Jefferson, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28640
Ashe County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 4,719
- 47/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $53,155
- Median income Below-median income area
- $282,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 22.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Jefferson pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 18th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 36%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 47
- people per sq mi
- 72%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28640 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 28640 (Jefferson, NC) rose +25.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 206.5 in 2023 to 259.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28640 covers 100.6 square miles in Jefferson, Ashe County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 4,719 residents on file, a density of 47 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28640 reports a modest median household income of $53,155 (23% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $34,864. The poverty rate is 14.8%, with unemployment at 3.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $282,900 (9% above the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $797; 72.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 51.7, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Ashe County, so 28640 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 28640
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Jefferson, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28640.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
24 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
24 establishments
- Construction
Construction
18 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
18 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
15 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 28640, Jefferson, 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
4,719
Population
100.6
Area (sq mi)
47
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28640?
51.7
Median Age
50.2%
Male
49.8%
Female
2.3%
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?
$53,155
Median Household Income
-23% vs state ZIP avg
$34,864
Per Capita Income
14.8%
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 28640 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Jefferson, 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)
$53,155 24th percentile higher than 24% 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
2,875housing units
2,875
Total Housing Units
2,076
Occupied Units
799
Vacant Units
2.21
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$282,900
Median Home Value
+9% vs state ZIP avg
$797
Median Rent
1986
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
+25.7%
YoY Change (2024)
260
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+160%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28640 have increased 25.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +160% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.8% | 141 |
| 2021 | +7.9% | 152 |
| 2022 | +31.1% | 199 |
| 2023 | +3.9% | 207 |
| 2024 | +25.7% | 260 |
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 152 business establishments in ZIP 28640, employing approximately 2,394 people with a combined annual payroll of $125,338,000.
152
Businesses
2,394
Employees
$125.3M
Annual Payroll
11
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 24 | 15.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 24 | 15.8% |
| Construction | 18 | 11.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 18 | 11.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 15 | 9.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 14 | 9.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 11 | 7.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 4.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 3.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 3.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 2.0% |
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 28640 vs 28629 →
ZIP 28640 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28694
West Jefferson (28694)
7,744 residents
- 28651
Millers Creek (28651)
7,132 residents
- 28640
Jefferson (28640)
4,719 residents
- 28643
Lansing (28643)
3,521 residents
- 28626 2,714
Fleetwood (28626)
2,714 residents
- 28617 2,261
Crumpler (28617)
2,261 residents
- 28644 1,494
Laurel Springs (28644)
1,494 residents
- 28631 637
Grassy Creek (28631)
637 residents
- 28663 614
Piney Creek (28663)
614 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28640 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28640 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28672
Scottville (28672)
$163,210 median income
- 28663
Piney Creek (28663)
$80,457 median income
- 28626
Fleetwood (28626)
$73,675 median income
- 28617 $62,204
Crumpler (28617)
$62,204 median income
- 28651 $61,623
Millers Creek (28651)
$61,623 median income
- 28694 $58,486
West Jefferson (28694)
$58,486 median income
- 28640 $53,155
Jefferson (28640)
$53,155 median income
- 28644 $52,798
Laurel Springs (28644)
$52,798 median income
- 28643 $44,509
Lansing (28643)
$44,509 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28640 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28629 | Glendale Springs, NC | 75 | 5.0 mi |
| 28617 | Crumpler, NC | 2,261 | 5.6 mi |
| 28694 | West Jefferson, NC | 7,744 | 4.6 mi |
| 28631 | Grassy Creek, NC | 637 | 10.2 mi |
| 28672 | Scottville, NC | 35 | 7.1 mi |
| 28644 | Laurel Springs, NC | 1,494 | 8.1 mi |
| 28626 | Fleetwood, NC | 2,714 | 9.1 mi |
| 28663 | Piney Creek, NC | 614 | 11.0 mi |
| 28643 | Lansing, NC | 3,521 | 11.2 mi |
| 28651 | Millers Creek, NC | 7,132 | 11.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28640, 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 (4,719 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Ashe County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28640 in?
ZIP code 28640 (Jefferson) 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 28640?
ZIP code 28640 in Jefferson, NC has a population of 4,719 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28640?
The median household income in ZIP 28640 is $53,155, which is 30% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28640?
The median home value in ZIP 28640 is $282,900, which is 2% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28640?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28640 is White at 91.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28640?
ZIP code 28640 has 152 business establishments employing approximately 2,394 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28640?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28640 are: Retail trade (24), Health care and social assistance (24), Construction (18). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28640?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28640 increased by 25.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 160%. 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 28640?
In ZIP code 28640, 49.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.0% 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 28640?
In ZIP code 28640, approximately 72.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 27.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28640?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28640 is 14.8% 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 28640's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28640 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Jefferson, 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.