ZIP Code 28540: Population, Income, Housing

State: NC

Total population: 49,141 Household income: $65,625 Rent: $1,091

Overview

Total population

49,141

Rent

$1,091

Year built

1986

Household income

$65,625

Per capita income

$31,632

Poverty rate

16.1%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

42.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

County

Onslow County

City

Jacksonville

Total population

49,141

Adults over 25

28,132

Total households

19,048

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$65,625

Per capita income

$31,632

Poverty rate

16.1%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

42.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$1,091

Year built

1986

Households that rent

38.2%

Households that own

61.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.8

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

66.2%

Black

14.7%

Asian

1.6%

Two or more races

13.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

13.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

86.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

20,599 (90%)

Commute time to work

24 mins

Work from home

2,294 (10%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

29.7%

High school graduate or GED

32.4%

Some college or associate degree

13.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

24.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 28540 with: Onslow County, NC North Carolina United States

ZIP 28540

Total population49,141

Rent$1,091

Year built1986

Household income$65,625

Per capita income$31,632

Poverty rate16.1%

Unemployment rateN/A

Onslow County, NC

Total population207,906

Rent$1,265

Year built1998

Household income$68,148

Per capita income$33,305

Poverty rate11.6%

Unemployment rate3.4%

North Carolina State

Total population10,730,404

Rent$1,228

Year built1991

Household income$72,388

Per capita income$41,385

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ZIP28540	CountyOnslow, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	49,141	207,906	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$1,091	$1,265	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1986	1998	1991	1980
Household income	$65,625	$68,148	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$31,632	$33,305	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.1%	11.6%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	3.4%	3.6%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 28540

Rent & Income

In 28540, the typical monthly rent is $1,091 and the typical household income is $65,625. Rent here is lower than North Carolina, and household income is lower than North Carolina. The estimated poverty rate is 16.1%.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 38.2% of households. About 42.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 24.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 28540 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 28540 — Poverty

How ZIP 28540 compares in North Carolina (126 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,091	30 / 126	from lower rent	$733 – $2,025
Household income	$65,625	81 / 126	from higher income	$42,810 – $165,586
Poverty rate	16.1%	93 / 126	from lower poverty	2.3% – 34.4%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in North Carolina with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 28540

Rent

When it comes to rent, ZIP Code 28540 ranks 30th out of 126 ZIP Codes in North Carolina. Statewide, values range from $733 in ZIP 28645 up to $2,025 in ZIP 28079.

Household income

Income-wise, this area is placed 81st out of 126 ZIP Codes. Across North Carolina, figures vary from $42,810 in ZIP 27893 up to $165,586 in ZIP 27519.

Poverty rate

When it comes to poverty, ZIP Code 28540 places 93rd out of 126 ZIP Codes. Throughout North Carolina, numbers span from 2.3% in ZIP 27502 up to 34.4% in ZIP 28607.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 28540 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,091 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 28540

Annual Household Income: $65,625

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 28540

Estimated Rate: 16.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 28540

In ZIP Code 28540, households that rent: 7,274 (38.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	7,274	38.2%
Owner-Occupied	11,774	61.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 28540

In ZIP Code 28540, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,087 (42.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	3,087	42.4%
Other renter households	4,187	57.6%
Total renter households	7,274	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 28540

Less than High School: 8,343 people (29.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 9,125 people (32.4%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,829 people (13.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 6,835 people (24.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 28,132

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.