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
- $53,155
- Median income
- $282,900
- Median home value
- 22.0%
- Bachelor's or higher
The verdict
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.
ZIP code 28640 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 100.6 square miles in Jefferson, Ashe County, North Carolina. The area is home to 4,719 residents, producing a population density of 47 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 28640 against North Carolina and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 28640 sits at $53,155 (23% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $34,864. The poverty rate stands at 14.8% and the unemployment rate at 3.9%. On housing, the median home value is $282,900 (9% above the state average) with median rent at $797 per month, and 72.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 28640 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 22.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 51.7, and the average commute is —. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Ashe County, so you can benchmark 28640 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 28640
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$34,864
Per Capita Income
14.8%
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 28640 ranks nationally
Household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$53,155 18th percentile higher than 18% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
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
$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 |
More ZIP Codes in Ashe County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28640 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 28640? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 28640? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 28640? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28640? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28640? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28640? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28640? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 28640? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28640? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28640? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Jefferson, NC
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.