Population 1,691 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 28685
Household size in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.43 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in ZIP 28685 has 2.43 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.7 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of ZIP 28685 is 43.7 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 42.5 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in ZIP 28685: 15.8% of all households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 28685
Renters in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.2% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +13.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in ZIP 28685 rent their homes (25.2%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About eight in ten owners (78.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.7% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −8.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in ZIP 28685: 14.1% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1980 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in ZIP 28685 are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. Even so, homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $410 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $628 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $634 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $666 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$256 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 28685 runs $666 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 23.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 28685
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.6% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in ZIP 28685: 7.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 72.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.4% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 72.5% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than a quarter of adults in ZIP 28685 never finished high school, well above the national share: only 72.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 28685
| Period | ZIP 28685 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.9% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in ZIP 28685: 11.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 28685 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 28685 | 2.43 | 43.7 | 15.8% | 25.2% | 14.1% | 1985 | $666 | 7.8% | 72.5% | 11.9% |
| ZIP 28668 | 2.03 | 58.4 | 3.6% | 23.7% | 69.5% | 1983 | $772 | 31.9% | 92.6% | 0.3% |
| ZIP 28635 | 2.34 | 48.3 | 9.8% | 18.8% | 15.1% | 1986 | $668 | 11.0% | 80.9% | 3.6% |
| ZIP 28683 | 2.43 | 42.1 | 7.8% | 14.2% | 16.7% | 1992 | $815 | 22.8% | 92.0% | 0.9% |
| ZIP 28669 | 2.48 | 45.0 | 16.0% | 27.2% | 13.8% | 1978 | $745 | 11.3% | 75.4% | 6.3% |
| ZIP 28627 | 2.18 | 50.8 | 5.5% | 26.1% | 32.4% | 1981 | $773 | 16.4% | 85.1% | 3.1% |
| ZIP 28676 | 2.26 | 50.4 | 8.1% | 24.1% | 10.6% | 1979 | $814 | 28.1% | 86.6% | 3.3% |
| ZIP 28649 | 2.44 | 56.2 | 17.3% | 24.2% | 13.6% | 1989 | $613 | 10.2% | 80.9% | 3.0% |
| ZIP 28670 | 2.69 | 47.0 | 11.0% | 19.9% | 14.3% | 1978 | $777 | 18.2% | 82.2% | 3.1% |
| ZIP 28621 | 2.29 | 46.6 | 12.7% | 27.9% | 13.7% | 1971 | $737 | 20.6% | 83.3% | 4.7% |
| ZIP 28642 | 2.39 | 44.5 | 11.1% | 37.2% | 14.1% | 1972 | $736 | 15.1% | 82.2% | 5.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 97868, OR · 03830, NH · 95560, CA · 04679, ME · 04786, ME · 07311, NJ · 14138, NY · 14838, NY · 27829, NC · 16028, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 28685. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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