Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28601: Hickory, NC
ZIP code 28601 uses the postal name Hickory, North Carolina and lies mostly in Catawba County (64% of its land), reaching into Burke County, Alexander County and Caldwell County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 53,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the more populous of Hickory's 2 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $67,817 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Hickory (39%), St. Stephens (16%), Bethlehem (8%), Northlakes (3%) and Rhodhiss (2%), and 3% in smaller places; 29% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Hickory · 2 residential ZIPs
- County
- Catawba County (64%); Burke County (16%); Alexander County (13%); Caldwell County (8%)
- Census places
- Hickory (39%); St. Stephens (16%) census-designated place; Bethlehem (8%) census-designated place; Northlakes (3%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
- House districts
- NC-10 (64%), NC-5 (20%), NC-14 (16%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 47.1 sq mi · 1,133 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 28603 also use the name Hickory
Where is ZIP code 28601?
28601 centers on 35.772°, -81.327° and covers 47.1 square miles of land plus 3.4 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 28667, 28637, 28630, 28613, 28602, 28681, 28612.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28601, 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 28601 compare with the rest of Hickory?
| Measure | 28601 | In Hickory | In Catawba County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 53,329 | 1st of 2 | 1st of 14 | 28th of 853 |
| Median household income | $68k | 1st of 2 | 4th of 11 | 244th of 528 |
| Median home value | $262k | 1st of 2 | 4th of 14 | 246th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 43% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 79% 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 28601?
The 2020 Census counted 53,973 people in 28601; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 53,329. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 7.9% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 53,329
- 2020 Census count
- 53,973+7.9% since 2010 (50,026)
- Households
- 21,727
- Median age
- 41.2
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 28601?
Of the 53,329 people the ACS estimates in 28601, 20.6% are under 18 and 19.7% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (73.5%), then Hispanic or Latino (10.4%).
- Under 1820.6%
- 18 to 6459.7%
- 65 and older19.7%
- White, not Hispanic73.5%
- Hispanic or Latino10.4%
- Black, not Hispanic6.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic5.2%
- Other or two or more4.6%
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 28601 earn?
Median household income is $67,817 (ACS 2020-2024), the 4th highest of the 11 ranked ZIP codes in Catawba County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($66,345 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $67,817
- Income per person
- $40,441
- Below the poverty line
- 12.4%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 36.1%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $86,30424,860 returns; wages 63% 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 28601?
FHFA's house price index for 28601, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 101% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 60% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +2.6% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $261,600
- Median gross rent
- $1,029
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 68.4%
- Housing units
- 23,838
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 28601?
1,368 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 23 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade207
- Health care and social assistance151
- Professional, scientific, and technical services140
- Other services (except public administration)129
- Accommodation and food services117
- Construction116
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 28601?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28667 | Rhodhiss | 301 | $26k | 5.5 mi |
| 28637 | Hildebran | 1,911 | $68k | 6.4 mi |
| 28630 | Granite Falls | 19,382 | $64k | 6.7 mi |
| 28613 | Conover | 23,357 | $59k | 7.1 mi |
| 28602 | Hickory | 31,113 | $62k | 7.5 mi |
| 28681 | Taylorsville | 25,566 | $61k | 11.9 mi |
| 28612 | Connelly Springs | 11,290 | $55k | 14.5 mi |
| 28666 | Icard | 273 | – | 8.9 mi (near) |
| 28638 | Hudson | 12,363 | $67k | 9.9 mi (near) |
| 28610 | Claremont | 10,192 | $66k | 10.6 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.