Asheville, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28801
Buncombe County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 15,019
- 1,142/sq mi High-density area
- $58,438
- Median income Below-median income area
- $548,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 54.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Asheville pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 26th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 11%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,142
- people per sq mi
- 37%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28801 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 28801 (Asheville, NC) rose +10.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 428.5 in 2023 to 471.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28801 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, home to 15,019 residents across 13.2 square miles, a density of 1,142 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28801 reports a modest median household income of $58,438 (16% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $44,456. The poverty rate is 27.3%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $548,100 (111% above the average North Carolina ZIP), with only 37.0% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,232.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 54.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.1, and the average commute is 15 minutes. The page also surfaces 8 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Buncombe County, so 28801 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 28801
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Asheville, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28801.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
354 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
320 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
235 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
204 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
156 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 28801, Asheville, 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
15,019
Population
13.2
Area (sq mi)
1,142
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28801?
43.1
Median Age
46.1%
Male
53.9%
Female
3.2%
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?
$58,438
Median Household Income
-16% vs state ZIP avg
$44,456
Per Capita Income
27.3%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
14.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28801 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Asheville, 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)
$58,438 35th percentile higher than 35% 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
9,014housing units
9,014
Total Housing Units
6,247
Occupied Units
2,767
Vacant Units
2.23
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$548,100
Median Home Value
+111% vs state ZIP avg
$1,232
Median Rent
1963
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
+10.0%
YoY Change (2024)
471
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+371%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28801 have increased 10.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +371% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -0.1% | 303 |
| 2021 | +12.5% | 341 |
| 2022 | +23.2% | 420 |
| 2023 | +1.9% | 429 |
| 2024 | +10.0% | 471 |
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 1,812 business establishments in ZIP 28801, employing approximately 22,808 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,348,039,000.
1,812
Businesses
22,808
Employees
$1.3B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 354 | 19.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 320 | 17.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 235 | 13.0% |
| Retail trade | 204 | 11.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 156 | 8.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 133 | 7.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 82 | 4.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 61 | 3.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 53 | 2.9% |
| Construction | 49 | 2.7% |
| Manufacturing | 43 | 2.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 35 | 1.9% |
| Information | 35 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 35 | 1.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 9 | 0.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 0.3% |
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 28801 vs 28804 →
ZIP 28801 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28806
Asheville (28806)
38,550 residents
- 28803
Asheville (28803)
28,693 residents
- 28804
Asheville (28804)
20,507 residents
- 28787
Weaverville (28787)
19,718 residents
- 28704
Arden (28704)
18,821 residents
- 28805
Asheville (28805)
17,620 residents
- 28732
Fletcher (28732)
16,491 residents
- 28801 15,019
Asheville (28801)
15,019 residents
- 28701 3,635
Alexander (28701)
3,635 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28801 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28801 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28701
Alexander (28701)
$108,125 median income
- 28804
Asheville (28804)
$88,312 median income
- 28732
Fletcher (28732)
$81,852 median income
- 28704
Arden (28704)
$81,096 median income
- 28787
Weaverville (28787)
$78,604 median income
- 28803
Asheville (28803)
$76,662 median income
- 28805
Asheville (28805)
$75,151 median income
- 28806
Asheville (28806)
$63,273 median income
- 28801
Asheville (28801)
$58,438 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28801 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28804 | Asheville, NC | 20,507 | 3.7 mi |
| 28806 | Asheville, NC | 38,550 | 3.5 mi |
| 28805 | Asheville, NC | 17,620 | 4.5 mi |
| 28803 | Asheville, NC | 28,693 | 4.9 mi |
| 28704 | Arden, NC | 18,821 | 9.2 mi |
| 28787 | Weaverville, NC | 19,718 | 9.3 mi |
| 28701 | Alexander, NC | 3,635 | 8.8 mi |
| 28732 | Fletcher, NC | 16,491 | 11.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28801, 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 (15,019 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Buncombe County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28801 in?
ZIP code 28801 (Asheville) is located in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Buncombe County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/buncombe-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28801?
ZIP code 28801 in Asheville, NC has a population of 15,019 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28801?
The median household income in ZIP 28801 is $58,438, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28801?
The median home value in ZIP 28801 is $548,100, which is 97% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28801?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28801 is White at 75.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28801?
ZIP code 28801 has 1,812 business establishments employing approximately 22,808 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28801?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28801 are: Health care and social assistance (354), Professional, scientific, and technical services (320), Accommodation and food services (235). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28801?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28801 increased by 10.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 371%. 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 28801?
In ZIP code 28801, 72.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 54.4% 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 28801?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28801 is 14.8 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 28801?
In ZIP code 28801, approximately 37.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 63.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28801?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28801 is 27.3% 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 28801's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28801 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Asheville, 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.