ZIP Code 28645: Population, Income, Housing

State: NC
Total population: 45,997 Household income: $51,650 Rent: $733

Overview

Total population
45,997
Rent
$733
Year built
1977
Household income
$51,650
Per capita income
$28,994
Poverty rate
14.3%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Household size
2.4 persons
Rent over 30% of income
32.3%

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).

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
Caldwell County
City
Lenoir
Total population
45,997
Adults over 25
33,857
Total households
19,175
Household size
2.4 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).

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.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$51,650
Per capita income
$28,994
Poverty rate
14.3%
Unemployment rate
N/A
Rent over 30% of income
32.3%

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).

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.

Housing

Rent
$733
Year built
1977
Households that rent
29.1%
Households that own
70.9%
Rooms per home (all homes)
5.3

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).

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.

Race

White
82.5%
Black
5.7%
Asian
0.7%
Two or more races
6.1%

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.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
8.4%
Not Hispanic or Latino
91.6%

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).

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.

Commute

Commute rate
18,480 (93.3%)
Commute time to work
28 mins
Work from home
1,319 (6.7%)

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.

Education

Less than high school
33.9%
High school graduate or GED
34.8%
Some college or associate degree
13.7%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
17.7%

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.

 

Comparison of ZIP Code 28645 with: Caldwell County, NC Hickory metro area, NC North Carolina United States

ZIP 28645

Total population45,997
Rent$733
Year built1977
Household income$51,650
Per capita income$28,994
Poverty rate14.3%
Unemployment rateN/A

Caldwell County, NC

Total population80,536
Rent$744
Year built1980
Household income$56,425
Per capita income$31,914
Poverty rate13.4%
Unemployment rate3.3%

Hickory Metro Area, NC

Total population368,316
Rent$869
Year built1983
Household income$62,787
Per capita income$34,781
Poverty rate13.5%
Unemployment rate3.6%

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 ZIP28645 CountyCaldwell, NCMetro AreaHickory metro area, NCStateNorth CarolinaCountryUnited States
Total population45,99780,536368,31610,730,404334,922,499
Rent$733$744$869$1,228$1,413
Year built19771980198319911980
Household income$51,650$56,425$62,787$72,388$80,734
Per capita income$28,994$31,914$34,781$41,385$44,673
Poverty rate14.3%13.4%13.5%13%12.5%
Unemployment rateN/A3.3%3.6%3.6%4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

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Summary for 28645

Rent & Income

In 28645, the typical monthly rent is $733 and the typical household income is $51,650. Rent here is lower than North Carolina, and household income is lower than North Carolina. The estimated poverty rate is 14.3%.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 29.1% of households. Around 32.3% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Only about 17.7% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education.

 

ZIP 28645 — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

ZIP 28645 — Poverty

 

 

How ZIP 28645 compares in North Carolina (126 ZIP Codes)

Metric This ZIP Rank Starts from State range
Rent $733 1 / 126 from lower rent $733 – $2,025
Household income $51,650 118 / 126 from higher income $42,810 – $165,586
Poverty rate 14.3% 78 / 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 28645

Rent

When it comes to rent, ZIP Code 28645 ranks 1st 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 118th 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 28645 places 78th 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 28645 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $733 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 28645

Annual Household Income: $51,650

💡 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 28645

Estimated Rate: 14.3%

💡 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 28645

In ZIP Code 28645, households that rent: 5,587 (29.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 5,587 29.1%
Owner-Occupied 13,588 70.9%

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 28645

In ZIP Code 28645, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 1,804 (32.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 1,804 32.3%
Other renter households 3,783 67.7%
Total renter households 5,587 100%

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 28645

Less than High School: 11,465 people (33.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 11,777 people (34.8%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,636 people (13.7%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 5,979 people (17.7%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 33,857

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.