Population & age
- Total population
- 18,421
- Median age
- 42.9
Sylva, NC (28779)
Jackson County · Population 18,421
Fresh.Data current as of Apr 24, 2026
Sylva, NC (ZIP 28779) sits in Jackson County. The page draws on 2 federal data feeds retrieved Apr 27. Top health signal: High Blood Pressure comes in above the national average at 38.4%. NCES lists 7 schools serving the area, 7 non-charter. 10 colleges and universities serve the area, with median in-state tuition of $4,371. IRS data shows average household income (AGI) of $64,171, well above the ~$45K national average per return. BLS QCEW reports average annual pay of $48,540 per worker, roughly 26% below the US average. The most recent FEMA disaster declaration here was winter storm-related (SEVERE WINTER STORM, 2026). Annual precipitation averages 54.2" — a wet-climate ZCTA per NOAA's 1991–2020 Normals. County Health Rankings reports 10,730 years of potential life lost per 100,000 (2025) — well above the national county median. North Carolina levies a flat state income tax (top rate 4.25%); a household at the local median AGI of $64,171 would pay roughly $1,636/year before deductions. IRS migration data (2022-2023) shows a net gain of 403 residents (233 households) — the ZIP's primary county is growing. Healthcare access is the area's quieter strength; school options sit on the lighter side, so families may find themselves looking at districts a few ZIPs over. Notable: median household income $53,470, fair market rent of $1,110 for a two-bedroom, and a typical home value of $330,448, up 0.8% over the past year. Every figure on this page links to its underlying federal dataset with a retrieval date so you can audit the freshness yourself.
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Demographics
Race & ethnicity
- White
- 89.4%
- Black
- 0.8%
- Asian
- 1.3%
- Hispanic / Latino
- 4.0%
- Other / multi-racial
- 6.6%
Income & housing
- Median household income
- $53,470
- Median home value
- $224,600
Education
- Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)
- 27.9%
Employment
- Unemployment rate
- 2.6%
Housing
- Owner-occupied
- 5,339(65.0%)
- Renter-occupied
- 2,875(35.0%)
- Vacant units
- 1,518
- Built (median)
- 1985
Commute
- Public transit
- 5(0.1%)
- Work from home
- 428(5.4%)
- Avg commute
- 19.6 min
Economic wellbeing
- Below poverty line
- 2,945(16.3%)
- Uninsured
- 272(1.5%)
Digital access
- Broadband access
- 6,554(79.8%)
- No broadband
- 1,660(20.2%)
Language & nativity
- Foreign-born
- 612(3.3%)
- Non-English at home
- 779(4.4%)
Fair Market Rent
Fresh.HUD SAFMR · May 1, 2026Studio
$890
/month
1 Bed
$1,000
/month
2 Bed
$1,110
/month
3 Bed
$1,330
/month
4 Bed
$1,570
/month
HUD Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of standard-quality rental housing in this area. FY2026 data.
Home values
Typical home value
$330,448
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) · as of March 2026
Year-over-year change
+0.8%
vs. March 2025
5-year change
+43.0%
vs. March 2021
Metro area
Cullowhee, NC
Metropolitan statistical area
Source: Zillow Research, ZHVI All Homes (SFR, Condo/Co-op) Time Series (zillow.com/research/data). Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) is copyrighted by Zillow, Inc.
New housing construction
New housing units permitted
254
Across 254 permitted buildings. Total construction value: $313.4M.
Single-family
254
100% of total units
Multifamily (2+ unit)
0
0% of total units
Single-family value
$313.4M
construction value
Multifamily value
$0
construction value
Based on county-level data (2024).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (census.gov/construction/bps). Public domain. BPS reports annual residential building permits from local permit-issuing jurisdictions, aggregated to county. A permit reflects intent to build, not a completed unit — actual construction lags by 6-24 months for multifamily projects.
Income & tax statistics
Tax returns filed
7,140
Average AGI
$64,171
Avg property tax
$82
EITC participation
16.0%
Income distribution
- $1 – $25,00030.0% · 2,140
- $25,000 – $50,00026.2% · 1,870
- $50,000 – $75,00016.7% · 1,190
- $75,000 – $100,00010.5% · 750
- $100,000 – $200,00013.0% · 930
- $200,000 or more3.6% · 260
Avg mortgage interest
$264
Avg charitable contribution
$537
Avg capital gains
$3,551
Avg total income tax
—
Source: IRS Statistics of Income — Individual Income Tax Statistics by ZIP Code (irs.gov). Public domain. Dollar columns reported in thousands by the IRS; figures here display real dollars. Total ZCTA AGI for the area was $458.2M across all reported brackets.
Business & employment
Business establishments
533
Total employment
5,628
Annual payroll
$219.1M
Average annual pay
$38,930
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Business Patterns (census.gov). Public domain. ZBP covers establishments with paid employees; Census suppresses employment and payroll values when fewer employers operate in a ZIP than would protect their confidentiality.
Employment & wages
Average annual pay
$48,540
Average weekly wage
$933
Total employment
14,477
Total establishments
1,271
That is roughly 26% below the US national average of $65,470 per worker.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (bls.gov/cew). Public domain. QCEW is derived from state unemployment-insurance filings and covers ~95% of US jobs. Figures are county-level totals assigned to ZIPs whose primary county matches; small-employer cells are suppressed by BLS to protect employer confidentiality.
Unemployment
Unemployment rate
3.6%
That is 0.4 percentage points below the US national unemployment rate of about 4.0%.
Labor force
20,368
Employed
19,641
Unemployed
727
Based on Jackson County, NC data (2024).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (bls.gov/lau). Public domain. LAUS publishes monthly and annual labor-force estimates for every US county. Figures are county-level totals assigned to ZIPs whose primary county matches.
Banking access
FDIC-insured bank branches
5
Typical banking access
A standard suburban / mid-density branch count for this area.
Total deposits
$385.2M
across all branches in this ZIP
Distinct institutions
5
different banks operating here
Top banks by deposits in this ZIP
- 1.United Community Bank$105.0M · 1 branch
- 2.Wells Fargo Bank, National Association$95.5M · 1 branch
- 3.First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company$84.2M · 1 branch
Based on FDIC-insured branch offices as of June 30, 2024.
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits (fdic.gov). Annual June-30 snapshot of every FDIC-insured branch and the deposits booked there. Figures cover all institutions reporting a branch address in this ZIP.
Community health centers
Federally funded health-center sites
6
Strong health-center coverage
Several federally funded community health centers operate here, giving residents real choice in primary-care providers.
FQHC sites
6
federally qualified
Look-Alike sites
0
FQHC equivalents
Avg hours / week
28
across sites in this ZIP
Sites in this ZIP
- 1.Appalachian Mountain Health at Sylva
- 2.Blue Ridge Health-Smoky Mountain High School
- 3.Blue Ridge Health - Meridian Bonnie Lane
+ 3 more sites in this ZIP
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Look-Alike sites provide primary care on a sliding-fee scale, regardless of ability to pay. Active sites only; data refreshed 2026.
Source: HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care (data.hrsa.gov). Per-ZIP counts of active service-delivery sites operated by Health Center Program grantees and Look-Alike organizations.
Hospitals & healthcare facilities
Facilities located inside ZIP 28779 from CMS Provider Data. Star ratings reflect Overall Hospital Quality where applicable; “Not rated” means the facility didn't report enough measures to qualify.
Hospitals (1)
HARRIS REGIONAL HOSPITAL
★★★★★3.0
Acute Care Hospitals
Proprietary
Emergency services
68 HOSPITAL RD, SYLVA, NC, 28779
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Provider Data (data.cms.gov). Public domain.
Alternative-fuel stations
Public EV charging stations
3
Established EV charging
Multiple public charging stations across the ZIP — typical of mid-density suburban and small-urban areas with active EV adoption.
Level 2 ports
6
AC charging — workplace, retail, home
DC Fast ports
0
Highway-class fast charging
Charging networks
- ChargePoint Network
- Non-Networked
- Tesla
Propane (LPG)
1
Propane autogas
Active public stations only. Snapshot taken 2026; AFDC's underlying registry refreshes continuously as stations open and close.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy via NREL (afdc.energy.gov). Per-ZIP counts of active public alternative-fuel stations (electric, hydrogen, propane, CNG, biodiesel, E85, LNG, renewable diesel) and EV charging-port totals.
Public libraries
Public-library outlets
1
Single library outlet
One public-library outlet serves this ZIP — typical of suburban and small-town areas. Card holders also have full access to the rest of the system's branches.
Buildings
1
1 branch
Avg hours / week
54.2
across outlets in this ZIP
Avg square feet
26,000
per outlet
Outlets in this ZIP
- 1.Jackson County Public Library
Public libraries provide free WiFi, computer access, children's programming, job-seeking resources, and meeting space — community infrastructure beyond books. FY2023 outlet inventory from the federal Public Libraries Survey.
Source: Institute of Museum and Library Services (imls.gov). Per-ZIP counts of active public-library outlets — central buildings, branches, and bookmobiles — operated by federally reporting library systems.
Federal Disaster Declarations
Federally Declared Disasters
19
Date Range
1973–2026
Most Recent Declaration
SEVERE WINTER STORM
Winter Storm — declared January 24, 2026 (DR-3637)
Incident period: January 21, 2026 – January 27, 2026
Top Incident Types
- Hurricane8 (42%)
- Flood3 (16%)
- Tropical Storm2 (11%)
- Biological2 (11%)
- Snowstorm2 (11%)
- Other2 (11%)
Individual Assistance
3
Direct help to disaster survivors
Households Program
4
Housing & temporary lodging support
Public Assistance
19
Repair of public facilities & roads
Hazard Mitigation
7
Funding to reduce future disaster risk
FEMA declares disasters at the county level; counts here include every federally declared disaster touching any county that overlaps this ZIP. Statewide declarations and pre-1964 records without county granularity are excluded. Program flags reflect which FEMA assistance categories were activated (Individual Assistance, Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation). Source: fema.gov/openfema. Public domain.
Climate
30-year averages (1991-2020) from the nearest GHCN-D weather station. Temperature and precipitation values reflect typical annual conditions, not any single year.
Avg. temperature
56.1°F
43.7° – 68.5°
Annual precipitation
54.2"
Annual snowfall
4.3"
Heating · cooling days
4,129.8 · 901.3
Annual base 65°F
Nearest station: CULLOWHEE, NC US, 3.6 miles from the centroid of Sylva, NC (ZIP 28779)
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (ncei.noaa.gov). Public domain.
Community health profile
Years of potential life lost (per 100K)
10,730
That is roughly 2,530 years per 100,000 above the national county median (~8,200).
Premature death is the headline composite outcome CHR reports — age-adjusted, all-cause, before age 75.
Fair or poor health
17%
of adults self-report
Poor physical health days
4.3
avg per adult per month
Poor mental health days
5.3
avg per adult per month
Uninsured
15.7%
of residents under 65
Primary care MDs
71
per 100,000 residents
Preventable hospital stays
1,923
per 100K Medicare enrollees
Food environment (0-10)
7.6
10 = best access & security
Exercise access
98%
residents near a facility
Flu vaccinated
48%
of Medicare enrollees
Low birth weight (under 2,500 g) accounts for 9.1% of live births in this county — an early-life health input that downstream outcomes track against.
Based on Jackson data (2025 CHR release).
Source: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (countyhealthrankings.org). Annual release. Underlying source datasets vary by measure (CDC BRFSS, NCHS Vital Statistics, AHA, USDA Food Environment Atlas, and others). Figures are county-level and assigned to every ZIP whose primary county matches.
Food access
Food access status
Good food access — most residents near a store
6.0% of Jackson County, NC residents live more than 1 mile (urban) or 10 miles (rural) from the nearest supermarket.
Grocery stores
0.18
per 1,000 residents
Supercenters & clubs
—
per 1,000 residents
SNAP-authorized stores
0.73
accepting food benefits
Fast-food restaurants
0.66
per 1,000 residents
Per-1,000 figures show how many of each store type exist in Jackson County, NC for every 1,000 residents. Higher grocery and supercenter density usually means easier access to fresh food; higher convenience-store-only density (with low grocery rate) often signals a food swamp.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Environment Atlas (ers.usda.gov). County-level metrics fanned to ZIP via the primary county in the Census ZCTA-county relationship file. Variable years differ per family (stores ~2020, low-access ~2019).
Safety
FBI publishes crime data at the county level. Numbers below cover the primary county that contains this ZIP. Rates are per 100,000 residents in the area covered by reporting agencies.
Violent crime rate
—
per 100K residents · 104 reports
Property crime rate
—
per 100K residents · 475 reports
Homicide
1
Robbery
2
Burglary
260
Vehicle theft
36
County-level data for Jackson (2024)
Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting Program (cde.ucr.cjis.gov). Public domain. Coverage varies by reporting agency; areas with partial agency coverage may understate true crime totals.
Who’s moving in and out
Net migration (2022-2023)
▲+403 people
+233 households • +$20.6M net AGI flow
Moved in
2,084households
3,299 people • $149.5M AGI
Moved out
1,851households
2,896 people • $128.9M AGI
Where new residents came from
- Swain County, NC — 166 households
- Haywood County, NC — 105 households
- Buncombe County, NC — 73 households
- Macon County, NC — 68 households
- Wake County, NC — 25 households
Where departing residents went
- Swain County, NC — 151 households
- Macon County, NC — 103 households
- Haywood County, NC — 99 households
- Buncombe County, NC — 76 households
- Mecklenburg County, NC — 32 households
Incoming households reported an average AGI of $71,749 versus departing households' $69,659.
Source: U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income, Migration Data (irs.gov). Public domain. Migration is measured by year-over-year changes in the address on individual tax returns; figures are county-level totals attributed to ZIPs whose primary county matches. Foreign migration contributes to inflow/outflow totals but does not appear in the top-county lists. Small flows are suppressed by IRS to protect taxpayer confidentiality.
Taxes & benefits in North Carolina
State-level rules that apply to every resident of ZIP 28779. Numbers reflect the most recent published year per source.
Tax rates
Income tax
4.25%
flat · 1 brackets
Sales tax (combined)
7.00%
State 4.75% · avg local 2.25%
Property tax (effective)
0.48%
Median $1,058/year
Tax burden rank
21 of 50
9.60% of personal income
For ZIP 28779: At this ZIP's median AGI of $64,171, the estimated state income tax (before deductions) runs about $1,636 per year. Applied to this ZIP's typical home value of $330,448, that works out to roughly $1,573/year in property tax.
Paid family leave
Program
No program
No program
Safety net
SNAP eligibility
200% FPL
Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (raises gross income limit above federal 130% floor). No asset test.
Sources: Tax Foundation (state tax rates & brackets), Bipartisan Policy Center (paid family leave), USDA FNS (SNAP categorical eligibility).
Other ZIPs near 28779
Nearby ZIPs by distance
28788 (Webster, 0.8 mi) · 28725 (Dillsboro, 3.8 mi) · 28789 (Cherokee, 7 mi) · 28707 (8.6 mi) · 28723 (Cullowhee, 11.4 mi) · 28751 (Maggie Valley, 11.5 mi)
Compare ZIP-level stats — population, schools, housing, climate — across nearby areas. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ZCTA basemap.
Data sources used on this page
SourcesFresh.CDC PLACES · Apr 24, 2026Fresh.NCES CCD via Urban Institute EDP · Apr 27, 2026Fresh.HUD SAFMR · May 1, 2026
All data on this page is sourced from federal government datasets · Not AI-generated · Methodology
Health profile
Crude prevalence estimates from CDC PLACES, derived from BRFSS small-area modeling. Population-level figures only.
Obesity
35.8%
2.8pp above the 33.0% national rate.
High Blood Pressure
38.4%
6.4pp above the 32.0% national rate.
Depression
26.8%
4.8pp above the 22.0% national rate.
Annual Checkup
79.8%
3.8pp above the 76.0% national rate.
Health Insurance
10.1%
2.9pp below the 13.0% national rate.
Diabetes
12.9%
Tracks close to the 11.0% national rate.
Schools in this ZIP
7 schools serve this ZIP, including 7 non-charter.
| School | Type | Grades | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoky Mountain High School | Public | 9–12 | 893 |
| Fairview Elementary | Public | -1–8 | 751 |
| Scotts Creek Elementary | Public | 0–8 | 485 |
| Jackson Co Early College | Public | 9–13 | 116 |
| Jackson Community School | Alternative | 0–12 | 68 |
Showing top 5 by enrollment. 2 more schools serve this ZIP.
Schools listed from NCES Common Core of Data via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal.
Fresh.NCES CCD via Urban Institute EDP · Apr 27, 2026Colleges & universities nearby
Colleges in this area
10
Median in-state tuition
$4,371
Median earnings (10 yr)
$36,292
- 2-Year
Southwestern Community College
Sylva, NC · 28779
- In-state tuition
- $4,112
- Out-of-state tuition
- $13,184
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 53.3%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $34,145
- Median student debt
- $10,500
- 4-Year
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · 28723
- In-state tuition
- $4,630
- Out-of-state tuition
- $8,630
- Acceptance rate
- 81.8%
- Graduation rate
- 59.7%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $49,458
- Median student debt
- $21,868
- 2-Year
Blue Ridge Community College
Flat Rock, NC · 28731
- In-state tuition
- $2,660
- Out-of-state tuition
- $8,804
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 44.3%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $36,324
- Median student debt
- $12,000
- 4-Year
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, NC · 28754
- In-state tuition
- $37,736
- Out-of-state tuition
- $37,736
- Acceptance rate
- 67.9%
- Graduation rate
- 43.2%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $44,781
- Median student debt
- $26,000
- 2-Year
Haywood Community College
Clyde, NC · 28721
- In-state tuition
- $2,580
- Out-of-state tuition
- $8,724
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 39.7%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $34,770
- Median student debt
- —
- 4-Year
Brevard College
Brevard, NC · 28712
- In-state tuition
- $32,280
- Out-of-state tuition
- $32,280
- Acceptance rate
- 42.2%
- Graduation rate
- 44.0%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $43,545
- Median student debt
- $25,000
- 4-Year
Montreat College
Montreat, NC · 28757
- In-state tuition
- $36,450
- Out-of-state tuition
- $36,450
- Acceptance rate
- 69.2%
- Graduation rate
- 45.2%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $45,151
- Median student debt
- $25,813
- 4-Year
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC · 28778
- In-state tuition
- $41,500
- Out-of-state tuition
- $41,500
- Acceptance rate
- 71.3%
- Graduation rate
- 42.4%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $36,260
- Median student debt
- $25,000
- 2-Year
McDowell Technical Community College
Marion, NC · 28752
- In-state tuition
- $2,032
- Out-of-state tuition
- $6,640
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 53.0%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $33,035
- Median student debt
- —
- 2-Year
Mayland Community College
Spruce Pine, NC · 28777
- In-state tuition
- $2,626
- Out-of-state tuition
- $8,770
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Graduation rate
- 47.5%
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $34,663
- Median student debt
- —
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov). Public domain data. Earnings figures reflect median earnings 10 years after entry for federally-aided students.
What these numbers say together
Sylva, NC (ZIP 28779) sits in Jackson County. The page draws on 2 federal data feeds retrieved Apr 27. Top health signal: High Blood Pressure comes in above the national average at 38.4%. NCES lists 7 schools serving the area, 7 non-charter. 10 colleges and universities serve the area, with median in-state tuition of $4,371. IRS data shows average household income (AGI) of $64,171, well above the ~$45K national average per return. BLS QCEW reports average annual pay of $48,540 per worker, roughly 26% below the US average. The most recent FEMA disaster declaration here was winter storm-related (SEVERE WINTER STORM, 2026). Annual precipitation averages 54.2" — a wet-climate ZCTA per NOAA's 1991–2020 Normals. County Health Rankings reports 10,730 years of potential life lost per 100,000 (2025) — well above the national county median. North Carolina levies a flat state income tax (top rate 4.25%); a household at the local median AGI of $64,171 would pay roughly $1,636/year before deductions. IRS migration data (2022-2023) shows a net gain of 403 residents (233 households) — the ZIP's primary county is growing. Healthcare access is the area's quieter strength; school options sit on the lighter side, so families may find themselves looking at districts a few ZIPs over. Notable: median household income $53,470, fair market rent of $1,110 for a two-bedroom, and a typical home value of $330,448, up 0.8% over the past year. Every figure on this page links to its underlying federal dataset with a retrieval date so you can audit the freshness yourself.
The two domains pull in different directions. Healthcare access reads strong, but the on-paper school count is on the lighter side — that’s less a quality signal and more a density one. Households here often look at districts a few ZIPs over for school choice while keeping their providers local.
One concrete reading worth keeping: Depression prevalence sits higher the national rate at 26.8%. Each figure on this page links to the original federal dataset with its retrieval date — this synthesis is a reading, not a substitute for the underlying records.
Frequently Asked Questions — ZIP 28779
What is the obesity rate in ZIP 28779?
35.8%, which is 2.8 percentage points above the national average of 33.0% (CDC PLACES, retrieved Apr 24, 2026).
What is the depression rate in ZIP 28779?
26.8%, which is 4.8 percentage points above the national average of 22.0% (CDC PLACES, retrieved Apr 24, 2026).
What is the high blood pressure rate in ZIP 28779?
38.4%, which is 6.4 percentage points above the national average of 32.0% (CDC PLACES, retrieved Apr 24, 2026).
How many schools are in ZIP 28779?
7 schools serve this ZIP, including 7 public schools (NCES CCD, retrieved Apr 27, 2026). No charter schools are listed in this ZIP by NCES CCD.
Does ZIP 28779 have charter schools?
No charter schools are listed in ZIP 28779 by NCES CCD (retrieved Apr 27, 2026).
Are there high schools in ZIP 28779?
Yes, 2 high schools serve this ZIP: Smoky Mountain High School, Jackson Community School. (NCES CCD, retrieved Apr 27, 2026).
What is the population of ZIP 28779?
18,421 people live in ZIP 28779, with a median age of 42.9 (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What is the median household income in ZIP 28779?
$53,470 per year (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
Is ZIP 28779 mostly renters or homeowners?
In ZIP 28779, 65.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 35.0% are renter-occupied (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
How do people commute in ZIP 28779?
In ZIP 28779, 5.4% of workers work from home. Public transit is used by 0.1% of commuters (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What is the poverty rate in ZIP 28779?
16.3% of the population in ZIP 28779 lives below the federal poverty line (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What percentage of households in ZIP 28779 have broadband internet?
79.8% of households in ZIP 28779 have broadband internet access (Census ACS 5-Year 2022, retrieved Apr 30, 2026).
What is the typical home value in ZIP 28779?
The typical home value in ZIP 28779 is $330,448, up 0.8% from a year ago (Zillow Home Value Index, retrieved May 1, 2026).
Are home values rising or falling in ZIP 28779?
Home values are up 0.8% over the past year and up 43.0% over the past five years (Zillow Home Value Index, retrieved May 1, 2026).
What is the average household income in ZIP 28779?
The average Adjusted Gross Income reported on tax returns from ZIP 28779 (Sylva, NC) is $64,171 per return (IRS SOI Tax Year 2022, retrieved May 2, 2026).
How much do homeowners pay in property tax in ZIP 28779?
Tax returns from ZIP 28779 report an average of $82 per return in real-estate tax deductions (IRS SOI Tax Year 2022, retrieved May 2, 2026).
What percentage of residents in ZIP 28779 earn over $200,000?
3.6% of tax returns from ZIP 28779 (Sylva, NC) report Adjusted Gross Income of $200,000 or more (IRS SOI Tax Year 2022, retrieved May 2, 2026).
How many businesses are in ZIP 28779?
As of 2022, 533 business establishments operated in ZIP 28779 employing 5,628 workers (Census ZIP Business Patterns, retrieved May 3, 2026).
What is the average salary in ZIP 28779?
The average annual pay across all local establishments in ZIP 28779 is $38,930, based on Census ZIP Business Patterns 2022 data (retrieved May 3, 2026).
How vulnerable is ZIP 28779 to disasters and public health emergencies?
According to the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (2022), ZIP 28779 ranks in the 53th percentile nationally for social vulnerability — a high vulnerability profile (retrieved May 3, 2026).
What is the biggest vulnerability factor in ZIP 28779?
Housing Type & Transportation is the highest-scoring CDC SVI theme for ZIP 28779, ranking in the 60th percentile nationally (CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022, retrieved May 3, 2026).
How many federally declared disasters has ZIP 28779 experienced?
FEMA has recorded 19 federal disaster declarations affecting ZIP 28779 between 1973–2026 (FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations, retrieved May 3, 2026).
What kinds of disasters most often hit ZIP 28779?
Hurricane is the most common federally declared disaster type affecting ZIP 28779, accounting for 8 of 19 declarations (42%, FEMA OpenFEMA, retrieved May 3, 2026).
What was the most recent disaster declared for ZIP 28779?
The most recent FEMA disaster declaration affecting ZIP 28779 was "SEVERE WINTER STORM" — a winter storm declared in 2026 (DR-3637) (FEMA OpenFEMA, retrieved May 3, 2026).
What colleges are near ZIP 28779?
10 colleges and universities are listed near ZIP 28779 by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, including Southwestern Community College, Western Carolina University, and Blue Ridge Community College (retrieved May 2, 2026).
What is the average tuition at colleges near ZIP 28779?
Median in-state tuition across 10 nearby institutions is $4,371 (College Scorecard, retrieved May 2, 2026).
What do graduates earn from colleges near ZIP 28779?
Graduates of nearby colleges earn a median of $36,292 ten years after entry (College Scorecard, retrieved May 2, 2026).
What is the climate like in ZIP 28779?
ZIP 28779 has an average annual temperature of 56.1°F and 54.2" of annual precipitation based on the CULLOWHEE, NC US weather station 3.6 miles from the ZIP centroid (NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals, retrieved May 8, 2026).
What hospitals are in ZIP 28779?
1 hospital is located in ZIP 28779 1 is rated by CMS, with an average overall rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars (CMS Hospital Compare, 2024).
What taxes apply in ZIP 28779?
North Carolina has a flat income tax with a top rate of 4.25%. Households at the local median AGI of $64,171 would pay roughly $1,636 in state income tax annually (estimated, before deductions). Combined sales tax: 7.00% (Tax Foundation 2025).
Does North Carolina have paid family leave?
North Carolina has no state paid family leave program (Bipartisan Policy Center 2026).
What data is available for ZIP 28779?
This page covers health outcomes from CDC PLACES (40 metrics), school information from NCES CCD (7 schools), demographics from the Census ACS 5-Year (2022), home values from the Zillow Home Value Index, colleges from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (10 institutions), income & tax statistics from the IRS SOI (Tax Year 2022), local business & employment from Census ZIP Business Patterns (2022), social vulnerability scores from the CDC/ATSDR SVI (2022), federal disaster declarations from FEMA OpenFEMA (19 on record), climate normals from NOAA NCEI (1991-2020), county-level crime data from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (2024), hospitals from CMS Hospital Compare, and state-level tax rates from the Tax Foundation. Data is refreshed on Mubboo's standard schedule.
How current is this data?
Health data retrieved Apr 24, 2026 from CDC PLACES. School data retrieved Apr 27, 2026 from NCES CCD. Demographics retrieved Apr 30, 2026 from Census ACS 5-Year (2022). Home values retrieved May 1, 2026 from Zillow Research. College data retrieved May 2, 2026 from U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard. Income & tax statistics retrieved May 2, 2026 from IRS SOI (Tax Year 2022). Business & employment retrieved May 3, 2026 from Census ZBP (2022). Social vulnerability scores retrieved May 3, 2026 from CDC/ATSDR SVI (2022). Federal disaster declarations retrieved May 3, 2026 from FEMA OpenFEMA (19 on record). Climate normals retrieved May 8, 2026 from NOAA NCEI (1991-2020). County-level crime data retrieved May 4, 2026 from the FBI Crime Data Explorer (2024). State-level tax rates retrieved 2026-05-05 15:58:22.284+00 from the Tax Foundation.
Other ZIPs near 28779
Nearby ZIPs by distance
28788 (Webster, 0.8 mi) · 28725 (Dillsboro, 3.8 mi) · 28789 (Cherokee, 7 mi) · 28707 (8.6 mi) · 28723 (Cullowhee, 11.4 mi) · 28751 (Maggie Valley, 11.5 mi)
Compare ZIP-level stats — population, schools, housing, climate — across nearby areas. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ZCTA basemap.
More Info topics
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Data refreshed via Mubboo's ETL pipeline; oldest source on this page retrieved Apr 24, 2026.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall SVI
53rd percentile
High Vulnerability
Based on 6 census tracts, population 15,229
Vulnerability Themes
Households Without Vehicle
321
Limited English Speakers
123
Persons with Disability
2,183
Without HS Diploma
864
Without Health Insurance
2,119
Adults Age 65+
3,149
The Social Vulnerability Index uses U.S. Census data to identify communities most at risk during public health emergencies and natural disasters. Higher percentiles indicate greater vulnerability. Tract-level scores are aggregated to this ZCTA via Census 2020 ZCTA→Tract crosswalk, weighted by land-area share. Source: atsdr.cdc.gov. Public domain.