Pisgah Forest, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28768
Transylvania County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 6,813
- 32/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $71,383
- Median income Near-median income area
- $341,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 40.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Pisgah Forest pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 49th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 28%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 32
- people per sq mi
- 86%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28768 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 28768 (Pisgah Forest, NC) rose +18.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 213.5 in 2023 to 253.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28768 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Pisgah Forest, Transylvania County, North Carolina, home to 6,813 residents across 214.9 square miles, a density of 32 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28768 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $71,383 (3% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,651. The poverty rate is 14.4%, with unemployment at 4.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $341,400 (32% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 85.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $852.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 40.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 52.5, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Transylvania County, so 28768 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 28768
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Pisgah Forest, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28768.
- Construction
Construction
30 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
21 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
20 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
20 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
18 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 28768, Pisgah Forest, 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
6,813
Population
214.9
Area (sq mi)
32
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28768?
52.5
Median Age
54.3%
Male
45.7%
Female
8.8%
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?
$71,383
Median Household Income
+3% vs state ZIP avg
$36,651
Per Capita Income
14.4%
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
23.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28768 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Pisgah Forest, 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)
$71,383 Top 36% higher than 64% 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
3,550housing units
3,550
Total Housing Units
2,736
Occupied Units
814
Vacant Units
2.47
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$341,400
Median Home Value
+32% vs state ZIP avg
$852
Median Rent
1984
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
+18.6%
YoY Change (2024)
253
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+153%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28768 have increased 18.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +153% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -0.2% | 167 |
| 2021 | +10.3% | 184 |
| 2022 | +18.0% | 217 |
| 2023 | -1.5% | 213 |
| 2024 | +18.6% | 253 |
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 28768, employing approximately 1,210 people with a combined annual payroll of $44,159,000.
168
Businesses
1,210
Employees
$44.2M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 30 | 17.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 21 | 12.5% |
| Retail trade | 20 | 11.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 20 | 11.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 18 | 10.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 14 | 8.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 7.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 9 | 5.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 4.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 3.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 2.4% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 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 28768 vs 28729 →
ZIP 28768 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28712
Brevard (28712)
19,347 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
- 28742 2,710
Horse Shoe (28742)
2,710 residents
- 28766 1,262
Penrose (28766)
1,262 residents
- 28718 553
Cedar Mountain (28718)
553 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28768 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28768 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
- 28718
Cedar Mountain (28718)
$74,031 median income
- 28768
Pisgah Forest (28768)
$71,383 median income
- 28712
Brevard (28712)
$63,045 median income
- 28766
Penrose (28766)
$57,708 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28768 ranks #5 of 7 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 28768, 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 (6,813 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Transylvania County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28768 in?
ZIP code 28768 (Pisgah Forest) is located in Transylvania County, North Carolina. Transylvania County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/transylvania-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28768?
ZIP code 28768 in Pisgah Forest, NC has a population of 6,813 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28768?
The median household income in ZIP 28768 is $71,383, which is 6% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28768?
The median home value in ZIP 28768 is $341,400, which is 23% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28768?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28768 is White at 85.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28768?
ZIP code 28768 has 168 business establishments employing approximately 1,210 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28768?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28768 are: Construction (30), Other services (except public administration) (21), Retail trade (20). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28768?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28768 increased by 18.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 153%. 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 28768?
In ZIP code 28768, 69.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 40.5% 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 28768?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28768 is 23.8 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 28768?
In ZIP code 28768, approximately 85.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28768?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28768 is 14.4% 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 28768's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28768 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Pisgah Forest, 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.