Murphy, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28906
Cherokee County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 18,475
- 21/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $55,759
- Median income Below-median income area
- $250,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 25.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Murphy pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 22nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 42%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 21
- people per sq mi
- 84%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28906 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 28906 (Murphy, NC) rose +3.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 240.9 in 2023 to 250.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28906 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Murphy, Cherokee County, North Carolina, home to 18,475 residents across 863.3 square miles, a density of 21 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28906 reports a modest median household income of $55,759 (19% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,506. The poverty rate is 11.6%, with unemployment at 3.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $250,300 (4% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $797; 84.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 25.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 56.5, and the average commute is 26 minutes. No nearby ZIP peer set is available for this delivery area, so the North Carolina and national benchmarks above are the appropriate context for 28906.
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 28906
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Murphy, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28906.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
102 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
62 establishments
- Construction
Construction
61 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
59 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
55 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 28906, Murphy, 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
18,475
Population
863.3
Area (sq mi)
21
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28906?
56.5
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
1.2%
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?
$55,759
Median Household Income
-19% vs state ZIP avg
$32,506
Per Capita Income
11.6%
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Unemployment Rate
26.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28906 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Murphy, 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)
$55,759 29th percentile higher than 29% 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
13,362housing units
13,362
Total Housing Units
9,195
Occupied Units
4,167
Vacant Units
2.20
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$250,300
Median Home Value
-4% vs state ZIP avg
$797
Median Rent
1996
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
+3.8%
YoY Change (2024)
250
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+150%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28906 have increased 3.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +150% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.5% | 154 |
| 2021 | +17.1% | 181 |
| 2022 | +26.3% | 228 |
| 2023 | +5.5% | 241 |
| 2024 | +3.8% | 250 |
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 490 business establishments in ZIP 28906, employing approximately 6,075 people with a combined annual payroll of $241,382,000.
490
Businesses
6,075
Employees
$241.4M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 102 | 20.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 62 | 12.7% |
| Construction | 61 | 12.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 59 | 12.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 55 | 11.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 35 | 7.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 33 | 6.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 25 | 5.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 19 | 3.9% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 2.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 1.8% |
| Information | 7 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 1.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 0.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28906, 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 (18,475 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Cherokee County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28906 in?
ZIP code 28906 (Murphy) is located in Cherokee County, North Carolina. Cherokee County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cherokee-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28906?
ZIP code 28906 in Murphy, NC has a population of 18,475 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28906?
The median household income in ZIP 28906 is $55,759, which is 27% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28906?
The median home value in ZIP 28906 is $250,300, which is 10% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28906?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28906 is White at 91.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28906?
ZIP code 28906 has 490 business establishments employing approximately 6,075 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28906?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28906 are: Retail trade (102), Other services (except public administration) (62), Construction (61). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28906?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28906 increased by 3.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 150%. 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 28906?
In ZIP code 28906, 57.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.0% 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 28906?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28906 is 26.0 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 28906?
In ZIP code 28906, approximately 84.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28906?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28906 is 11.6% 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 28906's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28906 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Murphy, 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.