PlainZIP

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
$69,554
Median income
$264,200
Median home value
29.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $41,856. 10.0% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 4.0%. Median home value sits at $264,200 (2% above the state average), median rent at $817 a month, and owner-occupancy at 73.2%.

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. To put 28450 in local context, 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Columbus County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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.

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 + 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

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 28450?

45.6

Median Age

47.2%

Male

52.8%

Female

2.2%

Foreign-Born

White 59.8%
African American 12.5%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 13.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.5%
Hispanic or Latino 2.7%

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?

$69,554

Median Household Income

+1% vs state

$41,856

Per Capita Income

10.0%

Poverty Rate

4.0%

Unemployment Rate

30.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28450 ranks nationally

Lake Waccamaw, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$69,554 46th percentile higher than 46% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $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 60.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 29.0%

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

What does housing look like?

1,203

Total Housing Units

846

Occupied Units

357

Vacant Units

2.49

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 73.2%
Renter 26.8%

$264,200

Median Home Value

+2% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28450 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 28450 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 28450 ranks the highest of 4 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
28442 Hallsboro, NC 1,647 5.4 mi
28423 Bolton, NC 2,290 7.1 mi
28434 Council, NC 1,329 10.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Columbus County

28472 standard
Whiteville, NC
Pop: 19,658
28463 standard
Tabor City, NC
Pop: 9,799
28431 standard
Chadbourn, NC
Pop: 7,102
28423 standard
Bolton, NC
Pop: 2,290
28436 standard
Delco, NC
Pop: 2,203
28455 standard
Nakina, NC
Pop: 2,117

Related Areas

Columbus County Lake Waccamaw, NC North Carolina

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.