Waynesville, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28785
Haywood County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,338
- 19/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $61,769
- Median income Below-median income area
- $310,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 34.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Waynesville pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 32nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 32%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 19
- people per sq mi
- 83%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28785 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 28785 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Waynesville, Haywood County, North Carolina, home to 7,338 residents across 394.5 square miles, a density of 19 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28785 reports a modest median household income of $61,769 (11% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $35,911. The poverty rate is 12.2%, with unemployment at 2.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $310,300 (20% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 83.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,105.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 34.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.4, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 more in Haywood County, so 28785 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 28785
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Waynesville, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28785.
- Construction
Construction
31 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
17 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
14 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
13 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
13 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 28785, Waynesville, 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
7,338
Population
394.5
Area (sq mi)
19
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28785?
48.4
Median Age
52.1%
Male
47.9%
Female
1.7%
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?
$61,769
Median Household Income
-11% vs state ZIP avg
$35,911
Per Capita Income
12.2%
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Unemployment Rate
22.7 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28785 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Waynesville, 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)
$61,769 42nd percentile higher than 42% 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
4,852housing units
4,852
Total Housing Units
3,496
Occupied Units
1,356
Vacant Units
2.37
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$310,300
Median Home Value
+20% vs state ZIP avg
$1,105
Median Rent
1992
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
+0.6%
YoY Change (2024)
245
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+145%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28785 have increased 0.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +145% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.7% | 160 |
| 2021 | +16.1% | 186 |
| 2022 | +20.5% | 224 |
| 2023 | +8.8% | 244 |
| 2024 | +0.6% | 245 |
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 140 business establishments in ZIP 28785, employing approximately 852 people with a combined annual payroll of $37,228,000.
140
Businesses
852
Employees
$37.2M
Annual Payroll
10
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 31 | 22.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 17 | 12.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 14 | 10.0% |
| Retail trade | 13 | 9.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 13 | 9.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 12 | 8.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 7.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 9 | 6.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 5.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 2.9% |
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 28785 vs 28721 →
ZIP 28785 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28721
Clyde (28721)
10,063 residents
- 28785
Waynesville (28785)
7,338 residents
- 28751 2,916
Maggie Valley (28751)
2,916 residents
- 28745 551
Lake Junaluska (28745)
551 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28785 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28785 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28745
Lake Junaluska (28745)
$117,824 median income
- 28751
Maggie Valley (28751)
$69,057 median income
- 28721
Clyde (28721)
$62,279 median income
- 28785
Waynesville (28785)
$61,769 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28785 ranks #4 of 4 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 28785, 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 (7,338 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Haywood County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28785 in?
ZIP code 28785 (Waynesville) is located in Haywood County, North Carolina. Haywood County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/haywood-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28785?
ZIP code 28785 in Waynesville, NC has a population of 7,338 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28785?
The median household income in ZIP 28785 is $61,769, which is 19% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28785?
The median home value in ZIP 28785 is $310,300, which is 12% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28785?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28785 is White at 93.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28785?
ZIP code 28785 has 140 business establishments employing approximately 852 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28785?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28785 are: Construction (31), Other services (except public administration) (17), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (14). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28785?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28785 increased by 0.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 145%. 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 28785?
In ZIP code 28785, 55.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.6% 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 28785?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28785 is 22.7 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 28785?
In ZIP code 28785, approximately 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28785?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28785 is 12.2% 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 28785's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28785 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Waynesville, 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.