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Area data

Merritt, NC — ZIP 28556

Population: 752 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 28556 (Merritt, NC) is $329,750 — up 9.1% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $513,500 after a median 141.5 days on market. FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with hurricane, lightning, winterweather the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$329,750

Median home value

+9.1%

1-year change

141.5

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$329,750
1-year appreciation
+9.1%
3-year appreciation
+11.7%
5-year appreciation
+37.1%
10-year appreciation
+96.0%
All-time peak (2026-07)
$329,750
House Price Index (state)
438.2 (+1.0% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$513,500
Median list price
$509,900
Median price per sqft
$246
1-year sale-price change
-20.3%
Median days on market
141.5 days
Homes sold (recent period)
6
For-sale inventory
17
Sale-to-list ratio
96.6%
Active listings
16
1-year forecast
+3.1%
New listings (monthly)
3

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$908/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,135/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,308/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,700/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,962/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
92.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
14.0¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.40/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
hurricane, lightning, winterWeather
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coastalFlooding: Relatively Low · heatWave: Relatively Low · hurricane: Relatively High · iceStorm: Relatively Low · lightning: Relatively Moderate · strongWind: Relatively Low
FEMA flood zone
AE
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 78% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
84.4%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station (21.1 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
61.2 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
8b (extreme annual low 15 to 20°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
4.2 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
254
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
658

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
2
Nearest national park
Cape Lookout National Seashore (26 mi)
National parks include
Cape Lookout National Seashore, Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Airports within 30 mi
13
Nearest airport
Benton Farm Airport (1 mi)
Nearest major airport
Cherry Point MCAS / Cunningham Field/ (21 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
CAROLINA EAST MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.4 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+106 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,995
Housing built before 1970
17.1%
Housing built 2000 or later
36.7%
Median annual property tax
$1,258
Households with broadband internet
72.6%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
2,934
Average weekly wage
$624
Top industries (by employment)
Arts & Entertainment, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
107

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 28556State medianUS median
Median home value$329,750$287,250$289,727
Median sale price$513,500$330,000$325,000
Median days on market142 days70 days51 days
Median annual property tax$1,258$1,366$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 28556?
$329,750.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 28556?
$513,500.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 28556?
Median days on market: 141.5 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 28556?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,308/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 28556?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: hurricane, lightning, winterWeather.
Is ZIP 28556 in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone AE.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 28556?
Risk to homes is higher than 78% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 28556?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 28556?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
Is ZIP 28556 walkable?
Walkability index: 4.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 28556?
Regional Price Parity: 92.5 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents