Morganton, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28655
Burke County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 54,996
- 67/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $57,713
- Median income Below-median income area
- $191,800
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 22.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Morganton pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated and unusually populous area.
- 25th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 41st pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 67
- people per sq mi
- 73%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28655 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 28655 (Morganton, NC) rose +1.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 227.9 in 2023 to 230.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28655 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina, with 54,996 residents across 823.3 square miles, a density of 67 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28655 reports a modest median household income of $57,713 (17% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $31,976. The poverty rate is 18.4%, with unemployment at 4.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $191,800 (26% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $905; owner occupancy is 72.7%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.3, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Burke County, so 28655 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 28655
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Morganton, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28655.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
179 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
150 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
124 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
118 establishments
- Construction
Construction
93 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 28655, Morganton, 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
54,996
Population
823.3
Area (sq mi)
67
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28655?
44.3
Median Age
51.5%
Male
48.5%
Female
6.0%
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?
$57,713
Median Household Income
-17% vs state ZIP avg
$31,976
Per Capita Income
18.4%
Poverty Rate
4.3%
Unemployment Rate
22.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28655 ranks nationally
Morganton, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$57,713 25th percentile higher than 25% 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?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
24,750housing units
24,750
Total Housing Units
22,219
Occupied Units
2,531
Vacant Units
2.38
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$191,800
Median Home Value
-26% vs state ZIP avg
$905
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
+1.2%
YoY Change (2024)
231
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+131%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28655 have increased 1.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +131% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.6% | 150 |
| 2021 | +12.4% | 168 |
| 2022 | +21.6% | 205 |
| 2023 | +11.3% | 228 |
| 2024 | +1.2% | 231 |
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 1,050 business establishments in ZIP 28655, employing approximately 17,472 people with a combined annual payroll of $794,422,000.
1,050
Businesses
17,472
Employees
$794.4M
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 179 | 17.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 150 | 14.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 124 | 11.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 118 | 11.2% |
| Construction | 93 | 8.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 73 | 7.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 57 | 5.4% |
| Manufacturing | 50 | 4.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 50 | 4.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 48 | 4.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 31 | 3.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 22 | 2.1% |
| Information | 19 | 1.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 1.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8 | 0.8% |
| Educational services | 7 | 0.7% |
| Utilities | 4 | 0.4% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 0.3% |
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 28655 vs 28628 →
ZIP 28655 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28655
Morganton (28655)
54,996 residents
- 28619 1,520
Drexel (28619)
1,520 residents
- 28628 479
Glen Alpine (28628)
479 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28655 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28655 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28628
Glen Alpine (28628)
$74,375 median income
- 28655
Morganton (28655)
$57,713 median income
- 28619
Drexel (28619)
$34,881 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28655 ranks #2 of 3 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 28655, 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 (54,996 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Burke County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28655 in?
ZIP code 28655 (Morganton) is located in Burke County, North Carolina. Burke County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/burke-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28655?
ZIP code 28655 in Morganton, NC has a population of 54,996 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28655?
The median household income in ZIP 28655 is $57,713, which is 24% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28655?
The median home value in ZIP 28655 is $191,800, which is 31% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28655?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28655 is White at 76.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28655?
ZIP code 28655 has 1,050 business establishments employing approximately 17,472 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28655?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28655 are: Retail trade (179), Health care and social assistance (150), Accommodation and food services (124). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28655?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28655 increased by 1.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 131%. 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 28655?
In ZIP code 28655, 53.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.2% 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 28655?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28655 is 22.6 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 28655?
In ZIP code 28655, approximately 72.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 27.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28655?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28655 is 18.4% 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 28655's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28655 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Morganton, 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.