PlainZIP

Franklin, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28734

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

27,040
35/sq mi
$54,021
Median income
$228,500
Median home value
22.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Franklin pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

20th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 48%
home value, US ZIPs
35
people per sq mi
77%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28734 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28734 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina, with 27,040 residents across 781.5 square miles, a density of 35 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28734 reports a modest median household income of $54,021 (22% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $34,764. Local economic indicators show a 12.4% poverty rate alongside 3.1% unemployment. The typical home here is valued at $228,500 (12% below the state average); renters pay a median of $793 monthly, and 76.8% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.3, and the average commute is 23 minutes. Beyond these figures, 1 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 4 more sharing Macon County, letting you compare 28734 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 28734

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Franklin, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28734.

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 28734, Franklin, 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

27,040

Population

781.5

Area (sq mi)

35

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 28734?

48.3

Median Age

47.9%

Male

52.1%

Female

6.4%

Foreign-Born

White 85.1%
African American 1.4%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.4%
Hispanic or Latino 11.0%

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?

$54,021

Median Household Income

-22% vs state

$34,764

Per Capita Income

12.4%

Poverty Rate

3.1%

Unemployment Rate

23.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28734 ranks nationally

Franklin, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$54,021 20th percentile higher than 20% 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 55.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.8%

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

What does housing look like?

18,690

Total Housing Units

14,236

Occupied Units

4,454

Vacant Units

2.07

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 76.8%
Renter 23.2%

$228,500

Median Home Value

-12% vs state

$793

Median Rent

1987

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

+6.2%

YoY Change (2024)

264

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+164%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28734 have increased 6.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +164% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.4% 160
2021 +11.7% 178
2022 +27.3% 227
2023 +9.5% 249
2024 +6.2% 264

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 884 business establishments in ZIP 28734, employing approximately 7,895 people with a combined annual payroll of $327,909,000.

884

Businesses

7,895

Employees

$327.9M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 161 18.2%
Retail trade 135 15.3%
Other services (except public administration) 112 12.7%
Health care and social assistance 92 10.4%
Accommodation and food services 87 9.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 60 6.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 53 6.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 45 5.1%
Finance and insurance 36 4.1%
Manufacturing 24 2.7%
Wholesale trade 21 2.4%
Information 16 1.8%
Transportation and warehousing 14 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 12 1.4%
Educational services 7 0.8%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 3 0.3%

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 28734 vs 28763 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
28763 Otto, NC 2,725 10.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Macon County

28741 standard
Highlands, NC
Pop: 3,197
28763 standard
Otto, NC
Pop: 2,725
28781 standard
Topton, NC
Pop: 939
28775 standard
Scaly Mountain, NC
Pop: 296

Related Areas

Macon County Franklin, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28734 in? ▼
ZIP code 28734 (Franklin) is located in Macon County, North Carolina. Macon County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/macon-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28734? ▼
ZIP code 28734 in Franklin, NC has a population of 27,040 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28734? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28734 is $54,021, which is 29% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28734? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28734 is $228,500, which is 18% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28734? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28734 is White at 85.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28734? ▼
ZIP code 28734 has 884 business establishments employing approximately 7,895 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28734? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28734 are: Construction (161), Retail trade (135), Other services (except public administration) (112). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28734? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28734 increased by 6.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 164%. 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 28734? ▼
In ZIP code 28734, 55.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.8% 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 28734? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28734 is 23.2 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 28734? ▼
In ZIP code 28734, approximately 76.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28734? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28734 is 12.4% 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.