Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28659: North Wilkesboro, NC
ZIP code 28659 uses the postal name North Wilkesboro, North Carolina and lies entirely in Wilkes County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 21,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $50,280 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in North Wilkesboro (7%), Mulberry (5%), Fairplains (4%) and Cricket (3%), and 1% in smaller places; 80% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- North Wilkesboro · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Wilkes County
- Census places
- North Wilkesboro (7%); Mulberry (5%) census-designated place; Fairplains (4%) census-designated place; Cricket (3%) census-designated place
- Neighborhoods
- Brookwood, Cricket Park, Finley Park, Highland Park, Hilltop Acres, Mountain Manor and 5 more GeoNames
- Micro area
- North Wilkesboro, NC
- House district
- NC-5 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 100.6 sq mi · 213 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 28656 also use the name North Wilkesboro
Where is ZIP code 28659?
28659 centers on 36.216°, -81.148° and covers 100.6 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 9 ZIP codes: 28697, 28635, 28669, 28649, 28654, 28651, 28670, 28689, 27020.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28659, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0); neighborhoods from the GeoNames gazetteer (CC BY 4.0), placed in this ZIP code by PlainZIP.
How does 28659 compare with the rest of Wilkes County?
| Measure | 28659 | In Wilkes County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 21,422 | 1st of 20 | 188th of 853 |
| Median household income | $50k | 9th of 12 | 455th of 528 |
| Median home value | $159k | 9th of 15 | 477th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 15% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 63% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 28659?
The 2020 Census counted 20,588 people in 28659; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 21,422. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 2.6% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 21,422
- 2020 Census count
- 20,588−2.6% since 2010 (21,134)
- Households
- 8,869
- Median age
- 42.8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 28659?
Of the 21,422 people the ACS estimates in 28659, 20.7% are under 18 and 21.4% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (81.2%), then Hispanic or Latino (11.3%).
- Under 1820.7%
- 18 to 6457.9%
- 65 and older21.4%
- White, not Hispanic81.2%
- Hispanic or Latino11.3%
- Black, not Hispanic3.4%
- Other or two or more3.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 28659 earn?
Median household income is $50,280 (ACS 2020-2024), the 9th highest of the 12 ranked ZIP codes in Wilkes County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($47,077 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $50,280
- Income per person
- $26,821
- Below the poverty line
- 19.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 6.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 17.7%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $60,0048,380 returns; wages 66% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 28659?
FHFA's house price index for 28659, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 90% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 65% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +4.8% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $159,300
- Median gross rent
- $708
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 68.0%
- Housing units
- 9,922
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 28659?
459 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 23 fewer than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade96
- Health care and social assistance73
- Other services (except public administration)50
- Construction38
- Accommodation and food services33
- Manufacturing26
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 28659?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28697 | Wilkesboro | 13,412 | $53k | 5.5 mi |
| 28635 | Hays | 2,669 | $45k | 8.2 mi |
| 28669 | Roaring River | 2,935 | $47k | 8.8 mi |
| 28649 | McGrady | 1,355 | $47k | 9.0 mi |
| 28654 | Moravian Falls | 3,168 | $57k | 10.9 mi |
| 28651 | Millers Creek | 5,578 | $62k | 10.9 mi |
| 28670 | Ronda | 2,124 | $50k | 13.2 mi |
| 28689 | Union Grove | 2,188 | $71k | 16.9 mi |
| 27020 | Hamptonville | 6,207 | $51k | 20.1 mi |
| 28685 | Traphill | 2,181 | $46k | 10.9 mi (near) |
| 28665 | Purlear | 2,483 | $46k | 12.6 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.
Which other ZIP codes use the name North Wilkesboro?
1 more ZIP code carries the postal name North Wilkesboro, NC without a residential delivery area: PO boxes at the post office, or a single organization with its own ZIP code. The Census Bureau publishes no figures for it.
| ZIP | County |
|---|---|
| 28656 | Wilkes County |
Source: GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0), downloaded 2026-10-09; a ZIP code with no Census ZCTA has no residential delivery area.