28734 Zip Code Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for the zip code 28734, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

28734 is a zip code in Macon County, North Carolina, which covers Burningtown, Cartoogechaye, Cowee, Ellijay, Franklin, Millshoal, Nantahala, Smithbridge, and Sugarfork, with a total population of 28,676 people.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in the 28734 zip code. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in 28734.

The estimated population of people living in 28734 is 28,676, with a median age of 48.1.

We can look back at data from previous years to see how the population in the 28734 area has changed over the last 5 years.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
28,676
+1.27%
+8.03%
2020
28,315
+1.53%
-
2019
27,887
+3.53%
-
2018
26,935
+1.47%
-
2017
26,544
 - -

Population of 28734 by Race and Ethnicity

How much has the race and ethnicity of the population in the 28734 zip code changed? The US Census Bureau gives us a few defined types that the population is broken down into.

Let's look at the total numbers and also the change over the last 5 years.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
87.6%
88.4%
 -0.90%
Black/African American
1.3%
1.5%
 -13.33%
Native
0.3%
0.7%
 -57.14%
Hispanic
8.2%
7.5%
 +9.33%
Asian
0.7%
0.8%
 -12.50%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
1.8%
0.9%
 +100.00%
Other
0%
0.1%
 -100.00%

This data can be very important for anybody studying the 28734 zip for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of 28734 by Age and Gender

We can also monitor the change of the age and gender in the 28734 zip code to track track trends in the population over time.

We can see how the population in 28734 has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 48.1 -0.62% 46 -0.22% 50.7 +1.2%
2020 48.4 0% 46.1 +0.66% 50.1 -0.79%
2019 48.4 -0.82% 45.8 -0.43% 50.5 -0.2%
2018 48.8 +0.83% 46 -0.22% 50.6 +0.6%
2017 48.4 - 46.1 - 50.3 -

The median age of the 28734 zip gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population in the 28734 area, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,374 +3.67% 1,226 -8.44% 1,420 1,120
10 to 19 1,572 +15.5% 1,412 +18.54% 1,821 1,684
20 to 29 1,371 +9.71% 1,274 +7.63% 1,497 1,373
30 to 39 1,386 +0.54% 1,614 -7.34% 1,387 1,493
40 to 49 1,253 +29.02% 1,269 +25.93% 1,642 1,619
50 to 59 1,572 +24.05% 1,985 +13.58% 1,977 2,266
60 to 69 1,933 0.04% 2,222 +6.56% 1,929 2,365
70+ 2,346 -2.52% 2,735 +2.24% 2,287 2,796

Median Household Income

The latest median household income for the 28734 zip code is $44,181.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less.

The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for 28734.

  • Under 25
    $37,753.00
  • 25 to 44
    $57,437.00
  • 45 to 64
    $47,857.00
  • 65 and over
    $37,911.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in the 28734 zip code, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in 28734, and then dividing that number by the total number of households.

This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of 28734 is currently $58,548.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

2.90% of households in 28734 are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of 28734 against other zip codes.

  • Less than $24,999
    28.63%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    25.67%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    19.38%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    11.71%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    9.96%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1.75%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.90%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in 28734 is $26,286.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of 28734 by the total population of 28734.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people living in the 28734 area, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in 28734 to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    9.69%
  • Bachelor's degree
    25.83%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    11.81%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    50.37%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.30%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in 28734 that are over the age of 16.

Currently, the total population of the 28734 zip over the age of 16 is 23,932.

Of those people, a total of 51.80% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in 28734 is 49.40%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate. Here's how that breaks down for the 28734 zip code.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,301 44.40% 7.50%
20 to 24 years 1,679 70.40% 8.10%
25 to 29 years 1,191 89.80% 4.10%
30 to 34 years 1,611 81.70% 6.60%
35 to 44 years 2,851 74.70% 5.90%
45 to 54 years 3,483 75.50% 2.30%
55 to 59 years 2,439 62.50% 2.50%
60 to 64 years 1,889 44.30% 1.30%
65 to 74 years 4,363 22.30% 7.30%
75 years and over 3,125 5.30% 9.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in 28734. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau (which we mentioned earlier in this article).

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 22,147 51.70% 3.80%
Black or African American 403 64.80% 4.60%
American Indian and Alaska Native 91 94.50% 72.10%
Asian 190 66.30% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 441 57.40% 3.20%
Two or more races 660 33.50% 32.10%
Hispanic or Latino 1,399 70.40% 11.20%
Not Hispanic or Latino 21,380 50.80% 3.80%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations for people living in the 28734 area as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in 28734 is 11,812, with median earnings of $31,940.00.

Women in 28734 are earning approximately 72.70% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 11,812 $31,940.00
Male 6,559 $36,851.00
Female 5,253 $26,786.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings for 28734 even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,243 $55,269.00
Business and Financial 212 $59,000.00
Computer and Mathematical 269 $80,536.00
Architecture and Engineering 116 $65,640.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 31 $38,036.00
Community and Social Service 407 $32,446.00
Legal 46 $217,700.00
Educational and Library 558 $23,116.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 152 $27,188.00
Healthcare Practitioners 743 $56,074.00
Healthcare Support 518 $30,038.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 276 $26,344.00
Law Enforcement 75 $40,662.00
Food Preparation and Serving 900 $17,563.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 901 $23,179.00
Personal Care and Service 312 $20,000.00
Sales 927 $21,789.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,382 $29,635.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 57 $17,548.00
Construction and Extraction 1,079 $35,236.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 479 $45,552.00
Production 372 $40,720.00
Transportation and Material Moving 325 $31,827.00

Occupations by Gender

Now we can also look at the occupations by category for 28734 when it is broken down by male and female.

This lets us see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings for 28734.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 845 $62,899.00 398 $23,523.00
Business and Financial 152 $76,375.00 60 $36,944.00
Computer and Mathematical 219 $90,024.00 50 $35,625.00
Architecture and Engineering 111 $65,494.00 5 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 17 $43,438.00 14 $0.00
Community and Social Service 211 $18,250.00 196 $32,980.00
Legal 16 $0.00 30 $0.00
Educational and Library 97 $22,122.00 461 $23,351.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 59 $38,150.00 93 $26,781.00
Healthcare Practitioners 91 $46,862.00 652 $56,474.00
Healthcare Support 36 $29,444.00 482 $30,113.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 229 $26,256.00 47 $26,895.00
Law Enforcement 75 $40,662.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 367 $17,904.00 533 $17,250.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 728 $24,911.00 173 $11,411.00
Personal Care and Service 114 $19,750.00 198 $20,053.00
Sales 489 $29,137.00 438 $9,545.00
Office and Administrative Support 252 $35,753.00 1,130 $26,879.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 30 $4,130.00 27 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 1,062 $35,472.00 17 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 479 $45,552.00 0 $0.00
Production 251 $42,477.00 121 $29,057.00
Transportation and Material Moving 232 $47,095.00 93 $15,363.00

Households and Family Size

A household is defined by the US Census Bureau as a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 13,268 households in 28734, with an average household size of 2.14 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 8,347 families living in the 28734 zip code with an average family size of 2.67 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each, that live in 28734:

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 6,517 597 1,233 4,921
Average Household Size 2.69 2.56 3.07 1.14
Total Families 6,517 597 1,233 0
Average Household Size 2.68 2.34 2.77 0

Poverty

Of the 8,347 families living in 28734, 12.20% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in 28734:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 18,138 housing units in 28734.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 13,268 73.15%
Vacant 4,870 26.85%

16.77% of the total 18,138 housing units in 28734 are rental units. This is approximately 3,041 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 9,790 are occupied by the owner - or 53.98% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in 28734 is $762.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in 28734 that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    437
  • Less than $500
    371
  • $500 to $999
    2,157
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    415
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    27
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    71
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in 28734 is $158,300.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in 28734 that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    769
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    1,412
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    2,366
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1,817
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,883
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    1,238
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    176
  • $1,000,000 or more
    129

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in 28734. The chart below shows the number of properties in 28734 that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    739
  • 1940 to 1949
    545
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,177
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,453
  • 1970 to 1979
    3,447
  • 1980 to 1989
    3,612
  • 1990 to 1999
    3,313
  • 2000 to 2009
    3,091
  • 2010 to 2013
    749
  • 2014 or later
    12

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in 28734 that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    942
  • 1 vehicle available
    4,096
  • 2 vehicles available
    4,668
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    3,562

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in 28734 get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in 28734 that commute to work in a particular way.

22.4 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in 28734.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    609
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,659
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,304
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,879
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,051
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    366
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,184
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    171
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    416
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    905
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    384
  • 90 or more minutes
    283

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for 28734 in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

States in 28734

If you want to see how the population and demographics of 28734 compare to other zip codes in North Carolina, check out the list of all North Carolina zip codes below: