Zip code 28168: Vale, North Carolina

Q: What city is zip code 28168?

28168 is assigned to Vale, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 28168 in?

28168 is mostly in Lincoln County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 28168?

About 10,484 people live in 28168, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 28168?

The median household income in 28168 is $61,220.

Q: What zip codes are near 28168?

The closest zip codes to 28168 are 28602, 28612, 28042, 28090, 28021.

Residential delivery areaLincoln CountyEastern Time

Population

10,484

Median household income

$61K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$205K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$821/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

U.S. 38.9

Land area

87 sq mi

121 people/sq mi

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

About 28168

28168 is a small-town zip code in Vale, North Carolina (Lincoln County), covering 87 sq mi of land. About 10,484 people live here, or 121 per square mile. The median resident is 47 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $61,220 a year, 24% below the national median of $80,734. 14.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $205,000, or 3.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 83% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $821 a month.

14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 33.5 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; production and manufacturing; and healthcare.

How 28168 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median age47
91st
U.S. 38.9 · NC 39.1219th of 802 in NC
Average commute33.5 min
88th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · NC 25.1 min91st of 771 in NC
Homeownership rate82.9%
85th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · NC 66.6%212th of 788 in NC
Residents 65 and older21.2%
80th
U.S. 17.2% · NC 17.2%325th of 802 in NC
Healthcare workers11%
71st
U.S. 9.7% · NC 9.5%255th of 798 in NC
Poverty rate14.2%
66th
U.S. 12.5% · NC 13%349th of 788 in NC
Self-employed workers10.6%
65th
U.S. 10% · NC 9.8%349th of 798 in NC
Uninsured rate8.5%
62nd
U.S. 8.4% · NC 9.9%467th of 797 in NC
Housing vacancy7.9%
60th
U.S. 10.1% · NC 12.5%597th of 789 in NC
Government workers13.7%
50th
U.S. 14.5% · NC 13.8%441st of 798 in NC
Veterans5.6%
47th
U.S. 6.2% · NC 7.4%568th of 801 in NC
Foreign-born residents5.9%
33rd
U.S. 14.1% · NC 9.1%289th of 802 in NC
Unemployment rate3.9%
32nd
U.S. 5.2% · NC 4.7%434th of 799 in NC
Median earnings per worker$42,102
29th
U.S. $49,666 · NC $46,279390th of 788 in NC
Diversity index30.1
23rd
U.S. 61.4 · NC 58.4578th of 802 in NC
Median household income$61,220
22nd
U.S. $80,734 · NC $72,388438th of 748 in NC
Median home value$205,000
22nd
U.S. $332,700 · NC $288,900442nd of 757 in NC
Per capita income$29,709
18th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NC $41,385563rd of 799 in NC
Population10,484
16th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NC 10,730,404303rd of 802 in NC
Residents under 1817.5%
16th
U.S. 22% · NC 21.8%546th of 802 in NC
Population density121/sq mi
15th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NC 221/sq mi438th of 802 in NC
Broadband access86%
15th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · NC 90.1%455th of 788 in NC
Income inequality (Gini)0.388
13th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · NC 0.477629th of 781 in NC
Work from home6%
12th
U.S. 15.1% · NC 16.3%557th of 799 in NC
Median gross rent$821
8th
U.S. $1,413 · NC $1,228503rd of 688 in NC
Bachelor's degree or higher14.3%
8th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · NC 35.7%657th of 799 in NC
Rent-burdened renters32.8%
7th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NC 48.9%615th of 760 in NC
Tech workers0.5%
6th
U.S. 3.8% · NC 3.9%576th of 798 in NC

Measure	28168	Lincoln	NC	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NC
Median age	47	44.4	39.1	38.9	91st	219th of 802
Average commuteWeakness	33.5 min	29.3 min	25.1 min	26.4 min	88th	91st of 771
Homeownership rateStrength	82.9%	78.9%	66.6%	65.2%	85th	212th of 788
Residents 65 and older	21.2%	19.5%	17.2%	17.2%	80th	325th of 802
Healthcare workers	11%	8.9%	9.5%	9.7%	71st	255th of 798
Poverty rate	14.2%	11.2%	13%	12.5%	66th	349th of 788
Self-employed workers	10.6%	10.7%	9.8%	10%	65th	349th of 798
Uninsured rate	8.5%	8.7%	9.9%	8.4%	62nd	467th of 797
Housing vacancy	7.9%	6.8%	12.5%	10.1%	60th	597th of 789
Government workers	13.7%	11.9%	13.8%	14.5%	50th	441st of 798
Veterans	5.6%	6.4%	7.4%	6.2%	47th	568th of 801
Foreign-born residents	5.9%	5.5%	9.1%	14.1%	33rd	289th of 802
Unemployment rate	3.9%	3.3%	4.7%	5.2%	32nd	434th of 799
Median earnings per worker	$42,102	$47,892	$46,279	$49,666	29th	390th of 788
Diversity index	30.1	31.7	58.4	61.4	23rd	578th of 802
Median household income	$61,220	$80,016	$72,388	$80,734	22nd	438th of 748
Median home value	$205,000	$321,000	$288,900	$332,700	22nd	442nd of 757
Per capita incomeWeakness	$29,709	$44,098	$41,385	$44,673	18th	563rd of 799
Population	10,484	92,716	10,730,404	334,922,499	16th	303rd of 802
Residents under 18	17.5%	20.6%	21.8%	22%	16th	546th of 802
Population density	121/sq mi	313/sq mi	221/sq mi	95/sq mi	15th	438th of 802
Broadband accessWeakness	86%	91.1%	90.1%	91%	15th	455th of 788
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.388	0.473	0.477	0.483	13th	629th of 781
Work from home	6%	14.3%	16.3%	15.1%	12th	557th of 799
Median gross rent	$821	$1,015	$1,228	$1,413	8th	503rd of 688
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	14.3%	28.3%	35.7%	35.7%	8th	657th of 799
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	32.8%	41.7%	48.9%	51.1%	7th	615th of 760
Tech workers	0.5%	2.8%	3.9%	3.8%	6th	576th of 798

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

10%

25–34

10%

35–44

20%

45–54

14%

55–64

13%

65–74

75+

Median age

Under 18

17.5%

65 and over

21.2%

Race and ethnicity

White83%
Black6%
Hispanic6%
Asian1.0%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.4%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

30.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

5.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

75%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

0.9%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 4,324
Average household size: 2.4
Family households: 73.3%
Married couples: 51.8%
Living alone: 21.3%
Veterans (of adults): 5.6%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

20%

$25–50k

19%

$50–75k

25%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

28168

$61,220

Lincoln Co.

$80,016

North Carolina

$72,388

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$29,709

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

7.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.388

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

28168

$205,000

Lincoln Co.

$321,000

North Carolina

$288,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

28168

$821

Lincoln Co.

$1,015

North Carolina

$1,228

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

72%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

0.2%

Mobile home

28%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 4,694
Owner-occupied: 82.9%
Vacant: 7.9%
Median year built: 1986
Median rooms: 5.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 32.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 11.7%
Home value to income: 3.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

84%

Carpooled

Transit

0.4%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

13%

20–29

31%

30–44

28%

45–59

60+

17%

Average commute

33.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.9%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

56.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

15%

Production

13%

Healthcare

11%

Sales

10%

Management

Education

Office and admin

Transportation and moving

Legal and social services

Business and finance

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.7%

Computer and math

0.5%

Industries

Manufacturing

16%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Retail

13%

Construction

10%

Education

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Finance, insurance and real estate

Agriculture and mining

Other services

Public administration

Information

Arts and recreation

Median earnings per worker

$42,102

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

7.6%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	28168	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$48,145	$74,888
Service	$35,234	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,565	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$46,076	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,770	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

15%

High school

35%

Some college

20%

Associate's

16%

Bachelor's

10%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 84.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 4%
Households with broadband: 86%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 66.7%
No internet access: 13.3%
Without health insurance: 8.5%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Vale
State: North Carolina
County: Lincoln County
Center point: 35.5524° N, 81.4251° W
Land area: 87 sq mi
Water area: 0.4 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

28168 spans 2 counties

Lincoln County59% of land
Catawba County40% of land

Zip codes near 28168

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
28602	Hickory, NC	8.7 mi	31,113	$62,048	$212,900
28612	Connelly Springs, NC	9.3 mi	11,290	$54,934	$162,400
28042	Fallston, NC	10 mi	299	$20,833	—
28090	Lawndale, NC	10 mi	7,268	$57,714	$169,700
28021	Cherryville, NC	11 mi	13,865	$63,429	$217,400
28033	Crouse, NC	11 mi	3,481	$78,458	$224,000
28092	Lincolnton, NC	11 mi	40,350	$60,984	$245,300
28093	Lincolnton, NC · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
28637	Hildebran, NC	11 mi	1,911	$67,500	$197,900
28603	Hickory, NC · PO box	12 mi	—	—	—
28666	Icard, NC	12 mi	273	—	—
28658	Newton, NC	12 mi	26,336	$72,042	$214,000

Zip codes like 28168 elsewhere

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

Questions about 28168

What city is zip code 28168?

28168 is assigned to Vale, North Carolina. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 28168 in?

28168 is mostly in Lincoln County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 28168?

About 10,484 people live in 28168, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 28168 in?

28168 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 28168?

The median household income in 28168 is $61,220.

What zip codes are near 28168?

The closest zip codes to 28168 are 28602, 28612, 28042, 28090, 28021.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 28168, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.