ZIP Code 28779, North Carolina
ZIP Code 28779 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 28779 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in Jackson County, North Carolina. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 18,064. The land area covers 108.04 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 18,064 | ±1,187 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 42.4 yrs | ±2.3 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 8,295 | ±626 | 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 | 9,692 | ±667 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 8,295 | ±626 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 1,397 | ±360 |
| Median Home Value | $243,700 | ±$25,412 |
| Median Gross Rent | $827 | ±$90 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,727 | ±$7,959 |
| Per Capita Income | $32,438 | ±$2,994 |
| Poverty Rate | 15.2% | ±3.5% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 2,700 | ±650 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | ±1.5% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 7,758 | ±839 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 81.9% | ±1.2% |
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: 45,281 (2024)
ID: 191039
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: COUNTY MANAGER
401 GRINDSTAFF COVE RD, SYLVA NC 28779-3250
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | PK-04 | Franklin, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | Cullowhee, NC | |
| Alternative School Nearby | 09-12 | Waynesville, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | Cherokee, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-12 | Cherokee, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-12 | Bryson City, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-08 | Cullowhee, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-04 | Franklin, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-08 | Sylva, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Franklin, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Southwestern Community College
|
College | 0.5 mi away | 447 College Drive, Sylva, NC, 28779 |
8283394000
|
|
JACKSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 1.6 mi away | 310 KEENER ST, SYLVA, NC, 28779 |
(828) 586-2016
|
|
Western Carolina University
|
College | 3.5 mi away | Highway 107, Cullowhee, NC, 28723-9646 |
8282277100
|
|
MAGGIE VALLEY BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 12.9 mi away | 3987 SOCO RD, MAGGIE VALLEY, NC, 28751 |
(828) 356-2541
|
|
Haywood Community College
|
College | 19.8 mi away | 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, NC, 28721-9901 |
8286272821
|
|
MARIANNA BLACK LIBRARY
|
Library | 14.1 mi away | 33 FRYEMONT ST, BRYSON CITY, NC, 28713 |
(828) 488-3030
|
|
HAYWOOD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 15.3 mi away | 678 S HAYWOOD ST, WAYNESVILLE, NC, 28786 |
(828) 452-5169
|
|
MACON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 16.7 mi away | 149 SILER FARM RD, FRANKLIN, NC, 28734 |
(828) 524-3600
|
|
ALBERT CARLTON-CASHIERS COMMUNITY LIBRARY
|
Library | 18.0 mi away | 249 FRANK ALLEN RD, CASHIERS, NC, 28717 |
(828) 743-0215
|
|
HUDSON LIBRARY
|
Library | 21.0 mi away | 554 MAIN ST, HIGHLANDS, NC, 28741 |
(828) 526-3031
|
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 CULLOWHEE, NC US, located 3.6 miles from ZCTA5 28779. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48.5° | 25.6° | 37.1° | 4.85" | 1.3" |
| February | 52.8° | 28.2° | 40.5° | 4.56" | 0.7" |
| March | 60.8° | 34.0° | 47.4° | 4.64" | 0.7" |
| April | 70.3° | 41.6° | 55.9° | 4.72" | 0.0" |
| May | 77.0° | 50.5° | 63.8° | 4.34" | 0.0" |
| June | 82.4° | 58.6° | 70.5° | 5.12" | 0.0" |
| July | 85.3° | 62.7° | 74.0° | 5.01" | 0.0" |
| August | 84.3° | 61.7° | 73.0° | 4.30" | 0.0" |
| September | 79.1° | 55.8° | 67.5° | 4.31" | 0.0" |
| October | 70.0° | 43.8° | 56.9° | 3.22" | 0.1" |
| November | 59.9° | 33.0° | 46.4° | 4.04" | 0.0" |
| December | 51.1° | 28.7° | 39.9° | 5.07" | 1.5" |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster town | Town | 0.6 mi | — |
| Sylva town | Town | 1.5 mi | — |
| Dillsboro town | Town | 2.6 mi | — |
| Cullowhee CDP | CDP | 3.6 mi | — |
| Forest Hills village | Village | 4.2 mi | — |
| Whittier CDP | CDP | 9.8 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 28779. • 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.