ZIP Code Tabulation Area · North Carolina

ZIP Code 28431: Columbus County, NC

ZIP Code 28431 (Columbus County, North Carolina) has an estimated 5,901 residents in 2,835 households. The median household income is $40,888, the median home value is $136,000 and the median gross rent is $767/mo. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for the matching ZIP Code Tabulation Area.

American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates · Updated Oct 26, 2026

Total population

5,901

Margin of error ±701

Median household income

$40,888

Margin of error ±$8,314

Median home value

$136,000

Margin of error ±$16,216

Median gross rent

$767/mo

Margin of error ±$78

Median age

49.4 yrs

Margin of error ±6.4 yrs

Mean travel time to work

36.6 min

Margin of error ±11.5 min

How ZIP 28431 compares with North Carolina and the U.S.

State and national figures are the Census Bureau's own estimates for those areas from the same ACS release, not averages of ZIP codes.

Median age

ZIP 2843149.4 yrsNorth Carolina39.1 yrsUnited States38.9 yrs

Median household income

ZIP 28431$40,888North Carolina$72,388United States$80,734

Per capita income

ZIP 28431$28,525North Carolina$41,385United States$44,673

Poverty rate

ZIP 2843128.1%North Carolina13.0%United States12.5%

Unemployment rate

ZIP 284312.9%North Carolina4.7%United States5.2%

Bachelor's degree or higher

ZIP 2843112.3%North Carolina35.7%United States35.7%

Median home value

ZIP 28431$136,000North Carolina$288,900United States$332,700

Median gross rent

ZIP 28431$767/moNorth Carolina$1,228/moUnited States$1,413/mo

Owner-occupied homes

ZIP 2843166.3%North Carolina66.6%United States65.2%

Mean travel time to work

ZIP 2843136.6 minNorth Carolina25.1 minUnited States26.4 min

Worked from home

ZIP 284312.4%North Carolina16.3%United States15.1%

All figures for ZIP 28431

Each estimate has a 90% margin of error: the true value is likely within that range. * marks estimates with a large margin of error (a coefficient of variation above 30%, or ±10 percentage points or more for rates).

ZIP 28431 — ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates
Measure	ZIP 28431	Margin of error	North Carolina	United States
Total population	5,901	±701	10,730,404	334,922,499
Median age	49.4 yrs	±6.4 yrs	39.1 yrs	38.9 yrs
Households	2,835	±263	4,282,345	129,227,496
Median household income	$40,888	±$8,314	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$28,525	±$3,700	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	28.1%	±6.9 pts	13.0%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.9%	±1.7 pts	4.7%	5.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher	12.3%	±3.4 pts	35.7%	35.7%
Median home value	$136,000	±$16,216	$288,900	$332,700
Median gross rent	$767/mo	±$78	$1,228/mo	$1,413/mo
Owner-occupied homes	66.3%	±7.5 pts	66.6%	65.2%
Mean travel time to work	36.6 min	±11.5 min	25.1 min	26.4 min
Worked from home	2.4%	±1.8 pts	16.3%	15.1%

Race and Hispanic or Latino origin

Shares of the total population by the Census Bureau's race and Hispanic or Latino origin categories (table B03002), listed in the Census Bureau's order. People self-identify on the survey.

Population by race and Hispanic or Latino origin, ZIP 28431
Group	ZIP 28431	North Carolina	United States
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino	60.5%	60.0%	57.4%
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino	33.4%	20.0%	11.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	0.8%	0.5%
Asian alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	3.3%	5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	0.1%	0.2%
Some other race alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	0.5%	0.6%
Two or more races, not Hispanic or Latino	2.3%	4.1%	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	1.7%	11.3%	19.3%

Where ZIP 28431 is

State: North Carolina
Main county: Columbus County
Largest overlapping place: Chadbourn (3% of the ZIP's land area)
Land area: 78.49 sq mi· about 75 people per sq mi

County and place names come from the Census Bureau's 2020 ZCTA relationship files. A ZIP code's mailing city, set by the U.S. Postal Service, can differ from these names.

Other ZIP codes in Columbus County

28423 Columbus County, NC 28424 Brunswick, NC 28430 Columbus County, NC 28432 Columbus County, NC 28436 Columbus County, NC 28438 Columbus County, NC 28439 Columbus County, NC 28442 Columbus County, NC 28450 Columbus County, NC 28455 Columbus County, NC 28456 Columbus County, NC 28463 Columbus County, NC 28472 Columbus County, NC

See every ZIP code in North Carolina, or compare ZIP 28431 with another ZIP code.

Census figures describe residents as a group and cannot tell you about any one home or street. For a specific address, check local government and housing records.

About ZIP codes and ZCTAs: the Census Bureau publishes statistics for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP code delivery areas. Learn how they differ.

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, detailed tables B01003, B01002, B11001, B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003, B25077, B25064, B25003, B08013, B08303, B08301, B03002 — snapshot Oct 26, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA5 relationship files (county and place).
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (detailed tables) and 2020 Census ZCTA relationship files. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. These agencies do not endorse OpenZIP.