County ZIP codes · North Carolina · FIPS 37045
Cleveland County, NC ZIP Codes
Cleveland County, North Carolina has 16 ZIP codes (Census 2020 ZCTA-county file; GeoNames postal codes, October 2026): 14 residential and 2 for PO boxes or a single organization. 12 of the residential ones lie mainly in Cleveland County and 2 mainly in a neighboring county; 6 cross the county line. Median household income ranges from $52,557 in 28073 (Grover) to $63,429 in 28021 (Cherryville) (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
Where are the ZIP codes of Cleveland County?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries; ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B19013).
How different are its ZIP codes?
The middle half of its ranked ZIP codes (1,000+ people living in households) report median household incomes between $55,832 and $60,500.
They carry 13 postal town names.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B19013).
All 14 residential ZIP codes in Cleveland County
12 ZIP codes lie mainly in Cleveland County; 2 more reach into it from a neighboring county and follow the first table.
| In this county | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28086 | Kings Mountain | 29,460 | 325 | $62k | $207k | 74% |
| 28150 | Shelby | 28,142 | 257 | $56k | $211k | 100% |
| 28152 | Shelby | 26,134 | 329 | $58k | $205k | 100% |
| 28090 | Lawndale | 7,268 | 78 | $58k | $170k | 94% |
| 28114 | Mooresboro | 7,104 | 108 | $61k | $151k | 54% |
| 28073 | Grover | 5,890 | 229 | $53k | $158k | 100% |
| 28020 | Casar | 2,240 | 48 | $60k | $189k | 87% |
| 28017 | Boiling Springs | 663 | 3,855 | – | – | 100% |
| 28042 | Fallston | 299 | 593 | $21k | – | 100% |
| 28089 | Lattimore | 167 | 400 | $75k | $188k | 100% |
| 28169 | Waco | 108 | 184 | – | $70k | 100% |
| 28136 | Polkville | 66 | 846 | $83k | – | 100% |
Partly in Cleveland County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; county shares by land area (Census 2020 ZCTA-county relationship file).
Which ZIP codes cross the county line?
6 ZIP codes of Cleveland County extend into another county. A ZIP code follows mail routes, not county borders.
| ZIP | In Cleveland | Elsewhere |
|---|---|---|
| 28086 | 74% | Gaston County26% |
| 28021 | 24% | Gaston County44%; Lincoln County33% |
| 28090 | 94% | Lincoln County3%; Burke County1%; Catawba County1% |
| 28114 | 54% | Rutherford County46% |
| 28040 | 4% | Rutherford County96% |
| 28020 | 87% | Rutherford County13% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA-county relationship file (shares of land area).
PO Box and single-organization ZIP codes
| ZIP | Postal name |
|---|---|
| 28038 | Earl |
| 28151 | Shelby |
Source: GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
Which first three digits do Cleveland County's ZIP codes use?
The first three digits of a ZIP code name the sectional center, the mail processing plant that sorts it. Cleveland County's ZIP codes use 2 prefixes: 280 and 281.
Source: U.S. Postal Service, labeling list L005 (3-digit ZIP Code prefix groups, SCF sortation), effective October 1, 2026.