West Jefferson, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28694
Ashe County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,744
- 45/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $58,486
- Median income Below-median income area
- $273,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 25.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
West Jefferson pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 26th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 38%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 45
- people per sq mi
- 80%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28694 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 28694 (West Jefferson, NC) rose +11.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 263.3 in 2023 to 294.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28694 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in West Jefferson, Ashe County, North Carolina, home to 7,744 residents across 171.7 square miles, a density of 45 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28694 reports a modest median household income of $58,486 (15% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,615. The poverty rate is 9.6%, with unemployment at 7.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $273,200 (5% above the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $818; 80.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 25.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 50.6, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Ashe County, so 28694 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 28694
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in West Jefferson, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28694.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
58 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
35 establishments
- Construction
Construction
30 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
26 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 23
Health care and social assistance
23 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 28694, West Jefferson, 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
7,744
Population
171.7
Area (sq mi)
45
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28694?
50.6
Median Age
45.4%
Male
54.6%
Female
3.6%
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?
$58,486
Median Household Income
-15% vs state ZIP avg
$36,615
Per Capita Income
9.6%
Poverty Rate
7.8%
Unemployment Rate
20.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28694 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
West Jefferson, 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)
$58,486 35th percentile higher than 35% 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
4,847housing units
4,847
Total Housing Units
3,678
Occupied Units
1,169
Vacant Units
2.04
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$273,200
Median Home Value
+5% vs state ZIP avg
$818
Median Rent
1979
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
+11.8%
YoY Change (2024)
294
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+194%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28694 have increased 11.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +194% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.3% | 162 |
| 2021 | +16.1% | 188 |
| 2022 | +26.2% | 238 |
| 2023 | +10.8% | 263 |
| 2024 | +11.8% | 294 |
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 278 business establishments in ZIP 28694, employing approximately 3,313 people with a combined annual payroll of $132,294,000.
278
Businesses
3,313
Employees
$132.3M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 58 | 20.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 35 | 12.6% |
| Construction | 30 | 10.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 26 | 9.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 23 | 8.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 21 | 7.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 18 | 6.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 17 | 6.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 | 4.0% |
| Manufacturing | 10 | 3.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 8 | 2.9% |
| Information | 8 | 2.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 1.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 1.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.1% |
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 28694 vs 28626 →
ZIP 28694 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
- 28640
Jefferson (28640)
4,719 residents
- 28626 2,714
Fleetwood (28626)
2,714 residents
- 28617 2,261
Crumpler (28617)
2,261 residents
- 28684 2,141
Todd (28684)
2,141 residents
- 28693 1,700
Warrensville (28693)
1,700 residents
- 28629 75
Glendale Springs (28629)
75 residents
- 28672 35
Scottville (28672)
35 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28694 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28694 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
- 28626
Fleetwood (28626)
$73,675 median income
- 28684
Todd (28684)
$69,307 median income
- 28693 $62,596
Warrensville (28693)
$62,596 median income
- 28617 $62,204
Crumpler (28617)
$62,204 median income
- 28694 $58,486
West Jefferson (28694)
$58,486 median income
- 28640 $53,155
Jefferson (28640)
$53,155 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28694 ranks #6 of 7 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 28694, 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 (7,744 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Ashe County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28694 in?
ZIP code 28694 (West Jefferson) is located in Ashe County, North Carolina. Ashe County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/ashe-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28694?
ZIP code 28694 in West Jefferson, NC has a population of 7,744 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28694?
The median household income in ZIP 28694 is $58,486, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28694?
The median home value in ZIP 28694 is $273,200, which is 2% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28694?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28694 is White at 88.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28694?
ZIP code 28694 has 278 business establishments employing approximately 3,313 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28694?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28694 are: Retail trade (58), Accommodation and food services (35), Construction (30). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28694?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28694 increased by 11.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 194%. 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 28694?
In ZIP code 28694, 52.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.0% 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 28694?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28694 is 20.7 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 28694?
In ZIP code 28694, approximately 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28694?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28694 is 9.6% 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 28694's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28694 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where West Jefferson, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.