ZIP 28612 vs ZIP 28690

28612 is one of 9 ZIP codes that lie mostly in Burke County, NC — 98% of its own area is in the county.

Shaded by typical home value, it ranks 3 of the 3 with a value.

4 school locations in 28612: 2 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high.

In alphabetical order: East Burke High, East Burke Middle, George Hildebrand Elementary, Icard Elementary. Locations only — no ratings are shown here.

28690 is one of 9 ZIP codes that lie mostly in Burke County, NC.

Shaded by typical home value, it ranks 2 of the 3 with a value.

3 school locations in 28690: 1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high.

In alphabetical order: Heritage Middle, Jimmy C Draughn High School, Valdese Elementary. Locations only — no ratings are shown here.

In February 2016 the typical home in 28612 was worth $106,971.

Values peaked at $240,441 in May 2026. The latest reading is −0.5% from that peak.

As of August 2026: $239,307, +2.5% over twelve months.

Start with the typical home: $239,307. Put 20% down and borrow $191,446 at 7.40%, the 30-year fixed average as of October 8, 2026.

That is $1,326 a month in principal and interest.

The median household here earns $56,007 a year, $4,667 a month. So the payment takes 28.4% of income — rated “stretched” (Lotvox ZIP bands: under 28% affordable · 28–36% stretched · 36%+ severe).

The line holds today's rate fixed and moves only the price: at that rate, the same share was 12.7% in 2016.

Take the typical home's price each month, borrow 80% at that month's actual 30-year average rate: in February 2016 (3.66%) the payment was $392.

In December 2020, with rates at 2.68%, it was $539.

By August 2026, at 6.67%, it was $1,231 — +128% since December 2020, while the home's value moved +44%.

Reported values rose +124% since February 2016.

General prices (CPI-U) rose +41% over the same span.

Divide one by the other: in August 2026 dollars, the 2016 home was worth $150,598. So the real change is +59%, not +124%.

28612: +124% since February 2016.

Burke County: +115% since February 2016.

North Carolina: +96% since February 2016 — 28612 ran ahead of it by 27 points.

Owning the typical home costs about $1,565 a month once taxes and insurance (estimated at 1.2% of price a year) are added. Renting runs about $774 a month.

Price divided by a year's rent: 25.8. Lotvox reads under 15 as favoring buying and 20 or more as favoring renting.

In February 2016 the typical home in 28690 was worth $110,708.

Values peaked at $249,122 in May 2026. The latest reading is −0.7% from that peak.

As of August 2026: $247,495, +0.8% over twelve months.

Start with the typical home: $247,495. Put 20% down and borrow $197,996 at 7.40%, the 30-year fixed average as of October 8, 2026.

That is $1,371 a month in principal and interest.

The median household here earns $67,974 a year, $5,665 a month. So the payment takes 24.2% of income — rated “affordable” (Lotvox ZIP bands: under 28% affordable · 28–36% stretched · 36%+ severe).

The line holds today's rate fixed and moves only the price: at that rate, the same share was 10.8% in 2016.

Take the typical home's price each month, borrow 80% at that month's actual 30-year average rate: in February 2016 (3.66%) the payment was $406.

In December 2020, with rates at 2.68%, it was $551.

By August 2026, at 6.67%, it was $1,273 — +131% since December 2020, while the home's value moved +46%.

Reported values rose +124% since February 2016.

General prices (CPI-U) rose +41% over the same span.

Divide one by the other: in August 2026 dollars, the 2016 home was worth $155,859. So the real change is +59%, not +124%.

28690: +124% since February 2016.

Burke County: +115% since February 2016.

North Carolina: +96% since February 2016 — 28690 ran ahead of it by 27 points.

Owning the typical home costs about $1,618 a month once taxes and insurance (estimated at 1.2% of price a year) are added. Renting runs about $638 a month.

Price divided by a year's rent: 32.3. Lotvox reads under 15 as favoring buying and 20 or more as favoring renting.

Picture the Listings Flow Ladder as a basin: new listings pour in from the faucet, the homes for sale are the water, and closed sales run out the drain. Coming in — new listings: about 13 a month (Redfin, 3-month rolling data through August 2026).

On the shelf — homes for sale at the end of the period: 45.

Going out — closed sales: about 10 a month.

The ladder: homes for sale ÷ monthly sales = 4.7 months of supply — inside the 4–6 month balanced range. In the basin, that is the water level against the shaded balanced band.

The net reading: about 3 more homes came on than sold each month, so inventory is growing. The basin is filling.

Homes sold: about 10 a month in August 2026 (Redfin).

The 2015–2019 level for the same month was 0 — so sales ran at ∞% of it, and below it in 0 of the last 24 months.

Across Burke County, builders pulled permits for 588 new homes in 2025.

Of those, 81% were in 1-unit buildings (the Census Bureau's category for detached and attached single homes).

Picture the Listings Flow Ladder as a basin: new listings pour in from the faucet, the homes for sale are the water, and closed sales run out the drain. Coming in — new listings: about 10 a month (Redfin, 3-month rolling data through August 2026).

On the shelf — homes for sale at the end of the period: 38.

Going out — closed sales: about 8 a month.

The ladder: homes for sale ÷ monthly sales = 5.0 months of supply — inside the 4–6 month balanced range. In the basin, that is the water level against the shaded balanced band.

The net reading: about 3 more homes came on than sold each month, so inventory is growing. The basin is filling.

Homes sold: about 8 a month in August 2026 (Redfin).

The 2015–2019 level for the same month was 1 — so sales ran at 800% of it, and below it in 4 of the last 24 months.

Across Burke County, builders pulled permits for 588 new homes in 2025.

Of those, 81% were in 1-unit buildings (the Census Bureau's category for detached and attached single homes).

This ZIP sits in Burke County. IRS tax returns for 2022-2023: among the ten counties sending the most households, 1,172 moved in. Among the ten receiving the most, 1,073 moved out.

Net across those counties: +99 households. Beside it, homes for sale in this ZIP: 45 in June 2026.

Most arrivals came from Catawba, NC (403 households); most departures went to Catawba, NC (421).

This ZIP sits in Burke County. IRS tax returns for 2022-2023: among the ten counties sending the most households, 1,172 moved in. Among the ten receiving the most, 1,073 moved out.

Net across those counties: +99 households. Beside it, homes for sale in this ZIP: 38 in June 2026.

Most arrivals came from Catawba, NC (403 households); most departures went to Catawba, NC (421).