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 Moderate-density area
- $51,713
- Median income Below-median income area
- $221,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 24.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 28789 (Whittier, NC) fell -4.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 260.4 in 2023 to 248.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,846. The poverty rate is 20.6%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Median home value is $221,600 (15% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $990; 73.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
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 -. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Jackson County, so 28789 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 28789
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Whittier, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28789.
- Construction
Construction
21 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
19 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
18 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
10 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 8
Real estate and rental and leasing
8 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 28789?
42.9
Median Age
53.6%
Male
46.4%
Female
2.9%
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?
$51,713
Median Household Income
-25% vs state ZIP avg
$32,846
Per Capita Income
20.6%
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 28789 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Whittier, 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)
$51,713 21st percentile higher than 21% 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
3,680housing units
3,680
Total Housing Units
2,385
Occupied Units
1,295
Vacant Units
2.42
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$221,600
Median Home Value
-15% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 28779
Sylva (28779)
16,111 residents
- 28719
Cherokee (28719)
8,048 residents
- 28789 5,097
Whittier (28789)
5,097 residents
- 28725 43
Dillsboro (28725)
43 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28789 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28789 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28719
Cherokee (28719)
$60,658 median income
- 28725
Dillsboro (28725)
$57,750 median income
- 28779
Sylva (28779)
$57,727 median income
- 28789
Whittier (28789)
$51,713 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28789, 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 (5,097 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Jackson County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 28789's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28789 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Whittier, 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.