ZIP Code 28659

ZIP code 28659 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 264.2 square miles in North Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina. The area is home to 21,134 residents, producing a population density of 80 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 28659 against North Carolina and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 28659 sits at $50,280 (27% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $26,821. The poverty rate stands at 19.2% and the unemployment rate at 6.1%. On housing, the median home value is $159,300 (39% below the state average) with median rent at $708 per month, and 68.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 28659 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 17.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.8, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Wilkes County, so you can benchmark 28659 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 →