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 Moderate-density area
- $45,568
- Median income Below-median income area
- $347,900
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 35.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 28723 (Cullowhee, NC) rose +15.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 225.5 in 2023 to 259.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $23,977. The poverty rate is 29.3%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $347,900 (34% above the average North Carolina ZIP), with only 36.5% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $892.
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. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jackson County, so 28723 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 28723
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Cullowhee, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28723.
- Construction
Construction
24 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
12 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
11 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
10 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 9
Accommodation and food services
9 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 28723?
22.2
Median Age
49.3%
Male
50.7%
Female
5.6%
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?
$45,568
Median Household Income
-34% vs state ZIP avg
$23,977
Per Capita Income
29.3%
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Unemployment Rate
20.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28723 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Cullowhee, 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)
$45,568 12th percentile higher than 12% 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
6,012housing units
6,012
Total Housing Units
4,384
Occupied Units
1,628
Vacant Units
2.05
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$347,900
Median Home Value
+34% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 28779
Sylva (28779)
16,111 residents
- 28723
Cullowhee (28723)
11,329 residents
- 28783 1,593
Tuckasegee (28783)
1,593 residents
- 28736 787
Glenville (28736)
787 residents
- 28707 94
Balsam (28707)
94 residents
- 28725 43
Dillsboro (28725)
43 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28723 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28723 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28736
Glenville (28736)
$70,855 median income
- 28725
Dillsboro (28725)
$57,750 median income
- 28779
Sylva (28779)
$57,727 median income
- 28783
Tuckasegee (28783)
$51,350 median income
- 28723
Cullowhee (28723)
$45,568 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28723, 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 (11,329 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Jackson County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 28723's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28723 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Cullowhee, 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.