Swannanoa, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28778
Buncombe County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 10,381
- 117/sq mi High-density area
- $73,408
- Median income Near-median income area
- $303,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 31.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Swannanoa pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 48%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 33%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 117
- people per sq mi
- 77%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28778 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 28778 (Swannanoa, NC) rose +7.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 317.7 in 2023 to 342.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28778 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Swannanoa, Buncombe County, North Carolina, home to 10,381 residents across 89.0 square miles, a density of 117 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28778 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $73,408 (6% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $28,241. The poverty rate is 15.0%, with unemployment at 7.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $303,300 (17% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 77.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $994.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 31.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.8, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 8 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Buncombe County, so 28778 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 28778
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Swannanoa, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28778.
- Construction
Construction
42 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
31 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
30 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
30 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
19 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 28778, Swannanoa, 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
10,381
Population
89.0
Area (sq mi)
117
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28778?
40.8
Median Age
47.9%
Male
52.1%
Female
10.6%
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?
$73,408
Median Household Income
+6% vs state ZIP avg
$28,241
Per Capita Income
15.0%
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Unemployment Rate
18.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28778 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Swannanoa, 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)
$73,408 Top 33% higher than 67% 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
4,919housing units
4,919
Total Housing Units
3,931
Occupied Units
988
Vacant Units
3.24
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$303,300
Median Home Value
+17% vs state ZIP avg
$994
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
+7.8%
YoY Change (2024)
342
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+242%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28778 have increased 7.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +242% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.5% | 208 |
| 2021 | +12.9% | 235 |
| 2022 | +23.2% | 290 |
| 2023 | +9.7% | 318 |
| 2024 | +7.8% | 342 |
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 248 business establishments in ZIP 28778, employing approximately 2,819 people with a combined annual payroll of $130,317,000.
248
Businesses
2,819
Employees
$130.3M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 42 | 16.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 31 | 12.5% |
| Retail trade | 30 | 12.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 30 | 12.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 19 | 7.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 17 | 6.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 17 | 6.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 16 | 6.5% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 5.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 3.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 2.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 2.0% |
| Educational services | 4 | 1.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 1.2% |
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 28778 vs 28805 →
ZIP 28778 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
- 28787
Weaverville (28787)
19,718 residents
- 28805
Asheville (28805)
17,620 residents
- 28711
Black Mountain (28711)
13,209 residents
- 28778 10,381
Swannanoa (28778)
10,381 residents
- 28730 9,133
Fairview (28730)
9,133 residents
- 28709 2,225
Barnardsville (28709)
2,225 residents
- 28757 280
Montreat (28757)
280 residents
- 28735 256
Gerton (28735)
256 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28778 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28778 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28757
Montreat (28757)
$115,568 median income
- 28730
Fairview (28730)
$102,900 median income
- 28787
Weaverville (28787)
$78,604 median income
- 28803
Asheville (28803)
$76,662 median income
- 28805
Asheville (28805)
$75,151 median income
- 28711
Black Mountain (28711)
$74,761 median income
- 28778
Swannanoa (28778)
$73,408 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28778 ranks #7 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28805 | Asheville, NC | 17,620 | 4.2 mi |
| 28730 | Fairview, NC | 9,133 | 6.7 mi |
| 28757 | Montreat, NC | 280 | 6.0 mi |
| 28711 | Black Mountain, NC | 13,209 | 6.7 mi |
| 28709 | Barnardsville, NC | 2,225 | 10.1 mi |
| 28735 | Gerton, NC | 256 | 10.3 mi |
| 28803 | Asheville, NC | 28,693 | 8.8 mi |
| 28787 | Weaverville, NC | 19,718 | 10.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28778, 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 (10,381 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Buncombe County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28778 in?
ZIP code 28778 (Swannanoa) is located in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Buncombe County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/buncombe-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28778?
ZIP code 28778 in Swannanoa, NC has a population of 10,381 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28778?
The median household income in ZIP 28778 is $73,408, which is 4% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28778?
The median home value in ZIP 28778 is $303,300, which is 9% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28778?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28778 is White at 77.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28778?
ZIP code 28778 has 248 business establishments employing approximately 2,819 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28778?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28778 are: Construction (42), Other services (except public administration) (31), Retail trade (30). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28778?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28778 increased by 7.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 242%. 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 28778?
In ZIP code 28778, 61.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 31.5% 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 28778?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28778 is 18.9 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 28778?
In ZIP code 28778, approximately 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 22.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28778?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28778 is 15.0% 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 28778's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28778 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Swannanoa, 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.