Granite Falls, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28630
Caldwell County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,041
- 129/sq mi High-density area
- $63,835
- Median income Near-median income area
- $202,400
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 18.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Granite Falls pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 36th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 44th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 129
- people per sq mi
- 76%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28630 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 28630 (Granite Falls, NC) rose +11.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 216.3 in 2023 to 240.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28630 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Granite Falls, Caldwell County, North Carolina, with 20,041 residents across 155.4 square miles, a density of 129 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28630 reports a modest median household income of $63,835 (8% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,988. The poverty rate is 12.4%, with unemployment at 7.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $202,400 (22% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $853; owner occupancy is 75.9%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.3, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 4 more in Caldwell County, so 28630 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 28630
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Granite Falls, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28630.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
52 establishments
- Construction
Construction
49 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
47 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
27 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
21 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 28630, Granite Falls, 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
20,041
Population
155.4
Area (sq mi)
129
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28630?
47.3
Median Age
52.9%
Male
47.1%
Female
1.4%
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?
$63,835
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$36,988
Per Capita Income
12.4%
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
24.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28630 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Granite Falls, 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)
$63,835 48th percentile higher than 48% 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
9,115housing units
9,115
Total Housing Units
7,917
Occupied Units
1,198
Vacant Units
2.43
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$202,400
Median Home Value
-22% vs state ZIP avg
$853
Median Rent
1987
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
+11.1%
YoY Change (2024)
240
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+140%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28630 have increased 11.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +140% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.7% | 148 |
| 2021 | +11.3% | 165 |
| 2022 | +16.8% | 192 |
| 2023 | +12.5% | 216 |
| 2024 | +11.1% | 240 |
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 317 business establishments in ZIP 28630, employing approximately 4,350 people with a combined annual payroll of $186,881,000.
317
Businesses
4,350
Employees
$186.9M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 52 | 16.4% |
| Construction | 49 | 15.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 47 | 14.8% |
| Manufacturing | 27 | 8.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 21 | 6.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 20 | 6.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 19 | 6.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 19 | 6.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 18 | 5.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 5.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 2.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 9 | 2.8% |
| Information | 4 | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 1.3% |
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 28630 vs 28667 →
ZIP 28630 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28601
Hickory (28601)
50,026 residents
- 28602
Hickory (28602)
28,981 residents
- 28630
Granite Falls (28630)
20,041 residents
- 28638 12,302
Hudson (28638)
12,302 residents
- 28637 1,746
Hildebran (28637)
1,746 residents
- 28671 597
Rutherford College (28671)
597 residents
- 28667 559
Rhodhiss (28667)
559 residents
- 28666 368
Icard (28666)
368 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28630 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28630 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28671
Rutherford College (28671)
$73,929 median income
- 28601
Hickory (28601)
$67,817 median income
- 28637
Hildebran (28637)
$67,500 median income
- 28638
Hudson (28638)
$67,135 median income
- 28630
Granite Falls (28630)
$63,835 median income
- 28602
Hickory (28602)
$62,048 median income
- 28667 $26,354
Rhodhiss (28667)
$26,354 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28630 ranks #5 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 28630, 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 (20,041 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Caldwell County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28630 in?
ZIP code 28630 (Granite Falls) is located in Caldwell County, North Carolina. Caldwell County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/caldwell-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28630?
ZIP code 28630 in Granite Falls, NC has a population of 20,041 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28630?
The median household income in ZIP 28630 is $63,835, which is 16% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28630?
The median home value in ZIP 28630 is $202,400, which is 27% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28630?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28630 is White at 89.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28630?
ZIP code 28630 has 317 business establishments employing approximately 4,350 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28630?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28630 are: Retail trade (52), Construction (49), Other services (except public administration) (47). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28630?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28630 increased by 11.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 140%. 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 28630?
In ZIP code 28630, 51.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.1% 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 28630?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28630 is 24.8 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 28630?
In ZIP code 28630, approximately 75.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28630?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28630 is 12.4% 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 28630's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28630 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Granite Falls, 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.