28456 ZIP Code — Riegelwood, NC

Columbus County, North Carolina

ZIP code 28456 is located in Riegelwood, North Carolina, within Columbus County. It covers approximately 78.82 square miles and serves a population of 4,001 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 910.

About ZIP code 28456

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1990s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $153,700. Owner-occupancy is high at 84%, well above the national average.

Median household income is $42,323. SNAP benefit usage at 27% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 48% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 24 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 11% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of diabetes (17%), smoking (23%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 25%.

Overall, ZIP code 28456 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, high homeownership, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

4,001

population

78.82

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

28456 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 28456

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 28456. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Riegelwood	Acceptable
Riegelwood	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

28448 Kelly (8.1 mi) 28436 Delco (8.3 mi) 28421 Atkinson (9.9 mi) 28435 Currie (10.2 mi) 28423 Bolton (10.6 mi) 28434 Council (11 mi) 28447 Ivanhoe (13.5 mi) 28450 Lake Waccamaw (14 mi) 28451 Leland (14.1 mi) 28442 Hallsboro (19.4 mi) 28401 Wilmington (20 mi)

Demographics updated 06/2026

Population
Total population	4,001
Population density	51 / sq mi
State FIPS	37
County FIPS	047

Geography
Land area	78.82 sq mi
Water area	1.09 sq mi
Latitude	34.3901
Longitude	-78.2859
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	910

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 06/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	62.5%	59.3%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	28.9%	27.0%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	8.5%	11.8%	19.1%
Over $200k	0.1%	1.9%	6.0%

Demographics & statistics

4,001

Population

People per sq mi

46.8

Median age

$42,323

Median household income

$23,305

Per capita income

$153,700

Median home value

$766

Median monthly rent

83.7%

Home ownership

16.1%

Poverty rate

9.9%

Unemployment

1,634

Housing units

11.0%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

121

15–19

127

20–24

156

199

25–34

246

304

35–44

376

273

45–54

338

55–59

112

201

60–64

249

195

65–74

240

109

75–84

134

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	516	12.9%
18 and over	3,485	87.1%
65 and over	765	19.1%
Median age	46.8 years

Race & ethnicity

Black or African American 50.2%

White 39.6%

Two or more races 4.3%

Hispanic or Latino 2.4%

American Indian / Alaska Native 2.1%

Other race 1.4%

Group	Count	%
Black or African American	2,057	50.2%
White	1,625	39.6%
Two or more races	177	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino	98	2.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native	85	2.1%
Other race	57	1.4%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	62.5%	59.3%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	28.9%	27.0%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	8.5%	11.8%	19.1%
Over $200k	0.1%	1.9%	6.0%

Under $10k 7.8%

$10k–$15k 6.9%

$15k–$25k 12.1%

$25k–$35k 10.5%

$35k–$50k 21.1%

$50k–$75k 15.9%

$75k–$100k 13.5%

$100k–$150k 10.3%

$150k–$200k 1.0%

$200k+ 0.9%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	7.8%
$10k–$15k	6.9%
$15k–$25k	12.1%
$25k–$35k	10.5%
$35k–$50k	21.1%
$50k–$75k	15.9%
$75k–$100k	13.5%
$100k–$150k	10.3%
$150k–$200k	1.0%
$200k+	0.9%
Median income	$42,323

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 11.0%

$50k–$100k 19.6%

$100k–$150k 18.5%

$150k–$200k 15.7%

$200k–$300k 29.1%

$300k–$500k 5.5%

$500k–$1M 0.2%

$1M+ 0.4%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$153,700
Median rent / month	$766
Owner occupied	83.7%
Renter occupied	16.3%
Vacant	19.8%
Single-family detached	64.9%
Large apartment buildings	0.1%
Mobile homes	34.3%
Median rooms	5.7
Avg household size (owned)	2.78

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.2%
2010–2019	5.2%
2000–2009	9.6%
1990–1999	26.3%
1980–1989	13.6%
1970–1979	18.2%
1960–1969	3.2%
1950–1959	13.6%
1940–1949	1.7%
1939 or earlier	8.4%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.0%
1 bedroom	2.7%
2 bedrooms	10.4%
3 bedrooms	63.6%
4 bedrooms	20.9%
5+ bedrooms	2.4%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	4.6%
1 vehicle	27.1%
2 vehicles	31.6%
3 or more	36.6%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	0.8%
Electricity	76.1%
Propane / LP gas	20.2%
Fuel oil	2.7%
Wood	0.3%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	532	35.3%
Cohabiting couple	45	3.0%
Male householder, no spouse	181	12.0%
Female householder, no spouse	750	49.7%
Households with children under 18	357	23.7%
Households with seniors (65+)	628	41.6%
Average household size	2.65

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	47.7%	36.3%
Married	44.8%	30.2%
Separated	1.9%	3.3%
Widowed	0.9%	13.6%
Divorced	4.7%	16.7%

Education

Less than 9th grade 2.5%

Some HS, no diploma 9.6%

HS graduate 43.5%

Some college, no degree 24.9%

Associate's degree 8.5%

Bachelor's degree 7.9%

Graduate / professional 3.1%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	87.9%
Bachelor's or higher	11.0%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	4	0.7%
Kindergarten	8	1.4%
Elementary school	331	59.6%
High school	92	16.6%
College / grad school	120	21.6%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 20.5%

Manufacturing 13.2%

Construction 11.3%

Arts, food & hospitality 10.8%

Retail trade 10.2%

Other services 7.6%

Agriculture & mining 7.0%

Transportation & utilities 6.2%

Finance & real estate 5.8%

Professional & management 5.7%

Wholesale trade 1.0%

Public administration 0.6%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	33.2%
Service	14.5%
Sales & office	16.3%
Natural resources & construction	17.3%
Production & transportation	18.7%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	86.4%
Government	10.6%
Self-employed	3.0%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	75.4%
Carpool	7.4%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	3.8%
Work from home	13.3%
Other means	0.1%
Avg commute (minutes)	24.4

Poverty

All people 16.1%

Under 18 years 15.2%

18 and over 16.2%

Married-couple families 2.1%

Female-led households 32.4%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	48.3%
Retirement income	38.2%
Supplemental Security	10.3%
Cash public assistance	0.2%
Food stamps / SNAP	27.3%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	44.0%
High blood pressure	45.3%
High cholesterol	36.0%
Diabetes	16.6%
Heart disease	8.2%
Stroke	5.2%
Asthma	10.6%
Arthritis	30.5%
Kidney disease	4.2%
Pulmonary disease	8.8%
Cancer	6.6%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	23.0%
Binge drinking	12.4%
No physical activity	30.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	39.5%
Depression	21.4%
Fair or poor health	21.3%
Poor mental health	15.4%
Poor physical health	13.9%
No health insurance	22.5%
Visited doctor (checkup)	82.3%
Visited dentist	54.3%
Cholesterol screening	90.7%
Teeth loss	21.9%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	175	5.0%

Disability	%
Any disability	24.9%
Under 18	8.5%
18–64 years	24.3%
65 and over	38.2%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	56.5%
Public insurance	47.3%
No insurance	14.6%
Uninsured under 19	0.0%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	3,907	97.7%
Spanish	29	0.7%
Other Indo-European	9	0.2%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	20	0.5%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	3,861	96.5%
Born in same state	3,853	96.3%
Born in different state	3,340	83.5%
Foreign born	8	0.2%
Naturalized citizen	140	3.5%
Not a US citizen	88	62.9%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	286	7.1%
French	193	4.8%
Arab	125	3.1%

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	7	0.2%
English	1	0%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	37.7%
Internet access	96.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 28456

What city is ZIP code 28456 in?

ZIP code 28456 is primarily assigned to Riegelwood, North Carolina.

What county is ZIP code 28456 in?

ZIP code 28456 falls within Columbus County, North Carolina.

Does ZIP code 28456 have a large retiree population?

48% of households in ZIP code 28456 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 28456?

11% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

Is ZIP code 28456 mostly owner-occupied?

84% of occupied units in ZIP code 28456 are owner-occupied, well above the national average.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28456?

16% of residents in ZIP code 28456 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

What timezone is ZIP code 28456 in?

ZIP code 28456 observes the EST timezone.