The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 28439 sells for about $110,000, or $164 per square foot.
Prices are down 58.5% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 190 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $775 a month.
ZIP 28439 — Fair Bluff
The housing market in 28439 is characterized by extremely low inventory and high volatility in pricing metrics. Data for population, income, and specific demographic indicators are not available at the ZCTA level for this geography. Market activity is limited, with significant year-over-year price declines reported in recent periods.
This ZIP is best suited for budget-conscious buyers, retirees, or those seeking rural living who are comfortable with the risks associated with flood-prone areas.
Median prices moved down 58.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 190 days on market with 0.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 0% of asking — demand is holding steady.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.4% · poverty 31.4% — a mixed stability profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 9.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net outflow — more people moved out than in
ZCTA 28439, Columbus County NC
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Crime rates in Fair Bluff are generally low, consistent with small rural town profiles in Columbus County, though property crime remains the primary concern.
Schools serving the area are part of the Columbus County Schools district, which faces challenges typical of rural, low-density districts in North Carolina.
The area is located in a high-risk flood zone due to its proximity to the Lumber River, which has historically caused significant damage to the town.
Economic growth is limited, with the local economy primarily driven by agriculture and small-scale retail; there is minimal large-scale industrial development.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (North Carolina) — Tax Lien Attachment: A tax lien attaches to all real property, taking priority over all other liens and encumbrances regardless of when they were created. State (North Carolina) — Ad Valorem Property Tax: Tax is calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property by the combined state and local tax rate. The formula is: Tax = (Assessed Value / 100) * Tax Rate.
Commutes are primarily car-dependent, with residents traveling to larger employment hubs like Whiteville or Lumberton via local highways.
Recreation is centered on the Lumber River for fishing and boating, with limited local park facilities and basic shopping options available within the town.
The rental market is small and primarily composed of single-family homes, with limited inventory and stable, low-cost rent trajectories.
The local economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, forestry, and small-town service sectors, with limited major corporate presence.
Public transit is non-existent; residents rely entirely on personal vehicles for transportation.
There are no major commercial or residential developments currently approved or under construction in the ZIP code.
Columbus County Tax Office manages assessments, which are updated periodically to reflect market value changes.
Parcels are served by Columbus County Schools and local fire/emergency service districts.
Property insurance premiums are high due to the significant flood risk associated with the Lumber River basin.
North Carolina is a judicial foreclosure state, requiring court action to initiate the process.
North Carolina requires sellers to provide a Residential Property and Owners' Association Disclosure Statement.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 28439 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
A state-designated scenic river offering fishing and boating opportunities.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.