28655 ZIP Code — Morganton, NC

Burke County, North Carolina

ZIP code 28655 is located in Morganton, North Carolina, within Burke County. It covers approximately 324.99 square miles and serves a population of 56,692 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 828.

About ZIP code 28655

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1980s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $156,900. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 75%.

Median household income is $51,689. Poverty affects 21% of residents, above the national average. 41% 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 21% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

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

Overall, ZIP code 28655 reflects a community defined by economic challenges above the national average and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

56,692

population

324.99

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

28655 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 28655

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 28655. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Morganton	Acceptable
Morganton	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

28690 Valdese (8.2 mi) 28612 Connelly Springs (11.3 mi) 28761 Nebo (11.9 mi) 28633 Lenoir (14.8 mi) 28638 Hudson (14.9 mi) 28630 Granite Falls (16.2 mi) 28020 Casar (16.7 mi) 28611 Collettsville (17 mi) 28637 Hildebran (17.1 mi) 28645 Lenoir (17.3 mi) 28645 Lenoir (17.3 mi) 28752 Marion (18.3 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	56,692
Population density	174 / sq mi
State FIPS	37
County FIPS	023

Geography
Land area	324.99 sq mi
Water area	2.50 sq mi
Latitude	35.7612
Longitude	-81.7240
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	828

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	56.9%	55.7%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	29.5%	29.5%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	11.4%	12.5%	19.1%
Over $200k	2.3%	2.3%	6.0%

Demographics & statistics

56,692

Population

174

People per sq mi

44.3

Median age

$51,689

Median household income

$28,501

Per capita income

$156,900

Median home value

$780

Median monthly rent

74.6%

Home ownership

20.6%

Poverty rate

6.8%

Unemployment

19,266

Housing units

20.6%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

1,346

Under 5

1,310

1,462

5–9

1,424

1,591

10–14

1,549

1,533

15–19

1,493

1,919

20–24

1,868

3,348

25–34

3,259

3,319

35–44

3,232

3,872

45–54

3,770

2,344

55–59

2,282

2,120

60–64

2,064

3,315

65–74

3,228

1,815

75–84

1,767

741

85+

721

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	10,444	18.4%
18 and over	46,248	81.6%
65 and over	11,587	20.4%
Median age	44.3 years

Race & ethnicity

White 74.9%

Black or African American 7.9%

Hispanic or Latino 5.4%

Other race 4.3%

Two or more races 3.7%

Asian 2.5%

American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	44,914	74.9%
Black or African American	4,710	7.9%
Hispanic or Latino	3,262	5.4%
Other race	2,584	4.3%
Two or more races	2,191	3.7%
Asian	1,502	2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native	743	1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	48	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	56.9%	55.7%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	29.5%	29.5%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	11.4%	12.5%	19.1%
Over $200k	2.3%	2.3%	6.0%

Under $10k 5.4%

$10k–$15k 5.5%

$15k–$25k 11.0%

$25k–$35k 10.4%

$35k–$50k 16.3%

$50k–$75k 17.8%

$75k–$100k 13.7%

$100k–$150k 12.6%

$150k–$200k 3.8%

$200k+ 3.3%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	5.4%
$10k–$15k	5.5%
$15k–$25k	11.0%
$25k–$35k	10.4%
$35k–$50k	16.3%
$50k–$75k	17.8%
$75k–$100k	13.7%
$100k–$150k	12.6%
$150k–$200k	3.8%
$200k+	3.3%
Median income	$51,689

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 9.9%

$50k–$100k 17.0%

$100k–$150k 20.2%

$150k–$200k 17.4%

$200k–$300k 18.7%

$300k–$500k 12.3%

$500k–$1M 3.4%

$1M+ 1.1%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$156,900
Median rent / month	$780
Owner occupied	74.6%
Renter occupied	25.4%
Vacant	11.4%
Single-family detached	67.0%
Large apartment buildings	1.8%
Mobile homes	20.1%
Median rooms	5.3
Avg household size (owned)	2.46

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.5%
2010–2019	3.9%
2000–2009	12.4%
1990–1999	16.1%
1980–1989	17.1%
1970–1979	16.9%
1960–1969	12.6%
1950–1959	7.7%
1940–1949	6.1%
1939 or earlier	6.7%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.4%
1 bedroom	5.0%
2 bedrooms	32.0%
3 bedrooms	49.4%
4 bedrooms	11.0%
5+ bedrooms	2.2%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	5.1%
1 vehicle	29.5%
2 vehicles	34.5%
3 or more	30.9%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	11.6%
Electricity	68.2%
Propane / LP gas	7.6%
Fuel oil	8.2%
Wood	3.4%
No fuel used	1.0%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	10,677	48.5%
Cohabiting couple	1,304	5.9%
Male householder, no spouse	4,044	18.4%
Female householder, no spouse	5,991	27.2%
Households with children under 18	6,134	27.9%
Households with seniors (65+)	8,023	36.4%
Average household size	2.47

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	35.1%	26.3%
Married	50.3%	47.2%
Separated	2.3%	3.3%
Widowed	2.8%	10.2%
Divorced	9.5%	13.0%

Education

Less than 9th grade 7.2%

Some HS, no diploma 9.4%

HS graduate 31.3%

Some college, no degree 19.9%

Associate's degree 11.7%

Bachelor's degree 12.7%

Graduate / professional 7.8%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	83.4%
Bachelor's or higher	20.6%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	391	3.5%
Kindergarten	704	6.2%
Elementary school	4,963	43.9%
High school	2,542	22.5%
College / grad school	2,693	23.8%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 24.7%

Manufacturing 23.6%

Retail trade 9.9%

Arts, food & hospitality 9.0%

Professional & management 5.9%

Public administration 5.7%

Construction 5.5%

Other services 5.4%

Transportation & utilities 3.7%

Finance & real estate 2.5%

Wholesale trade 1.7%

Agriculture & mining 1.4%

Information 1.1%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	31.7%
Service	20.4%
Sales & office	15.3%
Natural resources & construction	11.4%
Production & transportation	21.2%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	74.8%
Government	19.8%
Self-employed	5.3%
Unpaid family workers	0.1%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	84.2%
Carpool	8.9%
Public transit	0.2%
Walk	0.5%
Work from home	4.7%
Other means	1.5%
Avg commute (minutes)	24.0

Poverty

All people 20.6%

Under 18 years 34.8%

18 and over 17.4%

Married-couple families 9.9%

Female-led households 32.7%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	41.1%
Retirement income	29.5%
Supplemental Security	5.4%
Cash public assistance	2.3%
Food stamps / SNAP	16.4%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	33.9%
High blood pressure	36.6%
High cholesterol	35.5%
Diabetes	12.0%
Heart disease	8.0%
Stroke	3.9%
Asthma	9.7%
Arthritis	27.7%
Kidney disease	3.5%
Pulmonary disease	9.0%
Cancer	6.9%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	22.5%
Binge drinking	15.1%
No physical activity	27.6%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	34.8%
Depression	25.2%
Fair or poor health	17.9%
Poor mental health	15.4%
Poor physical health	12.8%
No health insurance	20.1%
Visited doctor (checkup)	79.0%
Visited dentist	56.7%
Cholesterol screening	88.3%
Teeth loss	19.2%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	3,113	6.7%

Disability	%
Any disability	21.0%
Under 18	4.7%
18–64 years	19.8%
65 and over	39.6%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	58.8%
Public insurance	44.0%
No insurance	12.9%
Uninsured under 19	4.6%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	54,036	95.3%
Spanish	2,155	4.0%
Other Indo-European	1,429	2.6%
Asian & Pacific Islander	101	0.2%
Other languages	301	0.6%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	53,567	94.5%
Born in same state	52,793	93.1%
Born in different state	39,218	69.2%
Foreign born	774	1.4%
Naturalized citizen	3,125	5.5%
Not a US citizen	1,328	42.5%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	13,391	23.6%
French	5,202	9.2%
Italian	4,694	8.3%
English	476	0.8%
German	145	0.3%

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	136	0.2%
Irish	110	0.2%
Dutch	51	0.1%
Norwegian	8	0%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	38.8%
Internet access	89.6%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 28655

What part of Morganton is ZIP code 28655?

ZIP code 28655 covers a portion of Morganton, North Carolina, within Burke County.

What county is ZIP code 28655 in?

ZIP code 28655 falls within Burke County, North Carolina.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28655?

21% of residents in ZIP code 28655 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 28655 have a large retiree population?

41% of households in ZIP code 28655 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 28655?

The median home value in ZIP code 28655 is $156,900.

What is the population of ZIP code 28655?

ZIP code 28655 has an estimated population of 56,692 residents, with a density of 174 people per square mile.

What timezone is ZIP code 28655 in?

ZIP code 28655 observes the EST timezone.