Newland, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28657
Avery County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 9,488
- 23/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $59,702
- Median income Below-median income area
- $240,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 24.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Newland pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 29th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 45%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 23
- people per sq mi
- 85%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28657 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 28657 (Newland, NC) rose +25.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 219.0 in 2023 to 273.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28657 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Newland, Avery County, North Carolina, home to 9,488 residents across 414.3 square miles, a density of 23 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28657 reports a modest median household income of $59,702 (14% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,318. The poverty rate is 9.0%, with unemployment at 3.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $240,300 (7% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $695; 85.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 51.4, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Avery County, so 28657 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 28657
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Newland, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28657.
- Construction
Construction
30 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
28 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
21 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
20 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
20 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 28657, Newland, 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
9,488
Population
414.3
Area (sq mi)
23
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28657?
51.4
Median Age
51.2%
Male
48.8%
Female
1.7%
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?
$59,702
Median Household Income
-14% vs state ZIP avg
$36,318
Per Capita Income
9.0%
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Unemployment Rate
24.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28657 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Newland, 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)
$59,702 38th percentile higher than 38% 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
6,360housing units
6,360
Total Housing Units
3,716
Occupied Units
2,644
Vacant Units
2.18
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$240,300
Median Home Value
-7% vs state ZIP avg
$695
Median Rent
1984
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
+25.1%
YoY Change (2024)
274
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+174%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28657 have increased 25.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +174% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.2% | 150 |
| 2021 | +10.4% | 165 |
| 2022 | +31.1% | 217 |
| 2023 | +0.9% | 219 |
| 2024 | +25.1% | 274 |
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 191 business establishments in ZIP 28657, employing approximately 1,369 people with a combined annual payroll of $57,269,000.
191
Businesses
1,369
Employees
$57.3M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 30 | 15.7% |
| Retail trade | 28 | 14.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 11.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 20 | 10.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 20 | 10.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 12 | 6.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 11 | 5.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 5.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 4.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 3.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 3.1% |
| Information | 3 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.6% |
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 28657 vs 28616 →
ZIP 28657 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28777
Spruce Pine (28777)
10,638 residents
- 28657
Newland (28657)
9,488 residents
- 28604
Banner Elk (28604)
6,249 residents
- 28616 493
Crossnore (28616)
493 residents
- 28646 342
Linville (28646)
342 residents
- 28662 140
Pineola (28662)
140 residents
- 28647 89
Linville Falls (28647)
89 residents
- 28652 46
Minneapolis (28652)
46 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28657 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28657 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28646
Linville (28646)
$76,736 median income
- 28604
Banner Elk (28604)
$76,319 median income
- 28777
Spruce Pine (28777)
$63,378 median income
- 28657
Newland (28657)
$59,702 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28657 ranks #4 of 4 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 28657, 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 (9,488 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Avery County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28657 in?
ZIP code 28657 (Newland) is located in Avery County, North Carolina. Avery County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/avery-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28657?
ZIP code 28657 in Newland, NC has a population of 9,488 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28657?
The median household income in ZIP 28657 is $59,702, which is 22% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28657?
The median home value in ZIP 28657 is $240,300, which is 14% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28657?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28657 is White at 94.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28657?
ZIP code 28657 has 191 business establishments employing approximately 1,369 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28657?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28657 are: Construction (30), Retail trade (28), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (21). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28657?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28657 increased by 25.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 174%. 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 28657?
In ZIP code 28657, 54.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.9% 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 28657?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28657 is 24.9 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 28657?
In ZIP code 28657, approximately 85.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28657?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28657 is 9.0% 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 28657's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28657 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Newland, 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.