Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28723: Cullowhee, NC
ZIP code 28723 uses the postal name Cullowhee, North Carolina and lies entirely in Jackson County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 13,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $45,568 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Cullowhee (3%) and Forest Hills (under 1%); 96% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Cullowhee · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Jackson County
- Census places
- Cullowhee (3%) census-designated place; Forest Hills (under 1%)
- House district
- NC-11 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 112.0 sq mi · 114 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28723?
28723 centers on 35.314°, -83.013° and covers 112.0 square miles of land plus 2.2 of water. It borders 9 ZIP codes: 28783, 28707, 28786, 28736, 28779, 28716, 28717, 28741, 28734.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28723, 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).
How does 28723 compare with the rest of Jackson County?
| Measure | 28723 | In Jackson County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 12,756 | 2nd of 13 | 268th of 853 |
| Median household income | $46k | 7th of 7 | 487th of 528 |
| Median home value | $348k | 3rd of 8 | 138th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 10% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 56% 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 28723?
The 2020 Census counted 12,297 people in 28723; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 12,756. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 8.5% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 12,756
- 2020 Census count
- 12,297+8.5% since 2010 (11,329)
- Households
- 4,384
- Median age
- 22.2
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 28723?
Of the 12,756 people the ACS estimates in 28723, 8.4% are under 18 and 12.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (79.8%), then Hispanic or Latino (10.2%).
- Under 188.4%
- 18 to 6479.5%
- 65 and older12.1%
- White, not Hispanic79.8%
- Hispanic or Latino10.2%
- Black, not Hispanic5.4%
- Other or two or more4.2%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.4%
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 28723 earn?
Median household income is $45,568 (ACS 2020-2024), the 7th highest of the 7 ranked ZIP codes in Jackson County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($45,439 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $45,568±$7,485
- Income per person
- $23,977
- Below the poverty line
- 29.3%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 7.9%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 35.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $59,0933,410 returns; wages 60% 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 28723?
FHFA's house price index for 28723, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 142% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 102% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +18.9% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $347,900
- Median gross rent
- $892
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 36.5%
- Housing units
- 6,012
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 28723?
99 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 23 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction24
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services12
- Real estate and rental and leasing11
- Professional, scientific, and technical services10
- Accommodation and food services9
- Health care and social assistance8
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 28723?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28783 | Tuckasegee | 1,785 | $51k | 5.0 mi |
| 28707 | Balsam | 461 | – | 6.6 mi |
| 28786 | Waynesville | 22,056 | $59k | 10.3 mi |
| 28736 | Glenville | 1,000 | $71k | 10.4 mi |
| 28779 | Sylva | 18,064 | $58k | 11.4 mi |
| 28716 | Canton | 16,863 | $63k | 12.7 mi |
| 28717 | Cashiers | 1,265 | $76k | 18.8 mi |
| 28741 | Highlands | 4,257 | $70k | 20.4 mi |
| 28734 | Franklin | 29,659 | $54k | 25.6 mi |
| 28708 | Balsam Grove | 456 | $70k | 9.2 mi (near) |
| 28788 | Webster | 198 | $81k | 12.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.