Zip code 28139: Rutherfordton, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28139?

28139 is assigned to Rutherfordton, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28139 in?

28139 is mostly in Rutherford County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 28139?

About 20,008 people live in 28139, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28139?

The median household income in 28139 is $56,558.

Q: What zip codes are near 28139?

The closest zip codes to 28139 are 28160, 28043, 28074, 28722, 28167.

Residential delivery areaRutherford CountyEastern Time

Population

20,008

Median household income

$57K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$240K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$818/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

47.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

182 sq mi

110 people/sq mi

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

About 28139

28139 is a small-town zip code in Rutherfordton, North Carolina (Rutherford County), covering 182 sq mi of land. About 20,008 people live here, or 110 per square mile. The median resident is 47.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $56,558 a year, 30% below the national median of $80,734. 15.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $240,200, or 4.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 79% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $818 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26.6 minutes each way, and 7% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; construction and repair; and office and administrative support.

How 28139 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age47.6
92nd
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1208th of 802 in NC
Residents 65 and older24.6%
91st
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%209th of 802 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.485
83rd
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477148th of 781 in NC
Uninsured rate11.5%
78th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%264th of 797 in NC
Homeownership rate78.6%
75th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%310th of 788 in NC
Housing vacancy10.8%
74th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%463rd of 789 in NC
Poverty rate15.4%
71st
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%297th of 788 in NC
Rent-burdened renters56.2%
71st
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%180th of 760 in NC
Healthcare workers11%
71st
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%257th of 798 in NC
Government workers16.7%
70th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%288th of 798 in NC
Veterans7.1%
67th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%383rd of 801 in NC
Average commute26.6 min
54th
U.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min355th of 771 in NC
Unemployment rate4.5%
43rd
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%375th of 799 in NC
Self-employed workers8.6%
40th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%508th of 798 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher25%
34th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%352nd of 799 in NC
Residents under 1820.2%
33rd
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%416th of 802 in NC
Population20,008
31st
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404201st of 802 in NC
Median home value$240,200
31st
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900330th of 757 in NC
Tech workers1.9%
31st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%361st of 798 in NC
Per capita income$33,008
27th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385427th of 799 in NC
Diversity index30.8
24th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4573rd of 802 in NC
Foreign-born residents3.6%
22nd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%452nd of 802 in NC
Median earnings per worker$40,127
21st
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279481st of 788 in NC
Work from home7.4%
19th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%500th of 799 in NC
Median household income$56,558
16th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388524th of 748 in NC
Population density110/sq mi
14th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi459th of 802 in NC
Median gross rent$818
8th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228509th of 688 in NC
Broadband access82%
7th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%590th of 788 in NC

Measure	28139	Rutherford	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	47.6	45.3	39.1	38.9	92nd	208th of 802
Residents 65 and older	24.6%	22.3%	17.2%	17.2%	91st	209th of 802
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.485	0.467	0.477	0.483	83rd	148th of 781
Uninsured rate	11.5%	12%	9.9%	8.4%	78th	264th of 797
Homeownership rate	78.6%	73.9%	66.6%	65.2%	75th	310th of 788
Housing vacancy	10.8%	18.7%	12.5%	10.1%	74th	463rd of 789
Poverty rate	15.4%	16.8%	13%	12.5%	71st	297th of 788
Rent-burdened renters	56.2%	46.8%	48.9%	51.1%	71st	180th of 760
Healthcare workers	11%	10.5%	9.5%	9.7%	71st	257th of 798
Government workers	16.7%	14%	13.8%	14.5%	70th	288th of 798
Veterans	7.1%	7.4%	7.4%	6.2%	67th	383rd of 801
Average commute	26.6 min	26.1 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	54th	355th of 771
Unemployment rate	4.5%	6.3%	4.7%	5.2%	43rd	375th of 799
Self-employed workers	8.6%	11.2%	9.8%	10%	40th	508th of 798
Bachelor's degree or higher	25%	21.5%	35.7%	35.7%	34th	352nd of 799
Residents under 18	20.2%	20.1%	21.8%	22%	33rd	416th of 802
Population	20,008	64,930	10,730,404	334,922,499	31st	201st of 802
Median home value	$240,200	$201,800	$288,900	$332,700	31st	330th of 757
Tech workers	1.9%	2.3%	3.9%	3.8%	31st	361st of 798
Per capita income	$33,008	$30,460	$41,385	$44,673	27th	427th of 799
Diversity index	30.8	33.6	58.4	61.4	24th	573rd of 802
Foreign-born residents	3.6%	3.1%	9.1%	14.1%	22nd	452nd of 802
Median earnings per worker	$40,127	$37,600	$46,279	$49,666	21st	481st of 788
Work from home	7.4%	8.6%	16.3%	15.1%	19th	500th of 799
Median household incomeWeakness	$56,558	$51,410	$72,388	$80,734	16th	524th of 748
Population density	110/sq mi	115/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	14th	459th of 802
Median gross rent	$818	$783	$1,228	$1,413	8th	509th of 688
Broadband accessWeakness	82%	82.9%	90.1%	91%	7th	590th of 788

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

11%

25–34

11%

35–44

10%

45–54

17%

55–64

13%

65–74

12%

75+

Median age

47.6

Under 18

20.2%

65 and over

24.6%

Race and ethnicity

White83%
Black6%
Hispanic7%
Asian0.3%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.4%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

30.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

62.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.4%

Asian / Pacific

0.5%

Other

Households

Households: 8,124
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 62.5%
Married couples: 48.4%
Living alone: 32.1%
Veterans (of adults): 7.1%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

23%

$25–50k

22%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28139

$56,558

Rutherford Co.

$51,410

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$33,008

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

15.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

9.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.485

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28139

$240,200

Rutherford Co.

$201,800

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28139

$818

Rutherford Co.

$783

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

77%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.8%

20+ units

Mobile home

18%

Boat, RV, van

0.4%

Housing units: 9,103
Owner-occupied: 78.6%
Vacant: 10.8%
Median year built: 1990
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 56.2%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 35.2%
Home value to income: 4.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

13%

10–19

28%

20–29

24%

30–44

17%

45–59

60+

10%

Average commute

26.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

50.9%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

11%

Construction and repair

10%

Office and admin

10%

Management

Sales

Transportation and moving

Food service

Production

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Police and fire

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.4%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

14%

Manufacturing

14%

Retail

12%

Restaurants and hotels

Education

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Other services

Agriculture and mining

Information

0.9%

Arts and recreation

0.8%

Wholesale

0.7%

Median earnings per worker

$40,127

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

5.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28139	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$59,194	$74,888
Service	$25,493	$26,804
Sales and office	$32,669	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$62,054	$49,199
Production and transportation	$39,416	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

12%

High school

28%

Some college

22%

Associate's

13%

Bachelor's

16%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 87.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 25%
Graduate or professional degree: 9.4%
Households with broadband: 82%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 52.2%
No internet access: 15.1%
Without health insurance: 11.5%
Limited-English households: 0.8%

Geography

City (USPS): Rutherfordton
State: North Carolina
County: Rutherford County
Center point: 35.3484° N, 81.9947° W
Land area: 182 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28139 spans 2 counties

Rutherford County87% of land
Polk County13% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Rutherfordton2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28139

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28160	Spindale, NC	4.2 mi	3,665	$40,868	$164,000
28043	Forest City, NC	7.4 mi	20,930	$42,276	$175,400
28074	Harris, NC	10 mi	15	—	—
28722	Columbus, NC	10 mi	6,086	$67,760	$307,300
28167	Union Mills, NC	11 mi	2,253	$59,732	$234,500
28782	Tryon, NC	12 mi	6,519	$72,946	$345,200
28756	Mill Spring, NC	12 mi	4,706	$63,663	$277,600
28019	Caroleen, NC	12 mi	0	—	—
28746	Lake Lure, NC	13 mi	2,744	$70,469	$470,700
28076	Henrietta, NC	14 mi	105	—	—
28040	Ellenboro, NC	14 mi	6,961	$58,816	$169,500
28018	Bostic, NC	15 mi	5,034	$50,727	$169,200

Zip codes like 28139 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28139

What city is zip code 28139?

28139 is assigned to Rutherfordton, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28139 in?

28139 is mostly in Rutherford County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 28139?

About 20,008 people live in 28139, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28139 in?

28139 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28139?

The median household income in 28139 is $56,558.

What zip codes are near 28139?

The closest zip codes to 28139 are 28160, 28043, 28074, 28722, 28167.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28139, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.