Zip code 28159: Spencer, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28159?

28159 is assigned to Spencer, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28159 in?

28159 is in Rowan County, North Carolina.

Q: What is the population of 28159?

About 3,250 people live in 28159, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28159?

The median household income in 28159 is $63,036.

Q: What zip codes are near 28159?

The closest zip codes to 28159 are 28039, 28144, 28145, 27299, 28146.

Residential delivery areaRowan CountyEastern Time

Population

3,250

Median household income

$63K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$200K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$932/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

42.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

2.2 sq mi

1,454 people/sq mi

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

About 28159

28159 is a suburban zip code in Spencer, North Carolina (Rowan County), covering 2.2 sq mi of land. About 3,250 people live here, or 1,454 per square mile. The median resident is 42.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $63,036 a year, 22% below the national median of $80,734. 12.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $200,300, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 67% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $932 a month.

26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 32.7 minutes each way, and 20% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in production and manufacturing; construction and repair; and transportation and moving goods.

How 28159 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents 65 and older23.4%
88th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%246th of 802 in NC
Housing vacancy15.4%
87th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%299th of 789 in NC
Average commute32.7 min
86th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min105th of 771 in NC
Veterans9.2%
86th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%207th of 801 in NC
Unemployment rate7.5%
84th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%135th of 799 in NC
Government workers19.4%
82nd
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%197th of 798 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.477
80th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477172nd of 781 in NC
Rent-burdened renters58.1%
77th
U.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%151st of 760 in NC
Work from home19.5%
76th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%136th of 799 in NC
Median age42.7
75th
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1388th of 802 in NC
Diversity index57.3
66th
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4217th of 802 in NC
Median earnings per worker$51,932
61st
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279152nd of 788 in NC
Tech workers3.5%
61st
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%186th of 798 in NC
Poverty rate12.6%
59th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%417th of 788 in NC
Uninsured rate7.4%
55th
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%546th of 797 in NC
Self-employed workers9.5%
53rd
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%429th of 798 in NC
Population density1,454/sq mi
51st
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi94th of 802 in NC
Homeownership rate67.1%
46th
U.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%582nd of 788 in NC
Broadband access90.9%
40th
U.S. 91% · NC 90.1%274th of 788 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher26.1%
37th
U.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%320th of 799 in NC
Per capita income$33,823
30th
U.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385404th of 799 in NC
Residents under 1819.6%
28th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%450th of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers7.9%
26th
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%521st of 798 in NC
Median household income$63,036
25th
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388408th of 748 in NC
Median home value$200,300
21st
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900453rd of 757 in NC
Median gross rent$932
16th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228375th of 688 in NC
Foreign-born residents1.8%
11th
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%605th of 802 in NC
Population3,250
5th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404506th of 802 in NC

Measure	28159	Rowan	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Residents 65 and older	23.4%	17.7%	17.2%	17.2%	88th	246th of 802
Housing vacancy	15.4%	9.4%	12.5%	10.1%	87th	299th of 789
Average commuteWeakness	32.7 min	26.2 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	86th	105th of 771
Veterans	9.2%	7.2%	7.4%	6.2%	86th	207th of 801
Unemployment rateWeakness	7.5%	5.3%	4.7%	5.2%	84th	135th of 799
Government workers	19.4%	13.2%	13.8%	14.5%	82nd	197th of 798
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.477	0.445	0.477	0.483	80th	172nd of 781
Rent-burdened renters	58.1%	46.7%	48.9%	51.1%	77th	151st of 760
Work from home	19.5%	8.4%	16.3%	15.1%	76th	136th of 799
Median age	42.7	40.4	39.1	38.9	75th	388th of 802
Diversity index	57.3	50	58.4	61.4	66th	217th of 802
Median earnings per worker	$51,932	$44,697	$46,279	$49,666	61st	152nd of 788
Tech workers	3.5%	2.2%	3.9%	3.8%	61st	186th of 798
Poverty rate	12.6%	16%	13%	12.5%	59th	417th of 788
Uninsured rate	7.4%	9.3%	9.9%	8.4%	55th	546th of 797
Self-employed workers	9.5%	8.4%	9.8%	10%	53rd	429th of 798
Population density	1,454/sq mi	293/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	51st	94th of 802
Homeownership rate	67.1%	72.3%	66.6%	65.2%	46th	582nd of 788
Broadband access	90.9%	90.2%	90.1%	91%	40th	274th of 788
Bachelor's degree or higher	26.1%	23.3%	35.7%	35.7%	37th	320th of 799
Per capita income	$33,823	$33,667	$41,385	$44,673	30th	404th of 799
Residents under 18	19.6%	22.2%	21.8%	22%	28th	450th of 802
Healthcare workers	7.9%	9.4%	9.5%	9.7%	26th	521st of 798
Median household income	$63,036	$65,725	$72,388	$80,734	25th	408th of 748
Median home value	$200,300	$238,400	$288,900	$332,700	21st	453rd of 757
Median gross rent	$932	$1,013	$1,228	$1,413	16th	375th of 688
Foreign-born residents	1.8%	6.3%	9.1%	14.1%	11th	605th of 802
Population	3,250	149,875	10,730,404	334,922,499	5th	506th of 802

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

15%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

11%

35–44

12%

45–54

12%

55–64

11%

65–74

13%

75+

Median age

42.7

Under 18

19.6%

65 and over

23.4%

Race and ethnicity

White51%
Black40%
Hispanic6%
Asian0%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.5%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

57.3

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

67.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

92%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,321
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 58.8%
Married couples: 37.3%
Living alone: 32.5%
Veterans (of adults): 9.2%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

20%

$25–50k

25%

$50–75k

21%

$75–100k

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28159

$63,036

Rowan Co.

$65,725

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$33,823

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

9.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.477

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28159

$200,300

Rowan Co.

$238,400

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28159

$932

Rowan Co.

$1,013

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

93%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.4%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,561
Owner-occupied: 67.1%
Vacant: 15.4%
Median year built: 1952
Median rooms: 5.9
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 58.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 18.9%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

68%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

20%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

16%

10–19

30%

20–29

13%

30–44

17%

45–59

17%

60+

Average commute

32.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

7.5%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

54.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Production

16%

Construction and repair

15%

Transportation and moving

12%

Sales

Healthcare

Education

Office and admin

Business and finance

Management

Cleaning and personal care

Computer and math

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Food service

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Manufacturing

15%

Retail

15%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Construction

12%

Education

10%

Professional and technical services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Wholesale

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Admin, support and management

Information

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$51,932

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

19.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.3%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28159	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$61,929	$74,888
Service	$44,931	$26,804
Sales and office	$50,610	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$62,031	$49,199
Production and transportation	$37,031	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

18%

High school

29%

Some college

18%

Associate's

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 81.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 26.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 9.3%
Households with broadband: 90.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 78.4%
No internet access: 8%
Without health insurance: 7.4%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Spencer
State: North Carolina
County: Rowan County
Center point: 35.6942° N, 80.4352° W
Land area: 2.2 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Spencer90% of zip

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

Zip codes near 28159

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28039	East Spencer, NC	1 mi	39	—	—
28144	Salisbury, NC	2 mi	27,977	$52,568	$226,700
28145	Salisbury, NC · PO box	2.5 mi	—	—	—
27299	Linwood, NC	5.2 mi	5,034	$65,621	$196,500
28146	Salisbury, NC	5.5 mi	31,292	$69,279	$247,700
28072	Granite Quarry, NC	5.6 mi	672	$93,125	$306,100
28147	Salisbury, NC	7.2 mi	25,812	$65,060	$268,600
28041	Faith, NC	7.5 mi	3	—	—
27351	Southmont, NC	9.7 mi	145	—	—
27014	Cooleemee, NC	11 mi	939	$44,625	$147,300
27054	Woodleaf, NC	11 mi	1,931	$92,560	$212,300
28138	Rockwell, NC	12 mi	10,271	$66,896	$216,100

Zip codes like 28159 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28159

What city is zip code 28159?

28159 is assigned to Spencer, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28159 in?

28159 is in Rowan County, North Carolina.

What is the population of 28159?

About 3,250 people live in 28159, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28159 in?

28159 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28159?

The median household income in 28159 is $63,036.

What zip codes are near 28159?

The closest zip codes to 28159 are 28039, 28144, 28145, 27299, 28146.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28159, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.