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Mills River, NC
Town in Henderson County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28759.
Population
7,281
Land area
22.4sq mi
People per sq mi
325
ZIP codes
1
Mills River and its ZIP codes
Mills River at a glance
- Mills River is 47% denser than North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 131st most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $105,398 a year, 46% more than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $436,100 (51% above North Carolina) and median rent is $1,551 a month.
Local data for Mills River, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Mills River, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$105,398
Poverty rate
2.6%
Median home value
$436,100
Median rent
$1,551/mo
Homeownership
85.6%
Bachelor's or higher
43.7%
Median age
46.4
Average commute
20.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,459), Irish Americans (993), Scottish Americans (421).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Henderson County. PPP loans are for Mills River.
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
$13.7M
165 loans, 1,765 jobs reported
How people get to work
Mills River, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.4%
- Carpooled9.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.2%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.2%
- Worked from home11.5%
Average one-way commute: 20.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Mills River, 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
83° / 27°F
51.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Mills River, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
29.0%
U.S. 33.3% -4.3 pts
Diabetes
10.9%
U.S. 12.1% -1.2 pts
Smoking
11.7%
U.S. 12.8% -1.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.6%
U.S. 11.1% -3.5 pts
ZIP codes in Mills River
1 in or overlapping Mills River. Population shown
Cities near Mills River
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Horse ShoeCensus-designated place | 2.9 mi | 7.5 |
| Mountain HomeCensus-designated place | 4.5 mi | 3.8 |
| FletcherTown | 5 mi | 6.3 |
| EtowahCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 17.7 |
| Avery CreekCensus-designated place | 5.9 mi | 1.7 |
| BalfourCensus-designated place | 5.9 mi | 1.6 |
| Laurel ParkTown | 6.3 mi | 2.8 |
| HendersonvilleCity | 7.8 mi | 7.9 |
| Valley HillCensus-designated place | 7.8 mi | 2.3 |
| Royal PinesCensus-designated place | 8 mi | 2.7 |
| Bent CreekCensus-designated place | 8.9 mi | 2.2 |
| Barker HeightsCensus-designated place | 9.3 mi | 1 |
| Hoopers CreekCensus-designated place | 9.5 mi | 6.9 |
| FruitlandCensus-designated place | 9.7 mi | 8 |
| Flat RockVillage | 10 mi | 8.1 |
| Biltmore ForestTown | 11 mi | 2.9 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Mills River, NC in?
- Mills River is in Henderson County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Mills River, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Mills River include 28759.
- What is the population of Mills River, NC?
- About 7,281 people live in Mills River, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Mills River?
- Nearby places include Horse Shoe (2.9 mi), Mountain Home (4.5 mi), Fletcher (5 mi), Etowah (5.4 mi), Avery Creek (5.9 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023