Hudson, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28638
Caldwell County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 12,302
- 235/sq mi High-density area
- $67,135
- Median income Near-median income area
- $207,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 18.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Hudson pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 42nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 45th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 235
- people per sq mi
- 77%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28638 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 28638 (Hudson, NC) rose +7.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 219.7 in 2023 to 235.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28638 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Hudson, Caldwell County, North Carolina, home to 12,302 residents across 52.5 square miles, a density of 235 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28638 reports a modest median household income of $67,135 (3% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,515. The poverty rate is 15.1%, with unemployment at 3.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $207,500 (20% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $711; owner occupancy is 77.1%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 8 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 4 more in Caldwell County, so 28638 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 28638
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Hudson, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28638.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
38 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
28 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
21 establishments
- Construction
Construction
19 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
19 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 28638, Hudson, 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
12,302
Population
52.5
Area (sq mi)
235
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28638?
38.0
Median Age
49.2%
Male
50.8%
Female
2.1%
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?
$67,135
Median Household Income
-3% vs state ZIP avg
$31,515
Per Capita Income
15.1%
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Unemployment Rate
22.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28638 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Hudson, 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)
$67,135 Top 44% higher than 56% 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
5,119housing units
5,119
Total Housing Units
4,671
Occupied Units
448
Vacant Units
2.64
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$207,500
Median Home Value
-20% vs state ZIP avg
$711
Median Rent
1981
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
+7.1%
YoY Change (2024)
235
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+135%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28638 have increased 7.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +135% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.6% | 151 |
| 2021 | +14.2% | 173 |
| 2022 | +22.4% | 212 |
| 2023 | +3.9% | 220 |
| 2024 | +7.1% | 235 |
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 201 business establishments in ZIP 28638, employing approximately 3,076 people with a combined annual payroll of $135,056,000.
201
Businesses
3,076
Employees
$135.1M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 38 | 18.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 28 | 13.9% |
| Manufacturing | 21 | 10.4% |
| Construction | 19 | 9.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 19 | 9.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 15 | 7.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 13 | 6.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 10 | 5.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 9 | 4.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 8 | 4.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 2.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 1.5% |
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 28638 vs 28630 →
ZIP 28638 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28645
Lenoir (28645)
47,703 residents
- 28630
Granite Falls (28630)
20,041 residents
- 28638 12,302
Hudson (28638)
12,302 residents
- 28690 9,295
Valdese (28690)
9,295 residents
- 28637 1,746
Hildebran (28637)
1,746 residents
- 28619 1,520
Drexel (28619)
1,520 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 28638 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28638 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
- 28637
Hildebran (28637)
$67,500 median income
- 28638
Hudson (28638)
$67,135 median income
- 28690
Valdese (28690)
$67,000 median income
- 28630
Granite Falls (28630)
$63,835 median income
- 28645
Lenoir (28645)
$51,650 median income
- 28619
Drexel (28619)
$34,881 median income
- 28667 $26,354
Rhodhiss (28667)
$26,354 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28638 ranks #3 of 8 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 28638, 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 (12,302 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 28638 in?
ZIP code 28638 (Hudson) 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 28638?
ZIP code 28638 in Hudson, NC has a population of 12,302 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28638?
The median household income in ZIP 28638 is $67,135, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28638?
The median home value in ZIP 28638 is $207,500, which is 25% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28638?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28638 is White at 93.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28638?
ZIP code 28638 has 201 business establishments employing approximately 3,076 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28638?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28638 are: Retail trade (38), Other services (except public administration) (28), Manufacturing (21). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28638?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28638 increased by 7.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 135%. 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 28638?
In ZIP code 28638, 54.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.6% 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 28638?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28638 is 22.3 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 28638?
In ZIP code 28638, approximately 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 22.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28638?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28638 is 15.1% 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 28638's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28638 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Hudson, 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.