PlainZIP

Fleetwood, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28626

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

2,714
32/sq mi
$73,675
Median income
$291,900
Median home value
43.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 47%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 35%
home value, US ZIPs
32
people per sq mi
92%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28626 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28626 covers 83.8 square miles in Fleetwood, Ashe County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,714 residents on file, a density of 32 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28626 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $73,675 (7% above the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $38,779. 10.2% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 2.9%. The typical home here is valued at $291,900 (12% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,270 monthly, and 92.2% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 43.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.7, and the average commute is -. To put 28626 in local context, 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Ashe County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 28626

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fleetwood, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28626.

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 28626, Fleetwood, 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

2,714

Population

83.8

Area (sq mi)

32

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 28626?

48.7

Median Age

50.8%

Male

49.2%

Female

3.7%

Foreign-Born

White 96.4%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.0%
Hispanic or Latino 3.4%

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?

$73,675

Median Household Income

+7% vs state

$38,779

Per Capita Income

10.2%

Poverty Rate

2.9%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 28626 ranks nationally

Fleetwood, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$73,675 Top 47% higher than 53% 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 69.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 43.1%

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

What does housing look like?

2,227

Total Housing Units

1,521

Occupied Units

706

Vacant Units

2.06

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 92.2%
Renter 7.8%

$291,900

Median Home Value

+12% vs state

$1,270

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

+23.7%

YoY Change (2024)

323

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+223%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28626 have increased 23.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +223% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.1% 177
2021 +9.7% 194
2022 +22.9% 238
2023 +9.7% 261
2024 +23.7% 323

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 29 business establishments in ZIP 28626, employing approximately 152 people with a combined annual payroll of $8,200,000.

29

Businesses

152

Employees

$8.2M

Annual Payroll

3

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 14 48.3%
Retail trade 3 10.3%
Health care and social assistance 3 10.3%

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 28626 vs 28694 →

ZIP 28626 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 28626 ranks #3 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 28626 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 28626 ranks the highest 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
28694 West Jefferson, NC 7,744 4.9 mi
28618 Deep Gap, NC 2,352 6.2 mi
28684 Todd, NC 2,141 7.0 mi
28629 Glendale Springs, NC 75 8.2 mi
28640 Jefferson, NC 4,719 9.1 mi
28665 Purlear, NC 2,571 9.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Ashe County

28694 standard
West Jefferson, NC
Pop: 7,744
28640 standard
Jefferson, NC
Pop: 4,719
28643 standard
Lansing, NC
Pop: 3,521
28617 standard
Crumpler, NC
Pop: 2,261
28684 standard
Todd, NC
Pop: 2,141
28615 standard
Creston, NC
Pop: 1,876

Related Areas

Ashe County Fleetwood, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28626 in? ▼
ZIP code 28626 (Fleetwood) is located in Ashe County, North Carolina. Ashe County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/ashe-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28626? ▼
ZIP code 28626 in Fleetwood, NC has a population of 2,714 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28626? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28626 is $73,675, which is 3% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28626? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28626 is $291,900, which is 5% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28626? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28626 is White at 96.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28626? ▼
ZIP code 28626 has 29 business establishments employing approximately 152 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28626? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28626 are: Construction (14), Retail trade (3), Health care and social assistance (3). There are 3 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28626? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28626 increased by 23.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 223%. 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 28626? ▼
In ZIP code 28626, 69.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 43.1% 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 28626? ▼
In ZIP code 28626, approximately 92.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 7.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28626? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28626 is 10.2% 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.