ZIP Code 28604 - Banner Elk North Carolina
Overview
ZIP Code 28604 is located in Banner Elk North Carolina. Portions of 28604 are also in Seven Devils and Beech Mountain and Sugar Mountain and Valle Crucis and Foscoe and Banner Elk Township and Watauga Township and Laurel Creek Township and Shawneehaw Township and Linville Township (Avery County) and Cranberry Township (Avery County) and Heaton Township and Newland No. 1 Township. 28604 is primarily within Watauga County, with some portions in Avery County. Regionally, 28604 is located in the Tri-Cities Region.
ZIP Code 28604 Quick Stats
| ZIP Code Name | Banner Elk |
| Primary County | Watauga County |
| ZIP Code Type | Standard |
| Population (2022) | 7,671 |
| Area Code(s) | 828 |
| Current Time | EDT |
ZIP Code 28604 Map
28604 Demographics
28604 can be classified socioeconomically as Lower Middle Class class compared to other ZIP Codes in North Carolina based on Median Household Income and Average Adjusted Gross Income. The majority race/ethnicity residing in 28604 is White. The majority race/ethnicity attending public schools in 28604 is White. The current unemployment level in 28604 is 3.5%.
| Population | 7,671 |
| Population Growth Rate | 4.84% |
| Population Density | 114 People per Square Mile |
| Total Households | 2,801 |
| Percentage High Income Households | 3.8% |
| Median Household Income (2021) | $59,250 |
| Average Adjusted Gross Income (2021) | $442,700 |
| Current Unemployment Rate (May 2026) | 3.5% |
| Sales Tax Rate (2025) | 6.8% |
| Majority Race/Ethnicity | White - 93.22% |
| Public School Majority Race/Ethnicity | White - 85.89% |
28604 Race/Ethnicity Breakdown
| Race/Ethnicity | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 7,037 | 93.07% |
| Black | 108 | 1.43% |
| Hispanic | 315 | 4.17% |
| Asian | 76 | 1.01% |
| Native American | 13 | 0.17% |
| Hawaiian/Pac. Islander | 12 | 0.16% |
28604 Public School Race/Ethnicity Breakdown
| Race/Ethnicity | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 140 | 89.17% |
| Black | 0 | 0% |
| Hispanic | 17 | 10.83% |
| Asian | 0 | 0% |
| Native American | 0 | 0% |
| Hawaiian/Pac. Islander | 0 | 0% |
28604 Educational Attainment Levels
| Highest Education Level | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less Than 1 Year of College | 222 | 5.52% |
| Bachelor Degree | 1,125 | 27.99% |
| High School Diploma | 855 | 21.27% |
| No High School Diploma | 13 | 0.32% |
| GED or Alternate | 64 | 1.59% |
| 1 or More Years of College | 697 | 17.34% |
| Associates Degree | 452 | 11.25% |
| Masters Degree | 428 | 10.65% |
| Professional Degree | 127 | 3.16% |
| Doctorate Degree | 36 | 0.9% |
28604 Geography
| Coordinates | 36.17652512, -81.84725189 |
| Adjacent ZIP Codes | |
| Cities/Towns in 28604 | |
| Region | Tri-Cities Region |
| Metropolitan/Micropolitan Stat Area | Boone, NC |
| Time Zone | Eastern Daylight Time |
| IANA Timezone | America/New_York |
| Area | 67 Square Miles |
28604 Schools
| School Districts in 28604 | |
| Elementary Schools in 28604 | |
| Middle Schools in 28604 | |
| High Schools in 28604 |
28604 Weather and Climate Data
| Plant Hardiness Zone | Zone 6a: -10F to -5F | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average First Frost Date | October 1 - 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Last Frost Date | May 11 - 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Koppen-Geiger Climate Zone | Cfb - Oceanic Climate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ecoregion | 66d - Southern Crystalline Ridges and Mountains | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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