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Etowah, NC
Census-designated place in Henderson County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28729, 28739.
Population
7,968
Land area
17.7sq mi
People per sq mi
451
ZIP codes
2
Etowah and its ZIP codes
Etowah at a glance
- Etowah is about 2 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 122nd most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- The median household income is $72,596, close to the North Carolina median.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $338,100 (17% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,413 a month.
Local data for Etowah, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Etowah, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$72,596
Poverty rate
14.4%
Median home value
$338,100
Median rent
$1,413/mo
Homeownership
84.0%
Bachelor's or higher
39.0%
Median age
45.5
Average commute
25.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (913), Irish Americans (778), Mexican Americans (492).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Henderson County. PPP loans are for Etowah.
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,515
43,873 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$63,668
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.3B
FY 2026, $11,563 per person
PPP loans
$2.1M
49 loans, 310 jobs reported
How people get to work
Etowah, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.7%
- Carpooled14.9%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home6.5%
Average one-way commute: 25.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Etowah, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
673
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
532
1.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 26°F
65.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Etowah, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
30.0%
U.S. 33.3% -3.3 pts
Diabetes
13.3%
U.S. 12.1% +1.2 pts
Smoking
12.2%
U.S. 12.8% -0.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.2%
U.S. 11.1% -2.9 pts
ZIP codes in Etowah
2 in or overlapping Etowah. Population shown
Cities near Etowah
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Horse ShoeCensus-designated place | 3.1 mi | 7.5 |
| Laurel ParkTown | 4.5 mi | 2.8 |
| Valley HillCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 2.3 |
| Mills RiverTown | 5.4 mi | 22.4 |
| BalfourCensus-designated place | 6.6 mi | 1.6 |
| Mountain HomeCensus-designated place | 6.7 mi | 3.8 |
| HendersonvilleCity | 7.1 mi | 7.9 |
| Flat RockVillage | 7.4 mi | 8.1 |
| Barker HeightsCensus-designated place | 8.2 mi | 1 |
| BrevardCity | 8.8 mi | 5.4 |
| FletcherTown | 9.5 mi | 6.3 |
| East Flat RockCensus-designated place | 9.9 mi | 4.2 |
| Avery CreekCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 1.7 |
| FruitlandCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 8 |
| DanaCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 8.9 |
| Royal PinesCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 2.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Etowah, NC in?
- Etowah is in Henderson County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Etowah, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Etowah include 28729, 28739.
- What is the population of Etowah, NC?
- About 7,968 people live in Etowah, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Etowah?
- Nearby places include Horse Shoe (3.1 mi), Laurel Park (4.5 mi), Valley Hill (5.4 mi), Mills River (5.4 mi), Balfour (6.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023