Emerald Isle, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28594
Carteret County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 3,655
- 247/sq mi High-density area
- $89,773
- Median income Above-median income area
- $603,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 57.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Emerald Isle pairs an above-median household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 27%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 9%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 247
- people per sq mi
- 86%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28594 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 28594 (Emerald Isle, NC) rose +2.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 396.1 in 2023 to 404.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28594 covers 14.8 square miles in Emerald Isle, Carteret County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,655 residents on file, a density of 247 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28594 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $89,773 (30% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $70,224. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.9% and unemployment is 1.1%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $603,700 (133% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 85.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,704.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 57.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 60.3, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Carteret County, so 28594 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 28594
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Emerald Isle, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28594.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
34 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
32 establishments
- Construction
Construction
28 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
24 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical 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 28594, Emerald Isle, 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
3,655
Population
14.8
Area (sq mi)
247
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28594?
60.3
Median Age
47.4%
Male
52.6%
Female
3.0%
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?
$89,773
Median Household Income
+30% vs state ZIP avg
$70,224
Per Capita Income
4.9%
Poverty Rate
1.1%
Unemployment Rate
28.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28594 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Emerald Isle, 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)
$89,773 Top 15% higher than 85% 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
6,923housing units
6,923
Total Housing Units
1,940
Occupied Units
4,983
Vacant Units
2.03
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$603,700
Median Home Value
+133% vs state ZIP avg
$1,704
Median Rent
1989
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
+2.2%
YoY Change (2024)
405
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+305%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28594 have increased 2.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +305% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.0% | 230 |
| 2021 | +11.8% | 257 |
| 2022 | +24.0% | 319 |
| 2023 | +24.2% | 396 |
| 2024 | +2.2% | 405 |
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 188 business establishments in ZIP 28594, employing approximately 1,633 people with a combined annual payroll of $75,645,000.
188
Businesses
1,633
Employees
$75.6M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 34 | 18.1% |
| Retail trade | 32 | 17.0% |
| Construction | 28 | 14.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 24 | 12.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 16 | 8.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 15 | 8.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 6.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 8 | 4.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 3.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 1.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 1.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 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 28594 vs 28584 →
ZIP 28594 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28584
Swansboro (28584)
11,396 residents
- 28594 3,655
Emerald Isle (28594)
3,655 residents
- 28582 1,588
Stella (28582)
1,588 residents
- 28575 316
Salter Path (28575)
316 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28594 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28594 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28594
Emerald Isle (28594)
$89,773 median income
- 28582
Stella (28582)
$89,348 median income
- 28584
Swansboro (28584)
$87,414 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28594 ranks the highest of 3 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 28594, 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 (3,655 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Carteret County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28594 in?
ZIP code 28594 (Emerald Isle) is located in Carteret County, North Carolina. Carteret County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/carteret-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28594?
ZIP code 28594 in Emerald Isle, NC has a population of 3,655 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28594?
The median household income in ZIP 28594 is $89,773, which is 18% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28594?
The median home value in ZIP 28594 is $603,700, which is 117% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28594?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28594 is White at 92.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28594?
ZIP code 28594 has 188 business establishments employing approximately 1,633 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28594?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28594 are: Accommodation and food services (34), Retail trade (32), Construction (28). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28594?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28594 increased by 2.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 305%. 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 28594?
In ZIP code 28594, 71.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 57.1% 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 28594?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28594 is 28.6 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 28594?
In ZIP code 28594, approximately 85.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28594?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28594 is 4.9% 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 28594's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28594 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Emerald Isle, 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.