Whiteville, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28472
Columbus County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 19,658
- 42/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $42,003
- Median income Below-median income area
- $151,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Whiteville pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 7th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 26th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 42
- people per sq mi
- 71%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28472 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 28472 (Whiteville, NC) fell -12.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 191.8 in 2023 to 167.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28472 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Whiteville, Columbus County, North Carolina, home to 19,658 residents across 469.2 square miles, a density of 42 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28472 reports a modest median household income of $42,003 (39% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,405. The poverty rate is 18.7%, with unemployment at 4.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $151,000 (42% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $845; owner occupancy is 71.3%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.9, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Columbus County, so 28472 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 28472
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Whiteville, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28472.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
100 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
92 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
61 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
51 establishments
- Finance and insurance 37
Finance and insurance
37 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 28472, Whiteville, 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
19,658
Population
469.2
Area (sq mi)
42
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28472?
40.9
Median Age
46.7%
Male
53.3%
Female
3.2%
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?
$42,003
Median Household Income
-39% vs state ZIP avg
$27,405
Per Capita Income
18.7%
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Unemployment Rate
25.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28472 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Whiteville, 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)
$42,003 7th percentile higher than 7% 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
7,709housing units
7,709
Total Housing Units
6,629
Occupied Units
1,080
Vacant Units
2.40
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$151,000
Median Home Value
-42% vs state ZIP avg
$845
Median Rent
1981
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
-12.9%
YoY Change (2024)
167
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+67%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28472 have decreased 12.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +67% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +9.1% | 132 |
| 2021 | +11.5% | 147 |
| 2022 | +12.3% | 165 |
| 2023 | +16.3% | 192 |
| 2024 | -12.9% | 167 |
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 526 business establishments in ZIP 28472, employing approximately 7,150 people with a combined annual payroll of $268,211,000.
526
Businesses
7,150
Employees
$268.2M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 100 | 19.0% |
| Retail trade | 92 | 17.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 61 | 11.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 51 | 9.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 37 | 7.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 37 | 7.0% |
| Construction | 33 | 6.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 26 | 4.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 24 | 4.6% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 2.5% |
| Information | 13 | 2.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 2.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 1.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 1.3% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.8% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.6% |
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 28472 vs 28424 →
ZIP 28472 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28472
Whiteville (28472)
19,658 residents
- 28432 1,968
Clarendon (28432)
1,968 residents
- 28442 1,647
Hallsboro (28442)
1,647 residents
- 28424 128
Brunswick (28424)
128 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28472 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28472 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28432
Clarendon (28432)
$90,815 median income
- 28442
Hallsboro (28442)
$60,964 median income
- 28424
Brunswick (28424)
$48,875 median income
- 28472
Whiteville (28472)
$42,003 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28472 ranks #4 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 28472, 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 (19,658 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 28472 in?
ZIP code 28472 (Whiteville) 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 28472?
ZIP code 28472 in Whiteville, NC has a population of 19,658 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28472?
The median household income in ZIP 28472 is $42,003, which is 45% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28472?
The median home value in ZIP 28472 is $151,000, which is 46% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28472?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28472 is White at 59.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28472?
ZIP code 28472 has 526 business establishments employing approximately 7,150 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28472?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28472 are: Health care and social assistance (100), Retail trade (92), Accommodation and food services (61). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28472?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28472 decreased by 12.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 67%. 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 28472?
In ZIP code 28472, 52.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.2% 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 28472?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28472 is 25.4 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 28472?
In ZIP code 28472, approximately 71.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28472?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28472 is 18.7% 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 28472's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28472 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Whiteville, 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.