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Area data

Whittier, NC — ZIP 28789

Population: 5,788 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 28789 (Whittier, NC) is $333,904 — down 0.1% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $340,000 after a median 166 days on market. 1 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with coldwave, lightning, icestorm 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

$333,904

Median home value

-0.1%

1-year change

166

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$333,904
1-year appreciation
-0.1%
3-year appreciation
+7.9%
5-year appreciation
+29.7%
10-year appreciation
+93.2%
All-time peak (2025-02)
$337,684
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
$340,000
Median list price
$395,000
Median price per sqft
$262
1-year sale-price change
-3.1%
Median days on market
166 days
Homes sold (recent period)
11
For-sale inventory
76
Sale-to-list ratio
98.3%
Active listings
66
1-year forecast
+0.9%
New listings (monthly)
15

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)

Schools

Total schools
1
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
0
High schools
0
Schools include
Smokey Mountain Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
coldWave, lightning, iceStorm, inlandFlooding, landslide
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively Low · hurricane: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Moderate
FEMA flood zone
AE
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 66% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
91.3%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Barber Orchard (14.5 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)

Average annual temperature
57.0°F
Average high
69.0°F
Average low
44.0°F
Annual precipitation
55.0 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
7a (extreme annual low 0 to 5°F)

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

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
3.0 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
5,373
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
2,850

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
4
Nearest national park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (17 mi)
National parks include
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
Airports within 30 mi
4
Nearest airport
Sossamon Field (Unused) (8 mi)
Nearest major airport
Western Carolina Regional Airport (34 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
2
Hospitals include
HARRIS REGIONAL HOSPITAL, DLP SWAIN COUNTY HOSPITAL LLC
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)
+195 tax filers

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

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,993
Housing built before 1970
13.1%
Housing built 2000 or later
33.9%
Median annual property tax
$814
Households with broadband internet
42.6%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
10,703
Average weekly wage
$843
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
254

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

How it compares

ZIP 28789State medianUS median
Median home value$333,904$287,250$289,727
Median sale price$340,000$330,000$325,000
Median days on market166 days70 days51 days
Median annual property tax$814$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 28789?
$333,904.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 28789?
$340,000.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 28789?
Median days on market: 166 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 28789?
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 28789?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: coldWave, lightning, iceStorm, inlandFlooding, landslide.
Is ZIP 28789 in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone AE.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 28789?
Risk to homes is higher than 66% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 28789?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 28789?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 28789?
1 schools (1 elementary) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 28789 walkable?
Walkability index: 3.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 28789?
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