Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28638: Hudson, NC
ZIP code 28638 uses the postal name Hudson, North Carolina and lies entirely in Caldwell County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 12,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $67,135 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Hudson (18%) and Sawmills (13%), and 3% in smaller places; 66% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Hudson · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Caldwell County
- Census places
- Hudson (18%); Sawmills (13%)
- Metro area
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
- House district
- NC-5 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 20.0 sq mi · 619 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28638?
28638 centers on 35.845°, -81.478° and covers 20.0 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 2 ZIP codes: 28630, 28645.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28638, 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 28638 compare with the rest of Caldwell County?
| Measure | 28638 | In Caldwell County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 12,363 | 4th of 8 | 279th of 853 |
| Median household income | $67k | 3rd of 6 | 252nd of 528 |
| Median home value | $208k | 3rd of 6 | 373rd of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 42% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 74% 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 28638?
The 2020 Census counted 11,880 people in 28638; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 12,363. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 3.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 12,363
- 2020 Census count
- 11,880−3.4% since 2010 (12,302)
- Households
- 4,671
- Median age
- 38.0
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 28638?
Of the 12,363 people the ACS estimates in 28638, 23.3% are under 18 and 16.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (91.2%).
- Under 1823.3%
- 18 to 6460.1%
- 65 and older16.6%
- White, not Hispanic91.2%
- Hispanic or Latino4.9%
- Other or two or more2.2%
- Black, not Hispanic1.6%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.1%
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 28638 earn?
Median household income is $67,135 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 6 ranked ZIP codes in Caldwell County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($58,732 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $67,135±$11,393
- Income per person
- $31,515
- Below the poverty line
- 15.1%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.9%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 18.6%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $55,4255,420 returns; wages 77% 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 28638?
FHFA's house price index for 28638, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 106% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 59% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.0% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $207,500
- Median gross rent
- $711
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 77.1%
- Housing units
- 5,119
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 28638?
201 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 25 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade38
- Other services (except public administration)28
- Manufacturing21
- Construction19
- Accommodation and food services19
- Health care and social assistance15
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 28638?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28630 | Granite Falls | 19,382 | $64k | 3.4 mi |
| 28645 | Lenoir | 45,997 | $52k | 10.0 mi |
| 28667 | Rhodhiss | 301 | $26k | 5.7 mi (near) |
| 28671 | Rutherford College | 375 | $74k | 7.1 mi (near) |
| 28666 | Icard | 273 | – | 8.7 mi (near) |
| 28619 | Drexel | 487 | $35k | 9.3 mi (near) |
| 28637 | Hildebran | 1,911 | $68k | 9.4 mi (near) |
| 28690 | Valdese | 9,196 | $67k | 9.5 mi (near) |
| 28601 | Hickory | 53,329 | $68k | 9.9 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.