Cherryville, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28021
Gaston County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 13,612
- 84/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $63,429
- Median income Near-median income area
- $217,400
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 21.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Cherryville pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 36th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 48th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 84
- people per sq mi
- 74%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28021 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 28021 (Cherryville, NC) fell -1.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 241.5 in 2023 to 238.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28021 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Cherryville, Gaston County, North Carolina, home to 13,612 residents across 162.2 square miles, a density of 84 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28021 reports a modest median household income of $63,429 (8% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,226. The poverty rate is 12.7%, with unemployment at 3.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $217,400 (16% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $1,010; owner occupancy is 74.1%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Gaston County, so 28021 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 28021
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Cherryville, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28021.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
39 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
37 establishments
- Construction
Construction
26 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
22 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
20 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 28021, Cherryville, 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
13,612
Population
162.2
Area (sq mi)
84
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28021?
41.0
Median Age
50.1%
Male
49.9%
Female
1.3%
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?
$63,429
Median Household Income
-8% vs state ZIP avg
$32,226
Per Capita Income
12.7%
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Unemployment Rate
30.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28021 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Cherryville, 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)
$63,429 47th percentile higher than 47% 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
6,293housing units
6,293
Total Housing Units
5,570
Occupied Units
723
Vacant Units
2.45
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$217,400
Median Home Value
-16% vs state ZIP avg
$1,010
Median Rent
1980
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
-1.3%
YoY Change (2024)
238
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+138%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28021 have decreased 1.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +138% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +9.5% | 165 |
| 2021 | +12.8% | 186 |
| 2022 | +17.2% | 218 |
| 2023 | +11.0% | 241 |
| 2024 | -1.3% | 238 |
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 232 business establishments in ZIP 28021, employing approximately 3,061 people with a combined annual payroll of $130,764,000.
232
Businesses
3,061
Employees
$130.8M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 39 | 16.8% |
| Retail trade | 37 | 15.9% |
| Construction | 26 | 11.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 22 | 9.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 20 | 8.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 17 | 7.3% |
| Manufacturing | 15 | 6.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13 | 5.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 11 | 4.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 9 | 3.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 8 | 3.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 3.0% |
| Information | 4 | 1.7% |
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 28021 vs 28169 →
ZIP 28021 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28021
Cherryville (28021)
13,612 residents
- 28016
Bessemer City (28016)
13,463 residents
- 28033 2,749
Crouse (28033)
2,749 residents
- 28169 173
Waco (28169)
173 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28021 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28021 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28033
Crouse (28033)
$78,458 median income
- 28021
Cherryville (28021)
$63,429 median income
- 28016
Bessemer City (28016)
$57,147 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28021 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 28021, 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 (13,612 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Gaston County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28021 in?
ZIP code 28021 (Cherryville) is located in Gaston County, North Carolina. Gaston County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/gaston-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28021?
ZIP code 28021 in Cherryville, NC has a population of 13,612 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28021?
The median household income in ZIP 28021 is $63,429, which is 17% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28021?
The median home value in ZIP 28021 is $217,400, which is 22% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28021?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28021 is White at 88.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28021?
ZIP code 28021 has 232 business establishments employing approximately 3,061 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28021?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28021 are: Other services (except public administration) (39), Retail trade (37), Construction (26). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28021?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28021 decreased by 1.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 138%. 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 28021?
In ZIP code 28021, 57.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.7% 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 28021?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28021 is 30.0 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 28021?
In ZIP code 28021, approximately 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28021?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28021 is 12.7% 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 28021's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28021 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Cherryville, 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.