Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28478: Willard, NC
ZIP code 28478 uses the postal name Willard, North Carolina and lies mostly in Pender County (92% of its land), reaching into Sampson County and Duplin County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 5,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $73,388 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 1% of its land lies in Watha; 99% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Willard · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Pender County (92%); Sampson County (7%); Duplin County (1%)
- Census places
- Watha
- Metro area
- Wilmington, NC
- House districts
- NC-7 (92%), NC-3 (8%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 122.9 sq mi · 41 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28478?
28478 centers on 34.643°, -78.042° and covers 122.9 square miles of land plus 0.2 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 28425, 28466, 28421, 28447, 28444.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28478, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 28478 compare with the rest of Pender County?
| Measure | 28478 | In Pender County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 5,017 | 8th of 13 | 442nd of 853 |
| Median household income | $73k | 6th of 10 | 191st of 528 |
| Median home value | $179k | 9th of 11 | 420th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 52% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 38% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 28478?
The 2020 Census counted 4,274 people in 28478; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 5,017. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 6.8% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 5,017±826 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 4,274−6.8% since 2010 (4,588)
- Households
- 2,087
- Median age
- 44.8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 28478?
Of the 5,017 people the ACS estimates in 28478, 20.5% are under 18 and 15.2% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (71.6%), then Black (not Hispanic) (17.8%).
- Under 1820.5%
- 18 to 6464.4%
- 65 and older15.2%
- White, not Hispanic71.6%
- Black, not Hispanic17.8%
- Hispanic or Latino8.1%
- Other or two or more2.6%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 28478 earn?
Median household income is $73,388 (ACS 2020-2024), the 6th highest of the 10 ranked ZIP codes in Pender County. It rose from $48,735 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $73,388±$14,091
- Income per person
- $40,605
- Below the poverty line
- 14.1%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 6.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 15.1%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $51,9612,020 returns; wages 74% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 28478?
FHFA's house price index for 28478, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 89% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 49% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +16.2% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $178,900
- Median gross rent
- $718
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 90.8%
- Housing units
- 2,327
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 28478?
53 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 21 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction13
- Other services (except public administration)11
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services6
- Health care and social assistance5
- Transportation and warehousing4
- Wholesale trade3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 28478?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28425 | Burgaw | 11,380 | $67k | 9.9 mi |
| 28466 | Wallace | 8,893 | $66k | 11.6 mi |
| 28421 | Atkinson | 2,010 | $60k | 11.9 mi |
| 28447 | Ivanhoe | 1,507 | $77k | 13.5 mi |
| 28444 | Harrells | 2,479 | $44k | 16.1 mi |
| 28464 | Teachey | 2,185 | $60k | 9.7 mi (near) |
| 28458 | Rose Hill | 5,446 | $40k | 12.4 mi (near) |
| 28453 | Magnolia | 3,206 | $61k | 15.6 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.