PlainZIP

Cullowhee, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28723

Jackson County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

11,329
39/sq mi
$45,568
Median income
$347,900
Median home value
35.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Cullowhee pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, renter-heavy area.

10th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 27%
home value, US ZIPs
39
people per sq mi
37%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28723 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28723 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Cullowhee, Jackson County, North Carolina, home to 11,329 residents across 289.7 square miles, a density of 39 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28723 reports a modest median household income of $45,568 (34% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $23,977. Poverty here runs at 29.3%, with unemployment measured at 7.9%. Median home value sits at $347,900 (34% above the state average), median rent at $892 a month, and owner-occupancy at 36.5%.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 35.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 22.2, and the average commute is 20 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 5 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 28723, plus 6 more within Jackson County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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 28723

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Cullowhee, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28723.

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 28723, Cullowhee, 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

11,329

Population

289.7

Area (sq mi)

39

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 28723?

22.2

Median Age

49.3%

Male

50.7%

Female

5.6%

Foreign-Born

White 82.3%
African American 5.8%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.5%
Hispanic or Latino 10.2%

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?

$45,568

Median Household Income

-34% vs state

$23,977

Per Capita Income

29.3%

Poverty Rate

7.9%

Unemployment Rate

20.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28723 ranks nationally

Cullowhee, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$45,568 10th percentile higher than 10% 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 66.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 35.9%

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

What does housing look like?

6,012

Total Housing Units

4,384

Occupied Units

1,628

Vacant Units

2.05

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 36.5%
Renter 63.5%

$347,900

Median Home Value

+34% vs state

$892

Median Rent

1997

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

+15.3%

YoY Change (2024)

260

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+160%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28723 have increased 15.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +160% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.5% 158
2021 +11.4% 176
2022 +22.6% 215
2023 +4.8% 226
2024 +15.3% 260

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 99 business establishments in ZIP 28723, employing approximately 756 people with a combined annual payroll of $28,371,000.

99

Businesses

756

Employees

$28.4M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 24 24.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 12 12.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 11 11.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 10 10.1%
Accommodation and food services 9 9.1%
Health care and social assistance 8 8.1%
Other services (except public administration) 8 8.1%
Wholesale trade 4 4.0%
Retail trade 4 4.0%
Finance and insurance 3 3.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 3.0%

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 28723 vs 28783 →

ZIP 28723 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 28723 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 28723 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 28723 ranks #5 of 5 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
28783 Tuckasegee, NC 1,593 6.0 mi
28736 Glenville, NC 787 6.9 mi
28779 Sylva, NC 16,111 7.2 mi
28707 Balsam, NC 94 8.7 mi
28725 Dillsboro, NC 43 10.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Jackson County

28779 standard
Sylva, NC
Pop: 16,111
28789 standard
Whittier, NC
Pop: 5,097
28717 standard
Cashiers, NC
Pop: 1,729
28783 standard
Tuckasegee, NC
Pop: 1,593
28736 standard
Glenville, NC
Pop: 787
28707 standard
Balsam, NC
Pop: 94

Related Areas

Jackson County Cullowhee, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28723 in? ▼
ZIP code 28723 (Cullowhee) is located in Jackson County, North Carolina. Jackson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/jackson-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28723? ▼
ZIP code 28723 in Cullowhee, NC has a population of 11,329 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28723? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28723 is $45,568, which is 40% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28723? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28723 is $347,900, which is 25% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28723? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28723 is White at 82.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28723? ▼
ZIP code 28723 has 99 business establishments employing approximately 756 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28723? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28723 are: Construction (24), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (12), Real estate and rental and leasing (11). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28723? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28723 increased by 15.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 160%. 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 28723? ▼
In ZIP code 28723, 66.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 35.9% 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 28723? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28723 is 20.2 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 28723? ▼
In ZIP code 28723, approximately 36.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 63.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28723? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28723 is 29.3% 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.