Wilkesboro, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28697
Wilkes County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 12,930
- 79/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $52,988
- Median income Below-median income area
- $218,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 23.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Wilkesboro pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 18th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 49th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 79
- people per sq mi
- 67%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28697 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 28697 (Wilkesboro, NC) rose +7.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 187.1 in 2023 to 200.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28697 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina, home to 12,930 residents across 164.5 square miles, a density of 79 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28697 reports a modest median household income of $52,988 (23% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,097. The poverty rate is 14.6%, with unemployment at 3.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $218,500 (16% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $768; owner occupancy is 66.7%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 23.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.4, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wilkes County, so 28697 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 28697
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wilkesboro, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28697.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
79 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
54 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
47 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
37 establishments
- Construction 29
Construction
29 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 28697, Wilkesboro, 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
12,930
Population
164.5
Area (sq mi)
79
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28697?
43.4
Median Age
46.8%
Male
53.2%
Female
4.4%
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?
$52,988
Median Household Income
-23% vs state ZIP avg
$29,097
Per Capita Income
14.6%
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Unemployment Rate
22.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28697 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Wilkesboro, 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)
$52,988 23rd percentile higher than 23% 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
6,158housing units
6,158
Total Housing Units
5,471
Occupied Units
687
Vacant Units
2.38
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$218,500
Median Home Value
-16% vs state ZIP avg
$768
Median Rent
1980
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
+7.1%
YoY Change (2024)
200
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+100%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28697 have increased 7.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +100% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -1.7% | 130 |
| 2021 | +9.5% | 143 |
| 2022 | +18.6% | 169 |
| 2023 | +10.6% | 187 |
| 2024 | +7.1% | 200 |
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 409 business establishments in ZIP 28697, employing approximately 10,919 people with a combined annual payroll of $389,806,000.
409
Businesses
10,919
Employees
$389.8M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 79 | 19.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 54 | 13.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 47 | 11.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 37 | 9.1% |
| Construction | 29 | 7.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 28 | 6.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 27 | 6.6% |
| Manufacturing | 22 | 5.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 19 | 4.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 18 | 4.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13 | 3.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 13 | 3.2% |
| Information | 10 | 2.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.7% |
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 28697 vs 28654 →
ZIP 28697 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28659
North Wilkesboro (28659)
21,134 residents
- 28697
Wilkesboro (28697)
12,930 residents
- 28651 7,132
Millers Creek (28651)
7,132 residents
- 28654 3,495
Moravian Falls (28654)
3,495 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28697 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28697 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28651
Millers Creek (28651)
$61,623 median income
- 28654
Moravian Falls (28654)
$57,438 median income
- 28697
Wilkesboro (28697)
$52,988 median income
- 28659
North Wilkesboro (28659)
$50,280 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28697 ranks #3 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 28697, 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 (12,930 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Wilkes County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28697 in?
ZIP code 28697 (Wilkesboro) is located in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Wilkes County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/wilkes-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28697?
ZIP code 28697 in Wilkesboro, NC has a population of 12,930 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28697?
The median household income in ZIP 28697 is $52,988, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28697?
The median home value in ZIP 28697 is $218,500, which is 21% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28697?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28697 is White at 81.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28697?
ZIP code 28697 has 409 business establishments employing approximately 10,919 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28697?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28697 are: Retail trade (79), Accommodation and food services (54), Other services (except public administration) (47). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28697?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28697 increased by 7.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 100%. 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 28697?
In ZIP code 28697, 54.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.9% 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 28697?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28697 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 28697?
In ZIP code 28697, approximately 66.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 33.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28697?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28697 is 14.6% 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 28697's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28697 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Wilkesboro, 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.