Banner Elk, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28604
Watauga County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 6,249
- 37/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $76,319
- Median income Near-median income area
- $383,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 46.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Banner Elk pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 43%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 22%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 37
- people per sq mi
- 82%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28604 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 28604 (Banner Elk, NC) rose +7.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 291.3 in 2023 to 313.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28604 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Banner Elk, Watauga County, North Carolina, home to 6,249 residents across 170.3 square miles, a density of 37 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28604 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $76,319 (10% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $46,313. The poverty rate is 7.7%, with unemployment at 5.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $383,800 (48% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 81.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $991.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 46.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.2, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Watauga County, so 28604 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 28604
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Banner Elk, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28604.
- Construction
Construction
51 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
50 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
47 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
41 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
26 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 28604, Banner Elk, 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
6,249
Population
170.3
Area (sq mi)
37
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28604?
45.2
Median Age
49.2%
Male
50.8%
Female
4.4%
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?
$76,319
Median Household Income
+10% vs state ZIP avg
$46,313
Per Capita Income
7.7%
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Unemployment Rate
25.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28604 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Banner Elk, 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)
$76,319 Top 28% higher than 72% 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
9,696housing units
9,696
Total Housing Units
3,236
Occupied Units
6,460
Vacant Units
2.17
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$383,800
Median Home Value
+48% vs state ZIP avg
$991
Median Rent
1988
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
+7.6%
YoY Change (2024)
313
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+213%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28604 have increased 7.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +213% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.6% | 163 |
| 2021 | +24.4% | 203 |
| 2022 | +32.1% | 268 |
| 2023 | +8.7% | 291 |
| 2024 | +7.6% | 313 |
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 332 business establishments in ZIP 28604, employing approximately 3,316 people with a combined annual payroll of $117,536,000.
332
Businesses
3,316
Employees
$117.5M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 51 | 15.4% |
| Retail trade | 50 | 15.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 47 | 14.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 41 | 12.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 26 | 7.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 23 | 6.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 21 | 6.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 21 | 6.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 16 | 4.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 10 | 3.0% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 2.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 6 | 1.8% |
| Information | 4 | 1.2% |
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 28604 vs 28679 →
ZIP 28604 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28657
Newland (28657)
9,488 residents
- 28604
Banner Elk (28604)
6,249 residents
- 28692
Vilas (28692)
4,067 residents
- 28605 3,412
Blowing Rock (28605)
3,412 residents
- 28622 2,527
Elk Park (28622)
2,527 residents
- 28679 2,064
Sugar Grove (28679)
2,064 residents
- 28646 342
Linville (28646)
342 residents
- 28652 46
Minneapolis (28652)
46 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28604 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28604 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28646
Linville (28646)
$76,736 median income
- 28605
Blowing Rock (28605)
$76,477 median income
- 28604
Banner Elk (28604)
$76,319 median income
- 28679
Sugar Grove (28679)
$65,246 median income
- 28657
Newland (28657)
$59,702 median income
- 28622
Elk Park (28622)
$44,028 median income
- 28692
Vilas (28692)
$43,103 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28604 ranks #3 of 7 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 28604, 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 (6,249 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Watauga County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28604 in?
ZIP code 28604 (Banner Elk) is located in Watauga County, North Carolina. Watauga County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/watauga-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28604?
ZIP code 28604 in Banner Elk, NC has a population of 6,249 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28604?
The median household income in ZIP 28604 is $76,319, which is 0% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28604?
The median home value in ZIP 28604 is $383,800, which is 38% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28604?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28604 is White at 87.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28604?
ZIP code 28604 has 332 business establishments employing approximately 3,316 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28604?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28604 are: Construction (51), Retail trade (50), Accommodation and food services (47). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28604?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28604 increased by 7.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 213%. 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 28604?
In ZIP code 28604, 60.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 46.9% 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 28604?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28604 is 25.2 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 28604?
In ZIP code 28604, approximately 81.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28604?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28604 is 7.7% 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 28604's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28604 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Banner Elk, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.