Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28741: Highlands, NC
ZIP code 28741 uses the postal name Highlands, North Carolina and lies mostly in Macon County (87% of its land) with the rest in Jackson County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 4,300 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $70,392 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 7% of its land lies in Highlands; 93% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Highlands · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Macon County (87%); Jackson County (13%)
- Census places
- Highlands
- House district
- NC-11 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 90.3 sq mi · 47 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28741?
28741 centers on 35.066°, -83.211° and covers 90.3 square miles of land plus 0.4 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 28717, 28775, 30537, 30525, 29664, 28734, 28723.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28741, 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 28741 compare with the rest of Macon County?
| Measure | 28741 | In Macon County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 4,257 | 2nd of 5 | 460th of 853 |
| Median household income | $70k | 1st of 2 | 214th of 528 |
| Median home value | $631k | 1st of 3 | 15th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 47% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 41% 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 28741?
The 2020 Census counted 3,736 people in 28741; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 4,257. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 16.9% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 4,257±588 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 3,736+16.9% since 2010 (3,197)
- Households
- 2,336
- Median age
- 63.0
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 28741?
Of the 4,257 people the ACS estimates in 28741, 8.8% are under 18 and 44.4% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (90.4%).
- Under 188.8%
- 18 to 6446.8%
- 65 and older44.4%
- White, not Hispanic90.4%
- Hispanic or Latino5.4%
- Black, not Hispanic2.3%
- Other or two or more1.5%
- 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 28741 earn?
Median household income is $70,392 (ACS 2020-2024). It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($78,987 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $70,392
- Income per person
- $77,146
- Below the poverty line
- 7.9%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 1.5%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 50.7%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $140,3671,840 returns; wages 32% 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 28741?
FHFA's house price index for 28741, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 120% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 67% from 2020 to 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $631,000
- Median gross rent
- $836
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 75.3%
- Housing units
- 6,096
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 28741?
317 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 30 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade75
- Construction52
- Accommodation and food services45
- Real estate and rental and leasing29
- Other services (except public administration)29
- Health care and social assistance18
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 28741?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28717 | Cashiers | 1,265 | $76k | 6.7 mi |
| 28775 | Scaly Mountain | 674 | – | 7.1 mi |
| 30537 | Dillard, GA | 1,406 | $50k | 9.1 mi |
| 30525 | Clayton, GA | 7,059 | $65k | 14.2 mi |
| 29664 | Mountain Rest, SC | 1,553 | $52k | 14.5 mi |
| 28734 | Franklin | 29,659 | $54k | 15.0 mi |
| 28723 | Cullowhee | 12,756 | $46k | 20.4 mi |
| 28736 | Glenville | 1,000 | $71k | 10.3 mi (near) |
| 29686 | Tamassee, SC | 989 | $58k | 11.6 mi (near) |
| 28774 | Sapphire | 1,451 | $155k | 12.3 mi (near) |
| 30568 | Rabun Gap, GA | 2,133 | $76k | 13.7 mi (near) |
| 30562 | Mountain City, GA | 866 | $49k | 14.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.