lake Waccamaw pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 46th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 40%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 24
- people per sq mi
- 73%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28450 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 28450 (Lake Waccamaw, NC) rose +5.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 226.7 in 2023 to 240.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28450 covers 101.6 square miles in Lake Waccamaw, Columbus County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,438 residents on file, a density of 24 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28450 reports a modest median household income of $69,554 (1% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,856. The poverty rate is 10.0%, with unemployment at 4.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $264,200 (2% above the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $817; 73.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.6, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Columbus County, so 28450 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 28450
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lake Waccamaw, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28450.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
8 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
8 establishments
- Construction
Construction
7 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
5 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
4 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 28450, Lake Waccamaw, 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
2,438
Population
101.6
Area (sq mi)
24
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28450?
45.6
Median Age
47.2%
Male
52.8%
Female
2.2%
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?
$69,554
Median Household Income
+1% vs state ZIP avg
$41,856
Per Capita Income
10.0%
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Unemployment Rate
30.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28450 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Lake Waccamaw, 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)
$69,554 Top 39% higher than 61% 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
1,203housing units
1,203
Total Housing Units
846
Occupied Units
357
Vacant Units
2.49
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$264,200
Median Home Value
+2% vs state ZIP avg
$817
Median Rent
1979
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
+5.9%
YoY Change (2024)
240
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+140%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28450 have increased 5.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +140% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -1.0% | 133 |
| 2021 | +16.9% | 156 |
| 2022 | +20.9% | 188 |
| 2023 | +20.5% | 227 |
| 2024 | +5.9% | 240 |
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 40 business establishments in ZIP 28450, employing approximately 530 people with a combined annual payroll of $22,914,000.
40
Businesses
530
Employees
$22.9M
Annual Payroll
5
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 8 | 20.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 8 | 20.0% |
| Construction | 7 | 17.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 5 | 12.5% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 10.0% |
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 28450 vs 28442 →
ZIP 28450 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28450
Lake Waccamaw (28450)
2,438 residents
- 28423
Bolton (28423)
2,290 residents
- 28442
Hallsboro (28442)
1,647 residents
- 28434
Council (28434)
1,329 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28450 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28450 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28450
Lake Waccamaw (28450)
$69,554 median income
- 28442
Hallsboro (28442)
$60,964 median income
- 28423
Bolton (28423)
$52,250 median income
- 28434
Council (28434)
$49,643 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28450 ranks the highest of 4 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 28450, 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 (2,438 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Columbus County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28450 in?
ZIP code 28450 (Lake Waccamaw) is located in Columbus County, North Carolina. Columbus County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/columbus-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28450?
ZIP code 28450 in Lake Waccamaw, NC has a population of 2,438 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28450?
The median household income in ZIP 28450 is $69,554, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28450?
The median home value in ZIP 28450 is $264,200, which is 5% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28450?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28450 is White at 59.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28450?
ZIP code 28450 has 40 business establishments employing approximately 530 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28450?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28450 are: Retail trade (8), Accommodation and food services (8), Construction (7). There are 5 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28450?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28450 increased by 5.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 140%. 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 28450?
In ZIP code 28450, 60.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.0% 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 28450?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28450 is 30.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28450?
In ZIP code 28450, approximately 73.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28450?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28450 is 10.0% 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 28450's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28450 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lake Waccamaw, 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.