Richlands, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28574
Onslow County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 15,102
- 46/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $67,416
- Median income Near-median income area
- $216,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 17.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Richlands pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 43rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 48th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 46
- people per sq mi
- 82%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28574 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 28574 (Richlands, NC) rose +6.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 217.9 in 2023 to 232.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28574 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Richlands, Onslow County, North Carolina, home to 15,102 residents across 331.9 square miles, a density of 46 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28574 reports a modest median household income of $67,416 (3% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $26,253. The poverty rate is 10.0%, with unemployment at 8.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $216,500 (17% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $1,147; owner occupancy is 81.7%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 17.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 28.3, and the average commute is 33 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Onslow County, so 28574 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 28574
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Richlands, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28574.
- Construction
Construction
31 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
29 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
23 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
22 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
16 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 28574, Richlands, 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
15,102
Population
331.9
Area (sq mi)
46
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28574?
28.3
Median Age
52.0%
Male
48.0%
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?
$67,416
Median Household Income
-3% vs state ZIP avg
$26,253
Per Capita Income
10.0%
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Unemployment Rate
32.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28574 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Richlands, 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)
$67,416 Top 44% higher than 56% 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
8,239housing units
8,239
Total Housing Units
7,137
Occupied Units
1,102
Vacant Units
2.93
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$216,500
Median Home Value
-17% vs state ZIP avg
$1,147
Median Rent
2003
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
+6.7%
YoY Change (2024)
232
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+132%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28574 have increased 6.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +132% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.3% | 148 |
| 2021 | +14.1% | 169 |
| 2022 | +16.9% | 197 |
| 2023 | +10.5% | 218 |
| 2024 | +6.7% | 232 |
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 190 business establishments in ZIP 28574, employing approximately 1,821 people with a combined annual payroll of $55,712,000.
190
Businesses
1,821
Employees
$55.7M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 31 | 16.3% |
| Retail trade | 29 | 15.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 23 | 12.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 22 | 11.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 16 | 8.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 14 | 7.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 12 | 6.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 10 | 5.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 4.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 7 | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 2.6% |
| Educational services | 4 | 2.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 1.6% |
| Information | 3 | 1.6% |
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 28574 vs 28521 →
ZIP 28574 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28540
Jacksonville (28540)
49,252 residents
- 28574 15,102
Richlands (28574)
15,102 residents
- 28572 6,531
Pink Hill (28572)
6,531 residents
- 28521 2,287
Chinquapin (28521)
2,287 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28574 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28574 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28574
Richlands (28574)
$67,416 median income
- 28540
Jacksonville (28540)
$65,625 median income
- 28572
Pink Hill (28572)
$55,660 median income
- 28521
Chinquapin (28521)
$47,813 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28574 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 28574, 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 (15,102 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Onslow County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28574 in?
ZIP code 28574 (Richlands) is located in Onslow County, North Carolina. Onslow County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/onslow-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28574?
ZIP code 28574 in Richlands, NC has a population of 15,102 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28574?
The median household income in ZIP 28574 is $67,416, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28574?
The median home value in ZIP 28574 is $216,500, which is 22% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28574?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28574 is White at 74.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28574?
ZIP code 28574 has 190 business establishments employing approximately 1,821 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28574?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28574 are: Construction (31), Retail trade (29), Other services (except public administration) (23). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28574?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28574 increased by 6.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 132%. 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 28574?
In ZIP code 28574, 54.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.7% 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 28574?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28574 is 32.9 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 28574?
In ZIP code 28574, approximately 81.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28574?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28574 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 28574's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28574 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Richlands, 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.