ZIP Code 28803: Population, Income, Housing

State: NC

Total population: 33,718 Household income: $76,662 Rent: $1,556

Overview

Total population

33,718

Rent

$1,556

Year built

1994

Household income

$76,662

Per capita income

$53,835

Poverty rate

9.6%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

53.6%

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.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

County

Buncombe County

City

Asheville

Total population

33,718

Adults over 25

26,245

Total households

13,459

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

$76,662

Per capita income

$53,835

Poverty rate

9.6%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

53.6%

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).

Housing

Rent

$1,556

Year built

1994

Households that rent

44.9%

Households that own

55.1%

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

80.6%

Black

6.6%

Asian

1.6%

Two or more races

7.6%

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

9.1%

Not Hispanic or Latino

90.9%

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

13,804 (83.3%)

Commute time to work

20 mins

Work from home

2,770 (16.7%)

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).

Education

Less than high school

19.2%

High school graduate or GED

15.9%

Some college or associate degree

9.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

55%

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 28803 with: Buncombe County, NC Asheville, NC Asheville metro area, NC North Carolina United States

ZIP 28803

Total population33,718

Rent$1,556

Year built1994

Household income$76,662

Per capita income$53,835

Poverty rate9.6%

Unemployment rateN/A

Buncombe County, NC

Total population274,360

Rent$1,362

Year built1991

Household income$74,436

Per capita income$43,371

Poverty rate11.8%

Unemployment rate6%

Asheville, NC

Total population94,535

Rent$1,402

Year built1982

Household income$71,102

Per capita income$45,430

Poverty rate14.3%

Unemployment rate7.2%

Asheville Metro Area, NC

Total population414,711

Rent$1,296

Year built1990

Household income$71,838

Per capita income$42,135

Poverty rate11.8%

Unemployment rate4%

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	ZIP28803	CountyBuncombe, NC	CityAsheville, NC	Metro AreaAsheville metro area, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	33,718	274,360	94,535	414,711	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$1,556	$1,362	$1,402	$1,296	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1994	1991	1982	1990	1991	1980
Household income	$76,662	$74,436	$71,102	$71,838	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$53,835	$43,371	$45,430	$42,135	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	9.6%	11.8%	14.3%	11.8%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	6%	7.2%	4%	3.6%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 28803

Rent & Income

In 28803, the typical monthly rent is $1,556 and the typical household income is $76,662. Rent here is higher than in both Asheville and North Carolina, and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 9.6%, which is lower than in both Asheville and North Carolina.

Housing & Affordability

This ZIP Code is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 44.9% of households. About 53.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 55% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 28803 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 28803 — Poverty

How ZIP 28803 compares in North Carolina (126 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,556	88 / 126	from lower rent	$733 – $2,025
Household income	$76,662	57 / 126	from higher income	$42,810 – $165,586
Poverty rate	9.6%	44 / 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 28803

Rent

Rent-wise, this area comes 88th out of 126 ZIP Codes in North Carolina. At the state level, values extend from $733 in ZIP 28645 up to $2,025 in ZIP 28079.

Household income

Looking at income levels, ZIP Code 28803 holds the 57th out of 126 ZIP Codes. In North Carolina as a whole, the range goes from $42,810 in ZIP 27893 up to $165,586 in ZIP 27519.

Poverty rate

Regarding poverty rate, ZIP Code 28803 ranks 44th out of 126 ZIP Codes. Statewide, values range from 2.3% in ZIP 27502 up to 34.4% in ZIP 28607.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 28803 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,556 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 28803

Annual Household Income: $76,662

💡 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 28803

Estimated Rate: 9.6%

💡 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 28803

In ZIP Code 28803, households that rent: 6,049 (44.9%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	6,049	44.9%
Owner-Occupied	7,410	55.1%

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 28803

In ZIP Code 28803, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,241 (53.6%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	3,241	53.6%
Other renter households	2,808	46.4%
Total renter households	6,049	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 28803

Less than High School: 5,044 people (19.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 4,174 people (15.9%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,582 people (9.8%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 14,445 people (55%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 26,245

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.