PlainZIP

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
$52,988
Median income
$218,500
Median home value
23.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $29,097. 14.6% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 3.8%. Median home value sits at $218,500 (16% below the state average), median rent at $768 a month, and owner-occupancy at 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. To put 28697 in local context, 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Wilkes County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 28697?

43.4

Median Age

46.8%

Male

53.2%

Female

4.4%

Foreign-Born

White 81.0%
African American 7.8%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.1%
Hispanic or Latino 10.7%

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

$29,097

Per Capita Income

14.6%

Poverty Rate

3.8%

Unemployment Rate

22.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28697 ranks nationally

Wilkesboro, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$52,988 18th percentile higher than 18% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 54.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,158

Total Housing Units

5,471

Occupied Units

687

Vacant Units

2.38

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 66.7%
Renter 33.3%

$218,500

Median Home Value

-16% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28697 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 28697 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
28654 Moravian Falls, NC 3,495 5.2 mi
28659 North Wilkesboro, NC 21,134 5.4 mi
28651 Millers Creek, NC 7,132 11.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Wilkes County

28659 standard
North Wilkesboro, NC
Pop: 21,134
28651 standard
Millers Creek, NC
Pop: 7,132
28635 standard
Hays, NC
Pop: 3,901
28654 standard
Moravian Falls, NC
Pop: 3,495
28669 standard
Roaring River, NC
Pop: 3,146
28670 standard
Ronda, NC
Pop: 2,719

Related Areas

Wilkes County Wilkesboro, NC North Carolina

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.