Lake Lure, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28746
Rutherford County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,388
- 20/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $70,469
- Median income Near-median income area
- $470,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 46.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Lake Lure pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 47th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 15%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 20
- people per sq mi
- 89%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28746 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 28746 covers 121.2 square miles in Lake Lure, Rutherford County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,388 residents on file, a density of 20 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28746 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $70,469 (2% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $57,878. The poverty rate is 16.4%, with unemployment at 6.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $470,700 (81% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 88.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $892.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 46.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 61, and the average commute is 37 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Rutherford County, so 28746 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 28746
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Lake Lure, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28746.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
16 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
12 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
12 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
11 establishments
- Construction
Construction
7 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 28746, Lake Lure, 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
2,388
Population
121.2
Area (sq mi)
20
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28746?
61.0
Median Age
44.2%
Male
55.8%
Female
3.4%
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?
$70,469
Median Household Income
+2% vs state ZIP avg
$57,878
Per Capita Income
16.4%
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Unemployment Rate
37.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28746 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Lake Lure, 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)
$70,469 Top 37% higher than 63% 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
3,338housing units
3,338
Total Housing Units
1,397
Occupied Units
1,941
Vacant Units
1.96
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$470,700
Median Home Value
+81% vs state ZIP avg
$892
Median Rent
1991
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
-0.4%
YoY Change (2024)
222
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+122%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28746 have decreased 0.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +122% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.9% | 160 |
| 2021 | +13.7% | 182 |
| 2022 | +20.2% | 219 |
| 2023 | +1.7% | 223 |
| 2024 | -0.4% | 222 |
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 80 business establishments in ZIP 28746, employing approximately 647 people with a combined annual payroll of $24,805,000.
80
Businesses
647
Employees
$24.8M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 16 | 20.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 12 | 15.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 12 | 15.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11 | 13.8% |
| Construction | 7 | 8.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 5 | 6.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 3.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 3.8% |
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 28746 vs 28720 →
ZIP 28746 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28711
Black Mountain (28711)
13,209 residents
- 28756 4,504
Mill Spring (28756)
4,504 residents
- 28746 2,388
Lake Lure (28746)
2,388 residents
- 28720 114
Chimney Rock (28720)
114 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28746 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28746 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28711
Black Mountain (28711)
$74,761 median income
- 28746
Lake Lure (28746)
$70,469 median income
- 28756
Mill Spring (28756)
$63,663 median income
- 28720
Chimney Rock (28720)
$63,438 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28746 ranks #2 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 28746, 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 (2,388 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Rutherford County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28746 in?
ZIP code 28746 (Lake Lure) is located in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Rutherford County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/rutherford-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28746?
ZIP code 28746 in Lake Lure, NC has a population of 2,388 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28746?
The median household income in ZIP 28746 is $70,469, which is 8% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28746?
The median home value in ZIP 28746 is $470,700, which is 69% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28746?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28746 is White at 87.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28746?
ZIP code 28746 has 80 business establishments employing approximately 647 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28746?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28746 are: Accommodation and food services (16), Real estate and rental and leasing (12), Other services (except public administration) (12). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28746?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28746 decreased by 0.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 122%. 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 28746?
In ZIP code 28746, 64.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 46.2% 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 28746?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28746 is 37.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28746?
In ZIP code 28746, approximately 88.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 11.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28746?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28746 is 16.4% 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 28746's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28746 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Lake Lure, 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.