Zip code 28021: Cherryville, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28021?

28021 is assigned to Cherryville, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28021 in?

28021 is mostly in Gaston County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 28021?

About 13,865 people live in 28021, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28021?

The median household income in 28021 is $63,429.

Q: What zip codes are near 28021?

The closest zip codes to 28021 are 28169, 28033, 28042, 28016, 28090.

Residential delivery areaGaston CountyEastern Time

Population

13,865

Median household income

$63K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$217K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,010/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

59 sq mi

236 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 28021

28021 is a small-town zip code in Cherryville, North Carolina (Gaston County), covering 59 sq mi of land. About 13,865 people live here, or 236 per square mile. The median resident is 41 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $63,429 a year, 21% below the national median of $80,734. 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $217,400, or 3.4 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 74% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,010 a month.

22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 30 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; office and administrative support; and management.

How 28021 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents 65 and older21.6%
81st
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%310th of 802 in NC
Uninsured rate11.8%
79th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%247th of 797 in NC
Housing vacancy11.5%
77th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%427th of 789 in NC
Average commute30 min
74th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min185th of 771 in NC
Median age41
65th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1465th of 802 in NC
Homeownership rate74.1%
64th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%424th of 788 in NC
Self-employed workers10.1%
60th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%383rd of 798 in NC
Poverty rate12.7%
59th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%407th of 788 in NC
Veterans6%
52nd
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%520th of 801 in NC
Government workers13.8%
51st
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%428th of 798 in NC
Residents under 1820.5%
36th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%392nd of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers8.3%
32nd
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%476th of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.414
32nd
U.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477500th of 781 in NC
Median household income$63,429
26th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388398th of 748 in NC
Per capita income$32,226
25th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385460th of 799 in NC
Median home value$217,400
25th
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900401st of 757 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher21.7%
25th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%430th of 799 in NC
Population density236/sq mi
23rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi316th of 802 in NC
Median earnings per worker$40,664
23rd
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279455th of 788 in NC
Median gross rent$1,010
22nd
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228304th of 688 in NC
Population13,865
21st
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404256th of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate3.1%
18th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%525th of 799 in NC
Diversity index23.1
16th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4641st of 802 in NC
Work from home6.7%
15th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%528th of 799 in NC
Tech workers1.1%
15th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%484th of 798 in NC
Broadband access84%
10th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%533rd of 788 in NC
Foreign-born residents1.3%
8th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%638th of 802 in NC
Rent-burdened renters34.4%
8th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%600th of 760 in NC

Measure	28021	Gaston	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Residents 65 and older	21.6%	16.5%	17.2%	17.2%	81st	310th of 802
Uninsured rate	11.8%	10.7%	9.9%	8.4%	79th	247th of 797
Housing vacancy	11.5%	8%	12.5%	10.1%	77th	427th of 789
Average commute	30 min	27 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	74th	185th of 771
Median age	41	39.1	39.1	38.9	65th	465th of 802
Homeownership rate	74.1%	66.8%	66.6%	65.2%	64th	424th of 788
Self-employed workers	10.1%	8.2%	9.8%	10%	60th	383rd of 798
Poverty rate	12.7%	13.5%	13%	12.5%	59th	407th of 788
Veterans	6%	6.7%	7.4%	6.2%	52nd	520th of 801
Government workers	13.8%	10.7%	13.8%	14.5%	51st	428th of 798
Residents under 18	20.5%	22.4%	21.8%	22%	36th	392nd of 802
Healthcare workers	8.3%	9.1%	9.5%	9.7%	32nd	476th of 798
Income inequality (Gini)	0.414	0.468	0.477	0.483	32nd	500th of 781
Median household income	$63,429	$67,478	$72,388	$80,734	26th	398th of 748
Per capita income	$32,226	$37,058	$41,385	$44,673	25th	460th of 799
Median home value	$217,400	$266,000	$288,900	$332,700	25th	401st of 757
Bachelor's degree or higher	21.7%	26.5%	35.7%	35.7%	25th	430th of 799
Population density	236/sq mi	660/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	23rd	316th of 802
Median earnings per worker	$40,664	$46,140	$46,279	$49,666	23rd	455th of 788
Median gross rent	$1,010	$1,153	$1,228	$1,413	22nd	304th of 688
Population	13,865	234,881	10,730,404	334,922,499	21st	256th of 802
Unemployment rateStrength	3.1%	4.8%	4.7%	5.2%	18th	525th of 799
Diversity index	23.1	51.8	58.4	61.4	16th	641st of 802
Work from home	6.7%	12.4%	16.3%	15.1%	15th	528th of 799
Tech workers	1.1%	2.7%	3.9%	3.8%	15th	484th of 798
Broadband accessWeakness	84%	89%	90.1%	91%	10th	533rd of 788
Foreign-born residents	1.3%	6.4%	9.1%	14.1%	8th	638th of 802
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	34.4%	50.6%	48.9%	51.1%	8th	600th of 760

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

16%

5–17

18–24

12%

25–34

14%

35–44

11%

45–54

13%

55–64

13%

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

20.5%

65 and over

21.6%

Race and ethnicity

White87%
Black4%
Hispanic4%
Asian0.2%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.0%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

23.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.3%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

79.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.1%

Asian / Pacific

0.6%

Other

Households

Households: 5,570
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 67.4%
Married couples: 51.9%
Living alone: 29.5%
Veterans (of adults): 6%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

19%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

21%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28021

$63,429

Gaston Co.

$67,478

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$32,226

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.7%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

9.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.414

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28021

$217,400

Gaston Co.

$266,000

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28021

$1,010

Gaston Co.

$1,153

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

73%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.1%

Mobile home

19%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 6,293
Owner-occupied: 74.1%
Vacant: 11.5%
Median year built: 1980
Median rooms: 5.7
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 34.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 22.7%
Home value to income: 3.4× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

82%

Carpooled

Transit

0.0%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

12%

10–19

22%

20–29

20%

30–44

21%

45–59

11%

60+

14%

Average commute

30 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

56.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

14%

Office and admin

13%

Management

13%

Education

Sales

Healthcare

Production

Transportation and moving

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Business and finance

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

0.8%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Manufacturing

16%

Retail

15%

Health care and social assistance

12%

Education

10%

Construction

10%

Other services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Professional and technical services

Wholesale

Information

Agriculture and mining

0.8%

Arts and recreation

0.7%

Median earnings per worker

$40,664

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28021	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$49,576	$74,888
Service	$28,043	$26,804
Sales and office	$35,993	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$54,510	$49,199
Production and transportation	$42,452	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

11%

High school

36%

Some college

20%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

16%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 89%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.1%
Households with broadband: 84%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 68.4%
No internet access: 13.1%
Without health insurance: 11.8%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Cherryville
State: North Carolina
County: Gaston County
Center point: 35.4008° N, 81.4034° W
Land area: 59 sq mi
Water area: 1.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28021 spans 3 counties

Gaston County44% of land
Lincoln County33% of land
Cleveland County24% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Cherryville9% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 28021

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28169	Waco, NC	3.3 mi	108	—	$70,000
28033	Crouse, NC	4.4 mi	3,481	$78,458	$224,000
28042	Fallston, NC	6.1 mi	299	$20,833	—
28016	Bessemer City, NC	9 mi	13,109	$57,147	$222,700
28090	Lawndale, NC	9.6 mi	7,268	$57,714	$169,700
28092	Lincolnton, NC	10 mi	40,350	$60,984	$245,300
28150	Shelby, NC	11 mi	28,142	$55,832	$211,400
28168	Vale, NC	11 mi	10,484	$61,220	$205,000
28151	Shelby, NC · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
28086	Kings Mountain, NC	11 mi	29,460	$62,414	$207,300
28093	Lincolnton, NC · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
28077	High Shoals, NC	11 mi	258	$31,366	$312,500

Zip codes like 28021 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 28021

What city is zip code 28021?

28021 is assigned to Cherryville, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28021 in?

28021 is mostly in Gaston County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 28021?

About 13,865 people live in 28021, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28021 in?

28021 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28021?

The median household income in 28021 is $63,429.

What zip codes are near 28021?

The closest zip codes to 28021 are 28169, 28033, 28042, 28016, 28090.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28021, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.