PlainZIP

Whittier, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28789

Jackson County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

5,097
35/sq mi
$51,713
Median income
$221,600
Median home value
24.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Whittier pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

16th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 50%
home value, US ZIPs
35
people per sq mi
73%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28789 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28789 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Whittier, Jackson County, North Carolina, home to 5,097 residents across 147.7 square miles, a density of 35 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28789 reports a modest median household income of $51,713 (25% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $32,846. The poverty rate stands at 20.6% and the unemployment rate at 6.8%. Median home value sits at $221,600 (15% below the state average), median rent at $990 a month, and owner-occupancy at 73.0%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.9, and the average commute is -. To put 28789 in local context, 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Jackson County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 28789

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Whittier, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28789.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 28789, Whittier, 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

5,097

Population

147.7

Area (sq mi)

35

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 28789?

42.9

Median Age

53.6%

Male

46.4%

Female

2.9%

Foreign-Born

White 78.8%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 6.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2.5%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.8%

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?

$51,713

Median Household Income

-25% vs state

$32,846

Per Capita Income

20.6%

Poverty Rate

6.8%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 28789 ranks nationally

Whittier, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$51,713 16th percentile higher than 16% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 57.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,680

Total Housing Units

2,385

Occupied Units

1,295

Vacant Units

2.42

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 73.0%
Renter 27.0%

$221,600

Median Home Value

-15% vs state

$990

Median Rent

1993

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

-4.6%

YoY Change (2024)

249

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+149%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28789 have decreased 4.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +149% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +16.3% 172
2021 +11.1% 191
2022 +21.8% 232
2023 +12.2% 260
2024 -4.6% 249

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 114 business establishments in ZIP 28789, employing approximately 869 people with a combined annual payroll of $33,080,000.

114

Businesses

869

Employees

$33.1M

Annual Payroll

12

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 21 18.4%
Retail trade 19 16.7%
Accommodation and food services 18 15.8%
Other services (except public administration) 10 8.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 8 7.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 8 7.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 5.3%
Transportation and warehousing 5 4.4%
Finance and insurance 5 4.4%
Health care and social assistance 4 3.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 3.5%
Wholesale trade 3 2.6%

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 28789 vs 28725 →

ZIP 28789 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28789 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 28789 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 28789 ranks #4 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
28725 Dillsboro, NC 43 4.0 mi
28719 Cherokee, NC 8,048 7.7 mi
28779 Sylva, NC 16,111 6.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Jackson County

28779 standard
Sylva, NC
Pop: 16,111
28723 standard
Cullowhee, NC
Pop: 11,329
28717 standard
Cashiers, NC
Pop: 1,729
28783 standard
Tuckasegee, NC
Pop: 1,593
28736 standard
Glenville, NC
Pop: 787
28707 standard
Balsam, NC
Pop: 94

Related Areas

Jackson County Whittier, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28789 in? ▼
ZIP code 28789 (Whittier) is located in Jackson County, North Carolina. Jackson County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/jackson-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28789? ▼
ZIP code 28789 in Whittier, NC has a population of 5,097 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28789? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28789 is $51,713, which is 32% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28789? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28789 is $221,600, which is 20% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28789? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28789 is White at 78.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28789? ▼
ZIP code 28789 has 114 business establishments employing approximately 869 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28789? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28789 are: Construction (21), Retail trade (19), Accommodation and food services (18). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28789? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28789 decreased by 4.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 149%. 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 28789? ▼
In ZIP code 28789, 57.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28789? ▼
In ZIP code 28789, approximately 73.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 27.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28789? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28789 is 20.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.