Bostic, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28018
Rutherford County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,562
- 22/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $50,727
- Median income Below-median income area
- $169,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 20.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bostic pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 15th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 34th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 22
- people per sq mi
- 84%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28018 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 28018 (Bostic, NC) rose +18.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 231.8 in 2023 to 274.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28018 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bostic, Rutherford County, North Carolina, home to 5,562 residents across 257.5 square miles, a density of 22 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28018 reports a modest median household income of $50,727 (27% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $30,414. The poverty rate is 17.2%, with unemployment at 5.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $169,200 (35% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $870; owner occupancy is 83.9%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 54.5, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Rutherford County, so 28018 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 28018
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bostic, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28018.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
14 establishments
- Construction
Construction
10 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
10 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
9 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 4
Real estate and rental and leasing
4 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 28018, Bostic, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
5,562
Population
257.5
Area (sq mi)
22
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28018?
54.5
Median Age
49.0%
Male
51.0%
Female
1.1%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$50,727
Median Household Income
-27% vs state ZIP avg
$30,414
Per Capita Income
17.2%
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Unemployment Rate
26.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28018 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Bostic, NC household income vs. every North Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 749 reporting North Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$50,727 19th percentile higher than 19% of 749 North Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more North Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
2,597housing units
2,597
Total Housing Units
2,227
Occupied Units
370
Vacant Units
2.24
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$169,200
Median Home Value
-35% vs state ZIP avg
$870
Median Rent
1991
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+18.3%
YoY Change (2024)
274
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+174%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28018 have increased 18.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +174% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.9% | 171 |
| 2021 | +4.7% | 179 |
| 2022 | +35.0% | 241 |
| 2023 | -3.9% | 232 |
| 2024 | +18.3% | 274 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 67 business establishments in ZIP 28018, employing approximately 447 people with a combined annual payroll of $12,608,000.
67
Businesses
447
Employees
$12.6M
Annual Payroll
9
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 14 | 20.9% |
| Construction | 10 | 14.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 10 | 14.9% |
| Retail trade | 9 | 13.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 6.0% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 4.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 4.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 3 | 4.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 3 | 4.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 28018 vs 28040 →
ZIP 28018 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28040
Ellenboro (28040)
7,969 residents
- 28018
Bostic (28018)
5,562 residents
- 28160
Spindale (28160)
3,929 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28018 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28018 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28040
Ellenboro (28040)
$58,816 median income
- 28018
Bostic (28018)
$50,727 median income
- 28160
Spindale (28160)
$40,868 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28018 ranks #2 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28018, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (5,562 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Rutherford County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28018 in?
ZIP code 28018 (Bostic) is located in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Rutherford County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/rutherford-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28018?
ZIP code 28018 in Bostic, NC has a population of 5,562 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28018?
The median household income in ZIP 28018 is $50,727, which is 34% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28018?
The median home value in ZIP 28018 is $169,200, which is 39% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28018?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28018 is White at 95.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28018?
ZIP code 28018 has 67 business establishments employing approximately 447 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28018?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28018 are: Other services (except public administration) (14), Construction (10), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (10). There are 9 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28018?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28018 increased by 18.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 174%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 28018?
In ZIP code 28018, 52.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 28018?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28018 is 26.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28018?
In ZIP code 28018, approximately 83.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28018?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28018 is 17.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 28018's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28018 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bostic, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.