Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28605: Blowing Rock, NC
ZIP code 28605 uses the postal name Blowing Rock, North Carolina and lies mostly in Watauga County (71% of its land), reaching into Caldwell County and Avery County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 3,900 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $76,477 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 10% of its land lies in Blowing Rock; 90% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Blowing Rock · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Watauga County (71%); Caldwell County (23%); Avery County (6%)
- Census places
- Blowing Rock
- Micro area
- Boone, NC
- House districts
- NC-5 (94%), NC-11 (6%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 32.8 sq mi · 118 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28605?
28605 centers on 36.130°, -81.695° and covers 32.8 square miles of land plus 0.2 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 28607, 28611, 28646, 28604, 28645.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28605, 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 28605 compare with the rest of Watauga County?
| Measure | 28605 | In Watauga County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 3,883 | 5th of 9 | 472nd of 853 |
| Median household income | $77k | 1st of 7 | 163rd of 528 |
| Median home value | $552k | 1st of 9 | 34th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 57% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 56% 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 28605?
The 2020 Census counted 3,873 people in 28605; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 3,883. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 3,883±624 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 3,873
- Households
- 1,691
- Median age
- 44.0
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 28605?
Of the 3,883 people the ACS estimates in 28605, 14.1% are under 18 and 22.7% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (89.8%).
- Under 1814.1%
- 18 to 6463.2%
- 65 and older22.7%
- White, not Hispanic89.8%
- Other or two or more4.3%
- Hispanic or Latino4.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.1%
- Black, not Hispanic0.5%
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 28605 earn?
Median household income is $76,477 (ACS 2020-2024), the highest of the 7 ranked ZIP codes in Watauga County.
- Median household income
- $76,477±$18,371
- Income per person
- $55,891
- Below the poverty line
- 13.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 54.3%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $137,9002,040 returns; wages 42% 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 28605?
FHFA's house price index for 28605, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 120% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 85% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.8% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $552,400
- Median gross rent
- $1,112
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 74.0%
- Housing units
- 4,407
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 28605?
247 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 10 fewer than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade74
- Accommodation and food services42
- Real estate and rental and leasing22
- Professional, scientific, and technical services21
- Construction19
- Other services (except public administration)19
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 28605?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28607 | Boone | 35,679 | $47k | 6.5 mi |
| 28611 | Collettsville | 424 | – | 8.9 mi |
| 28646 | Linville | 382 | $77k | 9.3 mi |
| 28604 | Banner Elk | 7,869 | $76k | 9.7 mi |
| 28645 | Lenoir | 45,997 | $52k | 13.3 mi |
| 28618 | Deep Gap | 2,208 | $60k | 11.5 mi (near) |
| 28679 | Sugar Grove | 2,454 | $65k | 12.1 mi (near) |
| 28653 | Montezuma | 26 | – | 12.3 mi (near) |
| 28662 | Pineola | 0 | – | 13.3 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.