ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28778

Part of Swannanoa, NC

Pop. 13,536·Buncombe County·43rd most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,917/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-0.4%

vs US Median

-$15

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 28778 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28778 · $1,917

More expensive than 57% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,170

1 BR

$1,230

2 BR

$1,370

3 BR

$1,760

4 BR+

$2,320

Research median

$1,370/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,408) is $1,835 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,760); a 4-bedroom is $2,320.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 28805, 4 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,652/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28778. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$23,004/yr

At $1,917/mo median

Location

CitySwannanoa

StateNC

CountyBuncombe County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28778 (Swannanoa, NC) is majority owner-occupied, 31.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

13,536

Median income

$73,408

Median age

40.8

Renters

22.9%

Age distribution

18.3%

21.8%

27.3%

14.6%

18.1%

Under 1818.3%

18–3421.8%

35–5427.3%

55–6414.6%

65+18.1%

Gender

47.9%

52.1%

Male47.9%

Female52.1%

Race & ethnicity

77.2%

13.5%

White77.2%

Black6.3%

Hispanic13.5%

Asian1.7%

Other1.2%

Education (25+)

19.6%

29.4%

19.5%

31.5%

No HS diploma19.6%

HS diploma29.4%

Some college19.5%

Bachelor's+31.5%

Housing tenure

77.1%

22.9%

Owner77.1%

Renter22.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 28778 in Swannanoa, NC has changed in 5 years

Income

$54,216 → $73,408

up 35.4%

Population

10,771 → 13,536

up 25.7%

Renter share

24.9% → 22.9%

-2.0 pts

Bachelor's+

25.1% → 31.5%

+6.4 pts

Median age

42.6 → 40.8

-1.8 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $54,216 in 2021 to $73,408 more recently. Census counts show ZIP 28778 in Swannanoa, NC adding about 2,765 residents over the five-year window, up 25.7% on net. The renter share has eased from 24.9% to 22.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 25.1% to 31.5% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 28778

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 28778

About renting in ZIP 28778

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28778 covers Swannanoa, NC. The median rent here is $1,917/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,230/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,370/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($73,408/yr), ZIP 28778 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28778?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $77,000/year (about $37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,917/mo in ZIP 28778. The local median household income is $73,408/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.