ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28779

Part of Sylva, NC

Pop. 18,064·Jackson County·216th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,275/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-0.3%

vs US Median

-$657

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28779 · $1,275

More affordable than 88% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$890

1 BR

$1,000

2 BR

$1,110

3 BR

$1,330

4 BR+

$1,570

Research median

$1,110/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($57,727) is $1,443 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,330); a 4-bedroom is $1,570.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28779. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$15,300/yr

At $1,275/mo median

Location

CitySylva

StateNC

CountyJackson 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, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28779 (Sylva, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 27.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,064

Median income

$57,727

Median age

42.4

Renters

36.6%

Age distribution

21.4%

20%

23.2%

13.4%

21.9%

Under 1821.4%

18–3420%

35–5423.2%

55–6413.4%

65+21.9%

Gender

48.9%

51.1%

Male48.9%

Female51.1%

Race & ethnicity

86.6%

White86.6%

Black0.8%

Hispanic5.7%

Asian0.9%

Other5.9%

Education (25+)

28.6%

35.5%

27.9%

No HS diploma8%

HS diploma28.6%

Some college35.5%

Bachelor's+27.9%

Housing tenure

63.4%

36.6%

Owner63.4%

Renter36.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 28779 in Sylva, NC has changed in 5 years

Income

$52,140 → $57,727

up 10.7%

Population

18,377 → 18,064

down 1.7%

Renter share

33.8% → 36.6%

+2.8 pts

Bachelor's+

28.9% → 27.9%

-1.0 pts

Census figures show median household income at $57,727 today, compared with $52,140 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 18,377 to 18,064 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.7% change. About 36.6% of households rent today, against 33.8% in 2021.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 28779

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28779 covers Sylva, NC. The median rent here is $1,275/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,000/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,110/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($57,727/yr), ZIP 28779 ranks as affordable 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 28779?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,275/mo in ZIP 28779. The local median household income is $57,727/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.