Waynesville, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28786
Haywood County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,714
- 108/sq mi High-density area
- $59,371
- Median income Below-median income area
- $297,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 31.4%
- 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.
- 28th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 34%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 108
- people per sq mi
- 69%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28786 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 28786 (Waynesville, NC) rose +13.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 268.4 in 2023 to 305.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28786 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Waynesville, Haywood County, North Carolina, with 20,714 residents across 192.7 square miles, a density of 108 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28786 reports a modest median household income of $59,371 (14% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,262. The poverty rate is 12.5%, with unemployment at 4.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $297,800 (15% above the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $1,081; 68.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 31.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 49.1, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 5 more in Haywood County, so 28786 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 28786
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Waynesville, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28786.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
148 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
91 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
77 establishments
- Construction
Construction
73 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
71 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 28786, 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
20,714
Population
192.7
Area (sq mi)
108
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28786?
49.1
Median Age
48.1%
Male
51.9%
Female
3.4%
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?
$59,371
Median Household Income
-14% vs state ZIP avg
$37,262
Per Capita Income
12.5%
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Unemployment Rate
22.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28786 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)
$59,371 37th percentile higher than 37% 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
12,112housing units
12,112
Total Housing Units
9,816
Occupied Units
2,296
Vacant Units
2.22
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$297,800
Median Home Value
+15% vs state ZIP avg
$1,081
Median Rent
1977
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
+13.8%
YoY Change (2024)
305
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+205%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28786 have increased 13.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +205% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.3% | 179 |
| 2021 | +15.1% | 206 |
| 2022 | +22.9% | 254 |
| 2023 | +5.8% | 268 |
| 2024 | +13.8% | 305 |
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 748 business establishments in ZIP 28786, employing approximately 7,889 people with a combined annual payroll of $310,517,000.
748
Businesses
7,889
Employees
$310.5M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 148 | 19.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 91 | 12.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 77 | 10.3% |
| Construction | 73 | 9.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 71 | 9.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 70 | 9.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 57 | 7.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 40 | 5.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 35 | 4.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 30 | 4.0% |
| Manufacturing | 15 | 2.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 12 | 1.6% |
| Information | 11 | 1.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 0.7% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.5% |
| Educational services | 4 | 0.5% |
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 28786 vs 28745 →
ZIP 28786 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28786
Waynesville (28786)
20,714 residents
- 28716
Canton (28716)
17,477 residents
- 28751 2,916
Maggie Valley (28751)
2,916 residents
- 28745 551
Lake Junaluska (28745)
551 residents
- 28707 94
Balsam (28707)
94 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28786 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28786 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
- 28716
Canton (28716)
$63,141 median income
- 28786
Waynesville (28786)
$59,371 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28786 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 28786, 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 (20,714 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 28786 in?
ZIP code 28786 (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 28786?
ZIP code 28786 in Waynesville, NC has a population of 20,714 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28786?
The median household income in ZIP 28786 is $59,371, which is 22% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28786?
The median home value in ZIP 28786 is $297,800, which is 7% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28786?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28786 is White at 90.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28786?
ZIP code 28786 has 748 business establishments employing approximately 7,889 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28786?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28786 are: Retail trade (148), Other services (except public administration) (91), Accommodation and food services (77). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28786?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28786 increased by 13.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 205%. 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 28786?
In ZIP code 28786, 56.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 31.4% 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 28786?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28786 is 22.8 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 28786?
In ZIP code 28786, approximately 68.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 31.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28786?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28786 is 12.5% 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 28786's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28786 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.