Census ACS · ZIP Code Tabulation Area

28697 Income Statistics for 2026

Wilkes County, North Carolina

Median household income

$52,988

Median household income ($52,988) is higher than Wilkes County County ($51,750).

28697$52,988
Wilkes County County$51,750
28685$46,406
28654$57,438
28651$61,623
28659$50,280
28670$49,567

Average household income

$70,239

Average household income ($70,239) is higher than Wilkes County County ($66,304).

28697$70,239
Wilkes County County$66,304
28685$83,472
28654$79,459
28651$68,946
28659$63,335
28670$62,710

Per-capita income

$29,097

Per-capita income ($29,097) is higher than Wilkes County County ($27,813).

28697$29,097
Wilkes County County$27,813
28685$29,884
28654$31,213
28651$29,909
28659$26,821
28670$27,545

Households earning $100k+

25.0%

Households earning $100k+ (25.0%) is higher than Wilkes County County (20.0%).

2869725.0%
Wilkes County County20.0%
2868526.8%
2865423.3%
2865129.5%
2865918.0%
2867015.3%

All demographics

Population
13,412
Households
5,471
Median age
43.4 yrs
Median household income
$52,988
Mean household income
$70,239
Per capita income
$29,097
Median home value
$218,500
Median gross rent
$768
Owner-occupied housing
66.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
23.9%
In labor force
56.3%
Poverty rate
14.6%
Households earning $100k+
25.0%
Population under 5
4.1%
Population age 18–34
21.0%
Population age 25–44
22.2%
Population age 45–64
24.8%
Population age 65+
22.0%
Hispanic or Latino
10.7%
Black (non-Hispanic)
7.8%
Asian (non-Hispanic)
0.0%
Unemployment rate
3.8%

County and peer ZIP comparisons use population-weighted aggregates from other ZCTAs in the same county. Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates. Page URL: https://resource.skyrocketbpo.com/tools/market-research/us-income-demographics-by-zip-code/north-carolina/28697

Link to this page

Permanent URL backed by Census ACS data in PocketBase.

Context & methodology

About ZIP 28697 income statistics ($52,988 median)

ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28697 in North Carolina is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical reporting. It closely matches USPS ZIP code 28697 but may differ slightly at edges — use these ACS figures as demographic benchmarks, not exact postal boundaries.

An estimated 13,412 people live in this ZCTA. Median household income here ($52,988) is higher than Wilkes County County ($51,750). Operators sizing a local market often pair median income with mean income ($70,239) and the share of households earning $100k+ to gauge both typical and upscale demand.

The neighboring ZIP comparison table above lists adjacent ZCTAs with their own ACS estimates. Large gaps between adjacent ZIP codes are common — a few miles can separate very different income profiles, which matters for retail trade areas, service radius, and competitive positioning.

Small-area ACS estimates carry wider margins of error than state or county totals. The Census Bureau publishes guidance on interpreting confidence intervals (linked below). When a figure is critical to your analysis, download the underlying table from data.census.gov and review the margin of error column before citing it in a business plan or press release.

Data vintage: Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates (published 2026). Tables: B19013 (median HH income), B19001 (distribution), B19049 (income by age of householder).

Authoritative sources & further reading

Primary government data and reference pages for verifying and extending this analysis.

Related market research tools

Combine ZIP-level income with these free Resource tools for fuller market pictures.

All ZIP codes·North Carolina·ZIP codes in Wilkes County