Mars Hill, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28754
Madison County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,679
- 34/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $68,750
- Median income Near-median income area
- $296,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 33.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Mars Hill pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 45th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 34%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 34
- people per sq mi
- 76%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28754 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 28754 (Mars Hill, NC) rose +3.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 260.7 in 2023 to 270.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28754 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Mars Hill, Madison County, North Carolina, home to 7,679 residents across 223.9 square miles, a density of 34 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28754 reports a modest median household income of $68,750 (1% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,384. The poverty rate is 11.7%, with unemployment at 6.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $296,700 (14% above the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $863; 76.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 33.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.5, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 2 more in Madison County, so 28754 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 28754
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Mars Hill, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28754.
- Construction
Construction
38 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
24 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
20 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services 14
Professional, scientific, and technical services
14 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 14
Health care and social assistance
14 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 28754, Mars Hill, 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
7,679
Population
223.9
Area (sq mi)
34
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28754?
41.5
Median Age
52.3%
Male
47.7%
Female
2.2%
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?
$68,750
Median Household Income
-1% vs state ZIP avg
$32,384
Per Capita Income
11.7%
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Unemployment Rate
30.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28754 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Mars Hill, 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)
$68,750 Top 42% higher than 58% 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
4,562housing units
4,562
Total Housing Units
3,306
Occupied Units
1,256
Vacant Units
2.69
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$296,700
Median Home Value
+14% vs state ZIP avg
$863
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
+3.9%
YoY Change (2024)
271
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+171%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28754 have increased 3.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +171% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.0% | 178 |
| 2021 | +14.9% | 204 |
| 2022 | +20.3% | 245 |
| 2023 | +6.3% | 261 |
| 2024 | +3.9% | 271 |
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 168 business establishments in ZIP 28754, employing approximately 1,462 people with a combined annual payroll of $51,721,000.
168
Businesses
1,462
Employees
$51.7M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 38 | 22.6% |
| Retail trade | 24 | 14.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 20 | 11.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14 | 8.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 14 | 8.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 12 | 7.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 6.5% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 4.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 7 | 4.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 3.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 3.0% |
| Information | 4 | 2.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 1.8% |
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 28754 vs 28787 →
ZIP 28754 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28787
Weaverville (28787)
19,718 residents
- 28754 7,679
Mars Hill (28754)
7,679 residents
- 28709 2,225
Barnardsville (28709)
2,225 residents
- 37657 972
Flag Pond (37657)
972 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28754 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28754 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28787
Weaverville (28787)
$78,604 median income
- 37657
Flag Pond (37657)
$73,108 median income
- 28754
Mars Hill (28754)
$68,750 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28754 ranks #3 of 3 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 28754, 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 (7,679 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Madison County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28754 in?
ZIP code 28754 (Mars Hill) is located in Madison County, North Carolina. Madison County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/madison-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28754?
ZIP code 28754 in Mars Hill, NC has a population of 7,679 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28754?
The median household income in ZIP 28754 is $68,750, which is 10% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28754?
The median home value in ZIP 28754 is $296,700, which is 7% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28754?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28754 is White at 90.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28754?
ZIP code 28754 has 168 business establishments employing approximately 1,462 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28754?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28754 are: Construction (38), Retail trade (24), Other services (except public administration) (20). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28754?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28754 increased by 3.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 171%. 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 28754?
In ZIP code 28754, 65.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 33.8% 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 28754?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28754 is 30.0 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 28754?
In ZIP code 28754, approximately 76.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28754?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28754 is 11.7% 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 28754's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28754 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Mars Hill, 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.