28698 ZIP Code — Zionville, NC

Watauga County, North Carolina

ZIP code 28698 is located in Zionville, North Carolina, within Watauga County. It covers approximately 25.87 square miles and serves a population of 2,582 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 828.

About ZIP code 28698

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1990s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $195,600. Owner-occupancy is high at 89%, well above the national average.

Median household income is $54,306. 41% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is service, with arts, entertainment, and food service as the leading industry. The average commute of 22 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 20% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (21%) compared to national benchmarks. 21% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.

Overall, ZIP code 28698 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, high homeownership, and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

2,582

population

25.87

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

28698 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 28698

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 28698. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Zionville	Acceptable
Zionville	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

37691 Trade (2.1 mi) 28692 Vilas (5.9 mi) 28684 Todd (6.8 mi) 28679 Sugar Grove (8.8 mi) 37683 Mountain City (9.3 mi) 28607 Boone (9.4 mi) 28608 Boone (9.6 mi) 28615 Creston (10.2 mi) 28604 Banner Elk (12 mi) 28693 Warrensville (13 mi) 28626 Fleetwood (13.9 mi) 37640 Butler (14.4 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	2,582
Population density	100 / sq mi
State FIPS	37
County FIPS	189

Geography
Land area	25.87 sq mi
Water area	0.02 sq mi
Latitude	36.3440
Longitude	-81.7376
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	63.9%	52.9%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	26.0%	25.6%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	6.3%	15.8%	19.1%
Over $200k	3.8%	5.7%	6.0%

Demographics & statistics

2,582

Population

100

People per sq mi

49.5

Median age

$54,306

Median household income

$34,823

Per capita income

$195,600

Median home value

$677

Median monthly rent

88.7%

Home ownership

8.2%

Poverty rate

0.8%

Unemployment

1,181

Housing units

19.7%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

114

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

119

25–34

122

35–44

448

45–54

270

55–59

116

60–64

167

65–74

100

124

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	427	16.5%
18 and over	2,155	83.5%
65 and over	555	21.5%
Median age	49.5 years

Race & ethnicity

White 96.8%

Hispanic or Latino 1.5%

Two or more races 1.5%

Black or African American 0.2%

Group	Count	%
White	2,537	96.8%
Hispanic or Latino	40	1.5%
Two or more races	40	1.5%
Black or African American	5	0.2%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	63.9%	52.9%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	26.0%	25.6%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	6.3%	15.8%	19.1%
Over $200k	3.8%	5.7%	6.0%

Under $10k 6.8%

$10k–$15k 1.5%

$15k–$25k 8.6%

$25k–$35k 4.4%

$35k–$50k 28.1%

$50k–$75k 8.0%

$75k–$100k 18.9%

$100k–$150k 17.3%

$150k–$200k 3.8%

$200k+ 2.6%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	6.8%
$10k–$15k	1.5%
$15k–$25k	8.6%
$25k–$35k	4.4%
$35k–$50k	28.1%
$50k–$75k	8.0%
$75k–$100k	18.9%
$100k–$150k	17.3%
$150k–$200k	3.8%
$200k+	2.6%
Median income	$54,306

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 7.1%

$50k–$100k 1.8%

$100k–$150k 27.7%

$150k–$200k 14.8%

$200k–$300k 20.4%

$300k–$500k 13.3%

$500k–$1M 11.6%

$1M+ 3.2%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$195,600
Median rent / month	$677
Owner occupied	88.7%
Renter occupied	11.3%
Vacant	18.7%
Single-family detached	77.2%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	15.6%
Median rooms	5.9
Avg household size (owned)	2.50

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	7.4%
2000–2009	17.6%
1990–1999	24.5%
1980–1989	11.5%
1970–1979	7.4%
1960–1969	6.8%
1950–1959	6.5%
1940–1949	2.3%
1939 or earlier	15.8%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.0%
1 bedroom	2.8%
2 bedrooms	31.3%
3 bedrooms	50.0%
4 bedrooms	12.3%
5+ bedrooms	3.5%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	8.0%
1 vehicle	27.2%
2 vehicles	36.9%
3 or more	27.9%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	0.7%
Electricity	40.4%
Propane / LP gas	18.4%
Fuel oil	26.2%
Wood	12.4%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	414	39.2%
Cohabiting couple	33	3.1%
Male householder, no spouse	332	31.4%
Female householder, no spouse	278	26.3%
Households with children under 18	191	18.1%
Households with seniors (65+)	443	41.9%
Average household size	2.43

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	20.6%	19.2%
Married	37.9%	54.1%
Separated	0.9%	0.0%
Widowed	0.6%	12.2%
Divorced	39.9%	14.6%

Education

Less than 9th grade 5.6%

Some HS, no diploma 7.4%

HS graduate 43.3%

Some college, no degree 18.7%

Associate's degree 5.3%

Bachelor's degree 13.0%

Graduate / professional 6.7%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	86.9%
Bachelor's or higher	19.7%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	0	0.0%
Kindergarten	31	8.1%
Elementary school	212	55.4%
High school	104	27.2%
College / grad school	36	9.4%

Employment

Industry of employment

Arts, food & hospitality 27.1%

Education & healthcare 22.0%

Retail trade 10.2%

Construction 9.6%

Transportation & utilities 8.2%

Manufacturing 6.7%

Professional & management 5.6%

Public administration 2.6%

Information 2.5%

Wholesale trade 2.2%

Finance & real estate 1.5%

Other services 1.1%

Agriculture & mining 0.8%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	22.1%
Service	37.6%
Sales & office	26.0%
Natural resources & construction	7.1%
Production & transportation	7.2%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	74.7%
Government	18.8%
Self-employed	6.2%
Unpaid family workers	0.2%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	80.0%
Carpool	8.7%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	0.0%
Work from home	11.2%
Other means	0.0%
Avg commute (minutes)	22.3

Poverty

All people 8.2%

Under 18 years 7.7%

18 and over 8.3%

Married-couple families 1.9%

Female-led households 5.7%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	40.5%
Retirement income	31.3%
Supplemental Security	14.4%
Cash public assistance	6.9%
Food stamps / SNAP	6.1%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	32.4%
High blood pressure	36.1%
High cholesterol	37.4%
Diabetes	11.2%
Heart disease	7.9%
Stroke	3.7%
Asthma	9.3%
Arthritis	28.7%
Kidney disease	3.4%
Pulmonary disease	8.8%
Cancer	7.2%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	21.0%
Binge drinking	15.2%
No physical activity	23.6%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	29.8%
Depression	24.6%
Fair or poor health	15.7%
Poor mental health	14.9%
Poor physical health	12.2%
No health insurance	16.7%
Visited doctor (checkup)	76.4%
Visited dentist	61.8%
Cholesterol screening	89.2%
Teeth loss	16.3%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	142	6.6%

Disability	%
Any disability	12.7%
Under 18	5.6%
18–64 years	9.2%
65 and over	28.3%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	60.1%
Public insurance	35.7%
No insurance	20.7%
Uninsured under 19	4.3%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	2,487	96.3%
Spanish	14	0.6%
Other Indo-European	4	0.2%
Asian & Pacific Islander	10	0.4%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	2,562	99.2%
Born in same state	2,527	97.9%
Born in different state	1,936	75.0%
Foreign born	35	1.4%
Naturalized citizen	20	0.8%
Not a US citizen	6	30.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	565	21.9%
Arab	545	21.1%

Ancestry	Count	%
French	518	20.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	40.9%
Internet access	75.2%

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

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 28698

What city is ZIP code 28698 in?

ZIP code 28698 is primarily assigned to Zionville, North Carolina.

What county is ZIP code 28698 in?

ZIP code 28698 falls within Watauga County, North Carolina.

Is ZIP code 28698 mostly owner-occupied?

89% of occupied units in ZIP code 28698 are owner-occupied, well above the national average.

Does ZIP code 28698 have a large retiree population?

41% of households in ZIP code 28698 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the population of ZIP code 28698?

ZIP code 28698 has an estimated population of 2,582 residents, with a density of 100 people per square mile.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 28698?

The median home value in ZIP code 28698 is $195,600.

What timezone is ZIP code 28698 in?

ZIP code 28698 observes the EST timezone.