ZIP Code 28685, North Carolina
ZIP Code 28685 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 28685 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in Wilkes County, North Carolina. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 2,181. The land area covers 47.17 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 2,181 | ±511 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 35.1 yrs | ±15.1 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 769 | ±164 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 873 | ±181 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 769 | ±164 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 104 | ±81 |
| Median Home Value | $123,200 | ±$57,848 |
| Median Gross Rent | $776 | ±$139 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $46,406 | ±$26,112 |
| Per Capita Income | $29,884 | ±$11,481 |
| Poverty Rate | 24.6% | ±17.9% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 537 | ±410 |
| Unemployment Rate | 13.5% | ±11.7% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 748 | ±206 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 83% | ±10.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 66,186 (2024)
ID: 110029
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: PLANNING DIRECTOR
110 NORTH ST, WILKESBORO NC 28697-2487
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Sparta, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | Elkin, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | North Wilkesboro, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | Lowgap, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Ronda, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | Ronda, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-06 | Elkin, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Elkin, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 07-08 | Elkin, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-08 | Ennice, NC |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wilkes Community College
|
College | 16.6 mi away | 1328 South Collegiate Dr, Wilkesboro, NC, 28697 |
3368386100
|
|
TRAPHILL BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 2.1 mi away | 6938 TRAPHILL RD, TRAPHILL, NC, 28685 |
(336) 863-3563
|
|
Surry Community College
|
College | 18.2 mi away | 630 S. Main St., Dobson, NC, 27017-8432 |
33638681213264
|
|
ALLEGHANY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 12.3 mi away | 115 ATWOOD STREET, SPARTA, NC, 28675 |
(336) 372-5573
|
|
ELKIN PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 12.6 mi away | 111 N FRONT ST, ELKIN, NC, 28621 |
(336) 835-5586
|
|
JONESVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 13.4 mi away | 150 W MAIN ST, JONESVILLE, NC, 28642 |
(336) 835-7604
|
|
WILKES COUNTY LIBRARY
|
Library | 14.3 mi away | 215 10TH ST, NORTH WILKESBORO, NC, 28659 |
(336) 838-2818
|
|
LOWGAP PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 17.9 mi away | 5210 W PINE ST, LOWGAP, NC, 27024 |
(336) 352-3000
|
|
DOBSON COMMUNITY LIBRARY
|
Library | 18.0 mi away | 113 CRUTCHFIELD ST, DOBSON, NC, 27017 |
(336) 386-8208
|
|
GRAYSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 19.9 mi away | 147 S. INDEPENDENCE AVE., INDEPENDENCE, VA, 24348 |
(276) 773-3018
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at SPARTA 3.5 SSW, NC US, located 9.9 miles from ZCTA5 28685. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44.5° | 22.3° | 33.4° | 4.46" | 5.3" |
| February | 46.4° | 24.4° | 35.4° | 3.15" | 4.2" |
| March | 52.8° | 31.3° | 42.1° | 4.91" | 3.1" |
| April | 63.4° | 39.8° | 51.6° | 5.36" | 1.0" |
| May | 70.6° | 49.2° | 59.9° | 5.48" | 0.0" |
| June | 79.8° | 57.1° | 68.5° | 4.87" | 0.0" |
| July | 83.6° | 61.7° | 72.7° | 5.23" | 0.0" |
| August | 82.1° | 59.6° | 70.9° | 4.93" | 0.0" |
| September | 75.0° | 52.7° | 63.9° | 5.13" | 0.0" |
| October | 65.8° | 41.2° | 53.5° | 4.52" | 0.0" |
| November | 54.8° | 31.9° | 43.4° | 4.54" | 0.3" |
| December | 46.2° | 25.8° | 36.0° | 4.51" | 4.7" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hays CDP | CDP | 8.0 mi | — |
| Ronda town | Town | 10.2 mi | — |
| Pleasant Hill CDP | CDP | 10.4 mi | — |
| Mulberry CDP | CDP | 10.9 mi | — |
| Sparta town | Town | 11.6 mi | — |
| Fairplains CDP | CDP | 12.3 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 28685. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.