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 Moderate-density area
- $70,392
- Median income Near-median income area
- $631,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 50.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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 average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $77,146. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 7.9% and unemployment is 1.5%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $631,000 (143% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 75.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $836.
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 -. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 4 more in Macon County, so 28741 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 28741
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Highlands, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28741.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
75 establishments
- Construction
Construction
52 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
45 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 29
Real estate and rental and leasing
29 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 29
Other services (except public administration)
29 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 28741?
63.0
Median Age
55.1%
Male
44.9%
Female
5.8%
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?
$70,392
Median Household Income
+2% vs state ZIP avg
$77,146
Per Capita Income
7.9%
Poverty Rate
1.5%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 28741 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Highlands, 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)
$70,392 Top 38% higher than 62% 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
6,096housing units
6,096
Total Housing Units
2,336
Occupied Units
3,760
Vacant Units
1.78
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$631,000
Median Home Value
+143% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 28741
Highlands (28741)
3,197 residents
- 28717
Cashiers (28717)
1,729 residents
- 30537 1,249
Dillard (30537)
1,249 residents
- 28736 787
Glenville (28736)
787 residents
- 28775 296
Scaly Mountain (28775)
296 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28741 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28741 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28717
Cashiers (28717)
$76,085 median income
- 28736
Glenville (28736)
$70,855 median income
- 28741
Highlands (28741)
$70,392 median income
- 30537
Dillard (30537)
$50,000 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28741, 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 (3,197 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Macon County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 28741's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28741 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Highlands, 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.