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, NC

ZIP Code 28781 — undefined, NC Demographics & Data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Working ClassLow Snow Area

Map, Quick Facts & Location

Quick Facts

Local time
Population
1,058
Median Income
$50,577
-33% vs US avg
Home Value
$261,000
-25% vs US avg
Median Rent
$493
-58% vs US avg
Median Age
59.0 yrs
+52% vs US avg
City
N/A
Area Code
Congress
Top Ancestry
IrishEnglishAmerican
Scroll to load map
Location
Coordinates
35.2241, -83.6355
Elevation
2,330 ft
Land Area
78.3 sq mi
Water Area
2.4 sq mi (3% water)

At a glance

Population
1,058
Density
N/A
Median income
$50,577
-33% vs US avg
Home value
$261,000
-25% vs US avg
Median rent
$493
-58% vs US avg
Timezone

Overview of ZIP Code 28781

MilitaryMilitary / base community

BAH housing allowance

ZIP 28781 is tagged as a military / base community. Loading DoD locality rates… Rates are a planning reference — confirm with finance or the official DTMO BAH lookup.

7-day weather forecast

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Sunrise, sunset & moon

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What to know about ZIP 28781

ZIP code 28781 covers NC in Macon County with a population of about 1,058.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 59.0 versus a U.S. median of about 38.9.

It sits in telephone area code 828; U.S. House district NC-11; the CHATTANOOGA media market.

Local search focus: Military

NC reads as a military / base-oriented community on US5’s intent model (elevated veteran share (23.3%) and/or base-related place names). Service members and families often look up Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates, on-base mail (PSC / P.O. Box) addresses, and nearby ZIP demographics when relocating.

US5 shows 2026 DoD BAH locality rates for this ZIP’s Military Housing Area on this page (pay grade × with/without dependents). Treat the table as a planning reference and confirm entitlement with your finance office or the official DTMO BAH lookup.

Income and economy in NC

Median household income in ZIP 28781 is about $50,577 — about 33% below the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 3.0%; unemployment rate near 4.2%; 28.1% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 5.6 points below the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Construction, Arts and entertainment, and Administrative support; a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Housing and affordability in ZIP 28781

Median home value is about $261,000 — about 25% below the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $493 (about 58% below the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 79.5% (about 14.1 points above the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 28781 in NC, a household would need roughly $72,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $1,677. That is about 42% above the local median household income ($50,577), so the median earner would likely stretch or need a larger down payment. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Climate risk and migration signals

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for NC as Relatively Low (composite score 73.8), which is elevated versus much of the country. The strongest component scores on US5 are flood (70.8) and hurricane (66.3). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for NC show little to no average snow and around 63.6 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 44 for ZIP 28781 (NC) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Nearby (from this ZIP)

Airport TYS (45.3 miles (72.9 km)) · Tri-County Community College (21.6 miles (34.8 km)) · Great Smoky Mountains National Park (27.0 miles (43.5 km)) · VA: Franklin CBOC (15.1 miles (24.3 km))

Full lists and map pins are in the Infrastructure section below.