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Sunbury CDP, NC

ZIP Code 27979 — Sunbury CDP, NC Demographics & Data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Working ClassLow Snow Area

Map, Quick Facts & Location

Quick Facts

Local time
Population
1,060
Median Income
$54,293
-28% vs US avg
Home Value
$181,400
-48% vs US avg
Median Rent
N/A
Median Age
52.1 yrs
+34% vs US avg
Area Code
Congress
Top Ancestry
AmericanEnglishGerman
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Location
Coordinates
36.4368, -76.5607
Elevation
20 ft
Land Area
72.1 sq mi
Water Area
0.3 sq mi (0% water)

At a glance

Population
1,060
Density
N/A
Median income
$54,293
-28% vs US avg
Home value
$181,400
-48% vs US avg
Median rent
N/A
Timezone

Overview of ZIP Code 27979

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What to know about ZIP 27979

ZIP code 27979 covers Sunbury, NC in Gates County with a population of about 1,060.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 52.1 versus a U.S. median of about 38.9.

It sits in telephone area code 252; U.S. House district NC-1; the NORFOLK - PORTSMTH - NEWPT NWS media market.

Income and economy in Sunbury, NC

Median household income in ZIP 27979 is about $54,293 — about 28% below the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 6.8%; unemployment rate near 0.0%; 14.5% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 19.2 points below the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Other services, Retail trade, and Manufacturing; about 8.3% of workers reporting work-from-home (about 6.9 points below the U.S. share (15.2%)); a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Housing and affordability in ZIP 27979

Median home value is about $181,400 — about 48% below the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show owner-occupancy near 78.0% (about 12.6 points above the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 27979 in Sunbury, NC, a household would need roughly $50,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $1,165. That is roughly in line with the local median household income ($54,293). Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Climate risk and migration signals

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for Sunbury CDP, NC as Very Low (composite score 10.5), which is relatively lower than many U.S. communities. The strongest component scores on US5 are hurricane (77.9) and flood (13.8). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for Sunbury CDP, NC show little to no average snow and around 54.1 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 44 for ZIP 27979 (Sunbury CDP, NC) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Nearby (from this ZIP)

Airport ECG (24.7 miles (39.7 km)) · College of the Albemarle (20.5 miles (33.0 km)) · Fort Monroe National Monument (42.6 miles (68.6 km)) · VA: Albemarle Primary OPC (19.2 miles (30.9 km))

Full lists and map pins are in the Infrastructure section below.