ZIP Code 28698

ZIP code 28698 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 65.0 square miles in Zionville, Watauga County, North Carolina. The area is home to 2,256 residents, producing a population density of 35 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 28698 against North Carolina and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 28698 sits at $54,402 (21% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $33,263. The poverty rate stands at 11.5% and the unemployment rate at 0.0%. On housing, the median home value is $219,400 (15% below the state average) with median rent at $713 per month, and 88.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 28698 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 14.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 51.7, and the average commute is 30 minutes. We also surface 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Watauga County, so you can benchmark 28698 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 →