Mills River, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28759
Henderson County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 6,922
- 115/sq mi High-density area
- $107,609
- Median income Above-median income area
- $444,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 44.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Mills River pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 15%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 17%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 115
- people per sq mi
- 86%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28759 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 28759 (Mills River, NC) rose +12.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 255.8 in 2023 to 288.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28759 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Mills River, Henderson County, North Carolina, home to 6,922 residents across 60.1 square miles, a density of 115 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28759 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $107,609 (56% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $47,088. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 2.5% and unemployment is 3.0%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $444,300 (71% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 86.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,551.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 44.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 46.8, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Henderson County, so 28759 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 28759
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Mills River, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28759.
- Construction
Construction
43 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
27 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
19 establishments
- Retail trade 16
Retail trade
16 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 16
Health care and social assistance
16 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 28759, Mills River, 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
6,922
Population
60.1
Area (sq mi)
115
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28759?
46.8
Median Age
47.0%
Male
53.0%
Female
7.7%
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?
$107,609
Median Household Income
+56% vs state ZIP avg
$47,088
Per Capita Income
2.5%
Poverty Rate
3.0%
Unemployment Rate
20.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28759 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Mills River, 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)
$107,609 Top 8% higher than 92% 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
3,333housing units
3,333
Total Housing Units
2,856
Occupied Units
477
Vacant Units
2.64
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$444,300
Median Home Value
+71% vs state ZIP avg
$1,551
Median Rent
1997
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
+12.9%
YoY Change (2024)
289
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+189%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28759 have increased 12.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +189% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.1% | 172 |
| 2021 | +15.9% | 199 |
| 2022 | +18.8% | 236 |
| 2023 | +8.3% | 256 |
| 2024 | +12.9% | 289 |
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 220 business establishments in ZIP 28759, employing approximately 3,384 people with a combined annual payroll of $171,414,000.
220
Businesses
3,384
Employees
$171.4M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 43 | 19.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 27 | 12.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 19 | 8.6% |
| Retail trade | 16 | 7.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 16 | 7.3% |
| Manufacturing | 15 | 6.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 15 | 6.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 14 | 6.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 14 | 6.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 10 | 4.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 4.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 3.6% |
| Information | 4 | 1.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 1.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.4% |
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 28759 vs 28742 →
ZIP 28759 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28803
Asheville (28803)
28,693 residents
- 28715
Candler (28715)
24,582 residents
- 28739
Hendersonville (28739)
19,786 residents
- 28704
Arden (28704)
18,821 residents
- 28732
Fletcher (28732)
16,491 residents
- 28791
Hendersonville (28791)
14,171 residents
- 28759 6,922
Mills River (28759)
6,922 residents
- 28768 6,813
Pisgah Forest (28768)
6,813 residents
- 28729 2,894
Etowah (28729)
2,894 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28759 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28759 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28759
Mills River (28759)
$107,609 median income
- 28742
Horse Shoe (28742)
$99,007 median income
- 28729
Etowah (28729)
$84,413 median income
- 28732
Fletcher (28732)
$81,852 median income
- 28704
Arden (28704)
$81,096 median income
- 28791
Hendersonville (28791)
$78,827 median income
- 28803
Asheville (28803)
$76,662 median income
- 28739
Hendersonville (28739)
$73,582 median income
- 28715
Candler (28715)
$71,716 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28759 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28742 | Horse Shoe, NC | 2,710 | 2.3 mi |
| 28729 | Etowah, NC | 2,894 | 4.4 mi |
| 28704 | Arden, NC | 18,821 | 5.5 mi |
| 28791 | Hendersonville, NC | 14,171 | 4.7 mi |
| 28739 | Hendersonville, NC | 19,786 | 8.5 mi |
| 28766 | Penrose, NC | 1,262 | 9.2 mi |
| 28732 | Fletcher, NC | 16,491 | 8.0 mi |
| 28768 | Pisgah Forest, NC | 6,813 | 8.8 mi |
| 28803 | Asheville, NC | 28,693 | 10.9 mi |
| 28715 | Candler, NC | 24,582 | 11.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28759, 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 (6,922 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Henderson County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28759 in?
ZIP code 28759 (Mills River) is located in Henderson County, North Carolina. Henderson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/henderson-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28759?
ZIP code 28759 in Mills River, NC has a population of 6,922 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28759?
The median household income in ZIP 28759 is $107,609, which is 41% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28759?
The median home value in ZIP 28759 is $444,300, which is 60% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28759?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28759 is White at 82.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28759?
ZIP code 28759 has 220 business establishments employing approximately 3,384 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28759?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28759 are: Construction (43), Other services (except public administration) (27), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (19). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28759?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28759 increased by 12.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 189%. 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 28759?
In ZIP code 28759, 65.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 44.2% 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 28759?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28759 is 20.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28759?
In ZIP code 28759, approximately 86.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 13.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28759?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28759 is 2.5% 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 28759's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28759 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Mills River, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.