Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28779: Sylva, NC
ZIP code 28779 uses the postal name Sylva, North Carolina and lies entirely in Jackson County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 18,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $57,727 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Sylva (3%) and Dillsboro (under 1%); 96% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Sylva · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Jackson County
- Census places
- Sylva (3%); Dillsboro (under 1%)
- House district
- NC-11 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 108.0 sq mi · 167 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28779?
28779 centers on 35.356°, -83.210° and covers 108.0 square miles of land. It borders 9 ZIP codes: 28788, 28725, 28789, 28707, 28723, 28751, 28786, 28713, 28734.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28779, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 28779 compare with the rest of Jackson County?
| Measure | 28779 | In Jackson County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 18,064 | 1st of 13 | 217th of 853 |
| Median household income | $58k | 5th of 7 | 380th of 528 |
| Median home value | $244k | 6th of 8 | 267th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 25% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 61% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 28779?
The 2020 Census counted 16,586 people in 28779; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 18,064. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 2.9% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 18,064
- 2020 Census count
- 16,586+2.9% since 2010 (16,111)
- Households
- 8,295
- Median age
- 42.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 28779?
Of the 18,064 people the ACS estimates in 28779, 21.4% are under 18 and 21.9% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (86.1%).
- Under 1821.4%
- 18 to 6456.6%
- 65 and older21.9%
- White, not Hispanic86.1%
- Other or two or more6.4%
- Hispanic or Latino5.7%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.9%
- Black, not Hispanic0.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 28779 earn?
Median household income is $57,727 (ACS 2020-2024), the 5th highest of the 7 ranked ZIP codes in Jackson County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($68,125 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $57,727±$7,959
- Income per person
- $32,438
- Below the poverty line
- 15.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 2.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 27.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $64,1717,140 returns; wages 65% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 28779?
FHFA's house price index for 28779, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 101% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 64% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +1.4% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $243,700
- Median gross rent
- $827
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 63.4%
- Housing units
- 9,692
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 28779?
545 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 52 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade96
- Health care and social assistance93
- Other services (except public administration)63
- Accommodation and food services62
- Construction54
- Professional, scientific, and technical services45
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 28779?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28788 | Webster | 198 | $81k | 0.8 mi |
| 28725 | Dillsboro | 90 | $58k | 3.8 mi |
| 28789 | Whittier | 5,788 | $52k | 7.0 mi |
| 28707 | Balsam | 461 | – | 8.6 mi |
| 28723 | Cullowhee | 12,756 | $46k | 11.4 mi |
| 28751 | Maggie Valley | 4,159 | $69k | 11.5 mi |
| 28786 | Waynesville | 22,056 | $59k | 14.4 mi |
| 28713 | Bryson City | 8,425 | $51k | 17.0 mi |
| 28734 | Franklin | 29,659 | $54k | 17.7 mi |
| 28783 | Tuckasegee | 1,785 | $51k | 13.2 mi (near) |
| 28736 | Glenville | 1,000 | $71k | 14.3 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.