Blowing Rock, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28605
Watauga County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 3,412
- 46/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $76,477
- Median income Near-median income area
- $552,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 54.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Blowing Rock pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 43%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 11%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 46
- people per sq mi
- 74%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28605 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 28605 (Blowing Rock, NC) rose +6.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 273.9 in 2023 to 292.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28605 covers 75.0 square miles in Blowing Rock, Watauga County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,412 residents on file, a density of 46 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28605 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $76,477 (11% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $55,891. The poverty rate is 13.2%, with unemployment at 3.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $552,400 (113% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 74.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,112.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 54.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Watauga County, so 28605 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 28605
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Blowing Rock, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28605.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
74 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
42 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 22
Real estate and rental and leasing
22 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 21
Professional, scientific, and technical services
21 establishments
- Construction 19
Construction
19 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 28605, Blowing Rock, 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
3,412
Population
75.0
Area (sq mi)
46
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28605?
44.0
Median Age
51.6%
Male
48.4%
Female
5.9%
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?
$76,477
Median Household Income
+11% vs state ZIP avg
$55,891
Per Capita Income
13.2%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 28605 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Blowing Rock, 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)
$76,477 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
4,407housing units
4,407
Total Housing Units
1,691
Occupied Units
2,716
Vacant Units
2.26
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$552,400
Median Home Value
+113% vs state ZIP avg
$1,112
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
+6.8%
YoY Change (2024)
293
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+193%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28605 have increased 6.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +193% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.8% | 162 |
| 2021 | +12.5% | 182 |
| 2022 | +19.0% | 217 |
| 2023 | +26.5% | 274 |
| 2024 | +6.8% | 293 |
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 247 business establishments in ZIP 28605, employing approximately 2,623 people with a combined annual payroll of $79,900,000.
247
Businesses
2,623
Employees
$79.9M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 74 | 30.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 42 | 17.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 22 | 8.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 21 | 8.5% |
| Construction | 19 | 7.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 19 | 7.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 12 | 4.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 4.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 2.8% |
| Educational services | 6 | 2.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 6 | 2.4% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 1.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 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 28605 vs 28607 →
ZIP 28605 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28607
Boone (28607)
33,059 residents
- 28604 6,249
Banner Elk (28604)
6,249 residents
- 28692 4,067
Vilas (28692)
4,067 residents
- 28605 3,412
Blowing Rock (28605)
3,412 residents
- 28679 2,064
Sugar Grove (28679)
2,064 residents
- 28611 885
Collettsville (28611)
885 residents
- 28646 342
Linville (28646)
342 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28605 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28605 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
- 28607
Boone (28607)
$46,639 median income
- 28692
Vilas (28692)
$43,103 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28605 ranks #2 of 6 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 28605, 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 (3,412 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 28605 in?
ZIP code 28605 (Blowing Rock) 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 28605?
ZIP code 28605 in Blowing Rock, NC has a population of 3,412 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28605?
The median household income in ZIP 28605 is $76,477, which is 0% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28605?
The median home value in ZIP 28605 is $552,400, which is 99% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28605?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28605 is White at 90.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28605?
ZIP code 28605 has 247 business establishments employing approximately 2,623 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28605?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28605 are: Retail trade (74), Accommodation and food services (42), Real estate and rental and leasing (22). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28605?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28605 increased by 6.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 193%. 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 28605?
In ZIP code 28605, 62.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 54.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28605?
In ZIP code 28605, approximately 74.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28605?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28605 is 13.2% 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 28605's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28605 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Blowing Rock, 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.