Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 33 min6:15 am – 8:48 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 46 min7:35 am – 5:21 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People3,681 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 44.91,427 householdsMedian household income $84,413Median home value $321,000Median rent $1,714 a month88% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,853 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting0.0% unemployment rate61% of adults are in the labour force, 1,915 employedMain industries: education and health care 30%, construction 15%, retail 10%Average commute 25 minutes76% drive alone, 20% car-pool, 5% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages33% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher95% finished high school, 12% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 92%, Spanish 4%, German or Dutch 2%, other languages 1%3% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 84°F, lows 62°FColdest month January: highs 49°F, lows 26°F65 in of rain a year, on about 94 dayswettest month August7 in of snow a year, on about 2 days10 days above 90°F, 118 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Pisgah Forest 3 Ne station, 4 mi away
Nearby landmarksPine Knobpeak · under a mileSilver Lakelake · 3.8 miLittle Mountainpeak · under a mileLittle Riverriver · 4.3 miLake Rugbylake · 4.8 miMills Riverriver · 6.2 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsEtowah Parkpark · 1.0 miMills River Parkpark · 5.3 mi · 51 acresCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Sitehistoric site · 8.9 mi · 269 acresCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site Bufferstate historic site · 8.9 miJones Gap State Parkstate park · 12.4 mi · 3,915 acresCaesars Head State Parkstate park · 13.2 mi · 4,577 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes14 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.7 on 25 Aug 200540 mi away, near Hot Springs, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 3.2 on 4 Jun 202324 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively ModerateHenderson County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsIce storm Very HighCold wave Relatively HighStrong wind Relatively HighLightning Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality73% of days had good air in 2025268 of 365 days measured97 moderate daysMedian index 40, worst day 97main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Buncombe County, NC, 20 mi away
Internet at home94% of households have a broadband subscription82% have cable, fibre or DSL9% rely on a mobile data plan alone6% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterKnoll Ridge MHPserves 75 people from ground waterNo health-based violations since 20212 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation2,106 ft642 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalTransylvania Regional Hospital7.6 miPost officeEtowah Post Officeunder a mileTown hallMills River Town Hall5.4 miPoliceLaurel Park Police Department6.7 miFire stationEtowah Horse Shoe Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station 4under a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 elementaryElementaryEtowah Elementary Schoolunder a mileCollegeBlue Ridge Community College Transylvania County Campus8.2 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportAsheville Regional Airport AVL8.7 miMajor airportMcGhee Tyson Airport TYS85 miInterstateI-267.6 miUS highwayUS 64under a mileAmtrakGreenville, SC GRV34 miCoachAsheville Asheland AveGreyhound19 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28729 ZIP area.
