Elkin, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28621
Surry County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 10,472
- 58/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $53,616
- Median income Below-median income area
- $159,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 20.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Elkin pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 19th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 29th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 58
- people per sq mi
- 69%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28621 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 28621 (Elkin, NC) rose +21.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 210.1 in 2023 to 254.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28621 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Elkin, Surry County, North Carolina, home to 10,472 residents across 181.5 square miles, a density of 58 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28621 reports a modest median household income of $53,616 (22% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,190. The poverty rate is 21.0%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $159,000 (39% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $783; owner occupancy is 68.7%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.9, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Surry County, so 28621 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 28621
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Elkin, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28621.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
60 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
60 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
42 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
30 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
25 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 28621, Elkin, 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
10,472
Population
181.5
Area (sq mi)
58
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28621?
43.9
Median Age
50.7%
Male
49.3%
Female
4.3%
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?
$53,616
Median Household Income
-22% vs state ZIP avg
$31,190
Per Capita Income
21.0%
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Unemployment Rate
24.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28621 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Elkin, 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)
$53,616 25th percentile higher than 25% 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
4,843housing units
4,843
Total Housing Units
4,126
Occupied Units
717
Vacant Units
2.23
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$159,000
Median Home Value
-39% vs state ZIP avg
$783
Median Rent
1973
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
+21.4%
YoY Change (2024)
255
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+155%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28621 have increased 21.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +155% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.6% | 135 |
| 2021 | +16.8% | 158 |
| 2022 | +16.5% | 184 |
| 2023 | +13.9% | 210 |
| 2024 | +21.4% | 255 |
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 323 business establishments in ZIP 28621, employing approximately 5,251 people with a combined annual payroll of $227,876,000.
323
Businesses
5,251
Employees
$227.9M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 60 | 18.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 60 | 18.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 42 | 13.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 30 | 9.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 25 | 7.7% |
| Construction | 22 | 6.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 21 | 6.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 13 | 4.0% |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 3.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 3.7% |
| Information | 9 | 2.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 6 | 1.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 0.9% |
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 28621 vs 28676 →
ZIP 28621 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28621
Elkin (28621)
10,472 residents
- 27017
Dobson (27017)
9,597 residents
- 28642
Jonesville (28642)
5,745 residents
- 27011
Boonville (27011)
5,497 residents
- 28676 3,483
State Road (28676)
3,483 residents
- 28670 2,719
Ronda (28670)
2,719 residents
- 28683 1,697
Thurmond (28683)
1,697 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28621 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28621 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 27011
Boonville (27011)
$65,698 median income
- 28676
State Road (28676)
$60,833 median income
- 27017
Dobson (27017)
$59,329 median income
- 28621
Elkin (28621)
$53,616 median income
- 28670
Ronda (28670)
$49,567 median income
- 28683
Thurmond (28683)
$45,423 median income
- 28642
Jonesville (28642)
$44,543 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28621 ranks #4 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 28621, 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 (10,472 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Surry County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28621 in?
ZIP code 28621 (Elkin) is located in Surry County, North Carolina. Surry County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/surry-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28621?
ZIP code 28621 in Elkin, NC has a population of 10,472 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28621?
The median household income in ZIP 28621 is $53,616, which is 30% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28621?
The median home value in ZIP 28621 is $159,000, which is 43% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28621?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28621 is White at 83.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 14.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28621?
ZIP code 28621 has 323 business establishments employing approximately 5,251 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28621?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28621 are: Retail trade (60), Health care and social assistance (60), Accommodation and food services (42). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28621?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28621 increased by 21.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 155%. 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 28621?
In ZIP code 28621, 47.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.3% 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 28621?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28621 is 24.4 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 28621?
In ZIP code 28621, approximately 68.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 31.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28621?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28621 is 21.0% 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 28621's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28621 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Elkin, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.