PlainZIP

Catawba, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28609

Catawba County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

5,864
51/sq mi
$77,679
Median income
$245,900
Median home value
21.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Catawba pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 41%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 43%
home value, US ZIPs
51
people per sq mi
85%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28609 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28609 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Catawba, Catawba County, North Carolina, home to 5,864 residents across 115.2 square miles, a density of 51 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28609 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $77,679 (12% above the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $36,666. Poverty here runs at 9.3%, with unemployment measured at 1.8%. Housing costs here run $245,900 for a typical home value (5% below the state average), with rent averaging $1,238 a month; 84.6% of homes are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.7, and the average commute is 32 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Catawba County, so you can benchmark 28609 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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 28609

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Catawba, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28609.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 28609, Catawba, 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

5,864

Population

115.2

Area (sq mi)

51

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 28609?

40.7

Median Age

45.6%

Male

54.4%

Female

1.4%

Foreign-Born

White 80.4%
African American 6.1%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 11.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.3%

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?

$77,679

Median Household Income

+12% vs state

$36,666

Per Capita Income

9.3%

Poverty Rate

1.8%

Unemployment Rate

32.0 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28609 ranks nationally

Catawba, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$77,679 Top 41% higher than 59% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 53.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,501

Total Housing Units

2,941

Occupied Units

560

Vacant Units

2.25

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 84.6%
Renter 15.4%

$245,900

Median Home Value

-5% vs state

$1,238

Median Rent

1982

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

+25.0%

YoY Change (2024)

286

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+186%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28609 have increased 25.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +186% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -0.2% 168
2021 +17.0% 196
2022 +24.0% 243
2023 -6.0% 229
2024 +25.0% 286

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 102 business establishments in ZIP 28609, employing approximately 1,105 people with a combined annual payroll of $80,654,000.

102

Businesses

1,105

Employees

$80.7M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 24 23.5%
Other services (except public administration) 18 17.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 11 10.8%
Accommodation and food services 8 7.8%
Transportation and warehousing 7 6.9%
Retail trade 6 5.9%
Manufacturing 5 4.9%
Real estate and rental and leasing 5 4.9%
Health care and social assistance 5 4.9%
Finance and insurance 4 3.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 4 3.9%

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 28609 vs 28673 →

ZIP 28609 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28609 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 28609 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 28609 ranks #3 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
28673 Sherrills Ford, NC 5,919 5.5 mi
28610 Claremont, NC 9,913 6.2 mi
28682 Terrell, NC 1,129 8.2 mi
28677 Statesville, NC 32,940 8.5 mi
28650 Maiden, NC 11,883 9.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Catawba County

28601 standard
Hickory, NC
Pop: 50,026
28602 standard
Hickory, NC
Pop: 28,981
28658 standard
Newton, NC
Pop: 27,022
28613 standard
Conover, NC
Pop: 22,759
28650 standard
Maiden, NC
Pop: 11,883
28610 standard
Claremont, NC
Pop: 9,913

Related Areas

Catawba County Catawba, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28609 in? ▼
ZIP code 28609 (Catawba) is located in Catawba County, North Carolina. Catawba County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/catawba-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28609? ▼
ZIP code 28609 in Catawba, NC has a population of 5,864 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28609? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28609 is $77,679, which is 2% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28609? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28609 is $245,900, which is 12% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28609? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28609 is White at 80.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28609? ▼
ZIP code 28609 has 102 business establishments employing approximately 1,105 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28609? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28609 are: Construction (24), Other services (except public administration) (18), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (11). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28609? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28609 increased by 25.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 186%. 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 28609? ▼
In ZIP code 28609, 53.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.0% 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 28609? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28609 is 32.0 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 28609? ▼
In ZIP code 28609, approximately 84.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28609? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28609 is 9.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.