PlainZIP

Highlands, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28741

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

3,197
14/sq mi
$70,392
Median income
$631,000
Median home value
50.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Highlands pairs a below-median household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

47th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 8%
home value, US ZIPs
14
people per sq mi
75%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28741 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28741 covers 225.1 square miles in Highlands, Macon County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,197 residents on file, a density of 14 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28741 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $70,392 (2% above the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $77,146. Local economic indicators show a 7.9% poverty rate alongside 1.5% unemployment. Housing costs here run $631,000 for a typical home value (143% above the state average), with rent averaging $836 a month; 75.3% of homes are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 50.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 63, and the average commute is -. To put 28741 in local context, 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 4 additional ZIPs in Macon County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 28741

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Highlands, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28741.

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 28741, Highlands, 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

3,197

Population

225.1

Area (sq mi)

14

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 28741?

63.0

Median Age

55.1%

Male

44.9%

Female

5.8%

Foreign-Born

White 90.6%
African American 2.3%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 0.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.4%

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?

$70,392

Median Household Income

+2% vs state

$77,146

Per Capita Income

7.9%

Poverty Rate

1.5%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 28741 ranks nationally

Highlands, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$70,392 47th percentile higher than 47% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $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 66.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 50.7%

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

What does housing look like?

6,096

Total Housing Units

2,336

Occupied Units

3,760

Vacant Units

1.78

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 75.3%
Renter 24.7%

$631,000

Median Home Value

+143% vs state

$836

Median Rent

1985

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

+21.7%

YoY Change (2023)

282

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+182%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28741 have increased 21.7% over the past year (2023). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +182% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 +5.4% 154
2020 +8.6% 167
2021 +15.7% 193
2022 +20.1% 232
2023 +21.7% 282

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 2023. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 317 business establishments in ZIP 28741, employing approximately 2,434 people with a combined annual payroll of $126,132,000.

317

Businesses

2,434

Employees

$126.1M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 75 23.7%
Construction 52 16.4%
Accommodation and food services 45 14.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 29 9.2%
Other services (except public administration) 29 9.2%
Health care and social assistance 18 5.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 14 4.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 13 4.1%
Finance and insurance 12 3.8%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 10 3.1%
Information 7 2.2%
Manufacturing 5 1.6%
Wholesale trade 4 1.3%

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 28741 vs 28717 →

ZIP 28741 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 28741 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 28741 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 28741 ranks #3 of 4 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
28717 Cashiers, NC 1,729 6.9 mi
28775 Scaly Mountain, NC 296 7.3 mi
30537 Dillard, GA 1,249 8.5 mi
28736 Glenville, NC 787 11.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Macon County

28734 standard
Franklin, NC
Pop: 27,040
28763 standard
Otto, NC
Pop: 2,725
28781 standard
Topton, NC
Pop: 939
28775 standard
Scaly Mountain, NC
Pop: 296

Related Areas

Macon County Highlands, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28741 in? ▼
ZIP code 28741 (Highlands) 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 28741? ▼
ZIP code 28741 in Highlands, NC has a population of 3,197 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28741? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28741 is $70,392, which is 8% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28741? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28741 is $631,000, which is 127% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28741? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28741 is White at 90.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28741? ▼
ZIP code 28741 has 317 business establishments employing approximately 2,434 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28741? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28741 are: Retail trade (75), Construction (52), Accommodation and food services (45). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28741? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28741 increased by 21.7% in 2023. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 182%. 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 28741? ▼
In ZIP code 28741, 66.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 50.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28741? ▼
In ZIP code 28741, approximately 75.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28741? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28741 is 7.9% 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.