ZIP Code Tabulation Area · North Carolina

ZIP Code 28531: Harkers Island, NC

ZIP Code 28531 (Harkers Island, Carteret County, North Carolina) has an estimated 1,060 residents in 462 households. The median household income is $60,000, the median home value is $313,100 and the median gross rent is $1,125/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

Some estimates have a large margin of error. 2 figures for this ZIP (owner-occupied, commute) are marked with *. ACS figures come from a sample, and small areas have fewer responses, so treat these numbers as rough ranges.

Total population

1,060

Margin of error ±233

Median household income

$60,000

Margin of error ±$10,151

Median home value

$313,100

Margin of error ±$46,977

Median gross rent

$1,125/mo

Margin of error ±$79

Median age

61.5 yrs

Margin of error ±5.1 yrs

Mean travel time to work

30.4 min*

Margin of error ±16.9 min· estimate has a large margin of error

How ZIP 28531 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 2853161.5 yrsNorth Carolina39.1 yrsUnited States38.9 yrs

Median household income

ZIP 28531$60,000North Carolina$72,388United States$80,734

Per capita income

ZIP 28531$36,684North Carolina$41,385United States$44,673

Poverty rate

ZIP 2853110.4%North Carolina13.0%United States12.5%

Unemployment rate

ZIP 285310.0%North Carolina4.7%United States5.2%

Bachelor's degree or higher

ZIP 2853118.3%North Carolina35.7%United States35.7%

Median home value

ZIP 28531$313,100North Carolina$288,900United States$332,700

Median gross rent

ZIP 28531$1,125/moNorth Carolina$1,228/moUnited States$1,413/mo

Owner-occupied homes

ZIP 2853189.4%*North Carolina66.6%United States65.2%

Mean travel time to work

ZIP 2853130.4 min*North Carolina25.1 minUnited States26.4 min

Worked from home

ZIP 285318.0%North Carolina16.3%United States15.1%

All figures for ZIP 28531

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 28531 — ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates
Measure	ZIP 28531	Margin of error	North Carolina	United States
Total population	1,060	±233	10,730,404	334,922,499
Median age	61.5 yrs	±5.1 yrs	39.1 yrs	38.9 yrs
Households	462	±104	4,282,345	129,227,496
Median household income	$60,000	±$10,151	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$36,684	±$5,745	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	10.4%	±6.6 pts	13.0%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	0.0%	±3.3 pts	4.7%	5.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher	18.3%	±9.3 pts	35.7%	35.7%
Median home value	$313,100	±$46,977	$288,900	$332,700
Median gross rent	$1,125/mo	±$79	$1,228/mo	$1,413/mo
Owner-occupied homes	89.4%*	±10.1 pts	66.6%	65.2%
Mean travel time to work	30.4 min*	±16.9 min	25.1 min	26.4 min
Worked from home	8.0%	±6.2 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 28531
Group	ZIP 28531	North Carolina	United States
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino	92.4%	60.0%	57.4%
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino	2.5%	20.0%	11.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	0.8%	0.5%
Asian alone, not Hispanic or Latino	0.6%	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	0.8%	4.1%	4.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	3.8%	11.3%	19.3%

Where ZIP 28531 is

State: North Carolina
Main county: Carteret County
Largest overlapping place: Harkers Island (100% of the ZIP's land area)
Land area: 2.24 sq mi· about 473 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 Carteret County

28511 Carteret County, NC 28512 Atlantic Beach, NC 28516 Carteret County, NC 28520 Carteret County, NC 28524 Davis, NC 28528 Gloucester, NC 28553 Marshallberg, NC 28557 Morehead City, NC 28570 Carteret County, NC 28575 Indian Beach, NC 28577 Carteret County, NC 28579 Carteret County, NC 28581 Carteret County, NC 28584 Carteret County, NC 28589 Carteret County, NC 28594 Emerald Isle, NC

See every ZIP code in North Carolina, or compare ZIP 28531 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.