ZIP Code 28655: Population, Income, Housing

State: NC

Total population: 55,100 Household income: $57,713 Rent: $905

Overview

Total population

55,100

Rent

$905

Year built

1981

Household income

$57,713

Per capita income

$31,976

Poverty rate

18.4%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

34.3%

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

Burke County

City

Morganton

Total population

55,100

Adults over 25

40,517

Total households

22,219

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).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$57,713

Per capita income

$31,976

Poverty rate

18.4%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

34.3%

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).

Housing

Rent

$905

Year built

1981

Households that rent

27.3%

Households that own

72.7%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

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).

Race

White

76.2%

Black

8.7%

Asian

2.6%

Two or more races

5.6%

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).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

11.3%

Not Hispanic or Latino

88.7%

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).

Commute

Commute rate

23,513 (94.5%)

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

1,365 (5.5%)

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

32%

High school graduate or GED

31.2%

Some college or associate degree

14.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

22.2%

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 28655 with: Burke County, NC Hickory metro area, NC North Carolina United States

ZIP 28655

Total population55,100

Rent$905

Year built1981

Household income$57,713

Per capita income$31,976

Poverty rate18.4%

Unemployment rateN/A

Burke County, NC

Total population87,795

Rent$884

Year built1980

Household income$58,592

Per capita income$32,977

Poverty rate15.6%

Unemployment rate3.7%

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	ZIP28655	CountyBurke, NC	Metro AreaHickory metro area, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	55,100	87,795	368,316	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$905	$884	$869	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1981	1980	1983	1991	1980
Household income	$57,713	$58,592	$62,787	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$31,976	$32,977	$34,781	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	18.4%	15.6%	13.5%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	3.7%	3.6%	3.6%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 28655

Rent & Income

In 28655, the typical monthly rent is $905 and the typical household income is $57,713. Rent here is lower than North Carolina, and household income is lower than North Carolina. The estimated poverty rate is 18.4%.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 27.3% of households. Around 34.3% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 22.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 28655 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 28655 — Poverty

How ZIP 28655 compares in North Carolina (126 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$905	13 / 126	from lower rent	$733 – $2,025
Household income	$57,713	108 / 126	from higher income	$42,810 – $165,586
Poverty rate	18.4%	107 / 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 28655

Rent

When it comes to rent, ZIP Code 28655 ranks 13th 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 108th 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 28655 places 107th 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 28655 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $905 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 28655

Annual Household Income: $57,713

💡 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 28655

Estimated Rate: 18.4%

💡 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 28655

In ZIP Code 28655, households that rent: 6,059 (27.3%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	6,059	27.3%
Owner-Occupied	16,160	72.7%

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 28655

In ZIP Code 28655, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 2,079 (34.3%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	2,079	34.3%
Other renter households	3,980	65.7%
Total renter households	6,059	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 28655

Less than High School: 12,950 people (32%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 12,634 people (31.2%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 5,933 people (14.6%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 9,000 people (22.2%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 40,517

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.