Ellenboro, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28040

Rutherford County, North Carolina — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

7,969
43/sq mi
$58,816
Median income
$169,500
Median home value
17.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Ellenboro pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

27th pct
household income, US ZIPs
34th pct
home value, US ZIPs
43
people per sq mi
85%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28040 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28040 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 184.0 square miles in Ellenboro, Rutherford County, North Carolina. The area is home to 7,969 residents, producing a population density of 43 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 28040 against North Carolina and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 28040 sits at $58,816 (15% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $29,929. The poverty rate stands at 9.6% and the unemployment rate at 7.4%. On housing, the median home value is $169,500 (35% below the state average) with median rent at $750 per month, and 85.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 28040 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 17.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.1, and the average commute is 25 minutes. We also surface 7 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Rutherford County, so you can benchmark 28040 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 28040

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28040.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 28040, Ellenboro, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

7,969

Population

184.0

Area (sq mi)

43

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 28040?

45.1

Median Age

48.5%

Male

51.5%

Female

2.4%

Foreign-Born

White 87.6%
African American 2.0%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino 3.0%

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?

$58,816

Median Household Income

-15% vs state

$29,929

Per Capita Income

9.6%

Poverty Rate

7.4%

Unemployment Rate

25.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28040 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$58,816 27th percentile higher than 27% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 52.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 17.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,326

Total Housing Units

2,844

Occupied Units

482

Vacant Units

2.44

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 85.1%
Renter 14.9%

$169,500

Median Home Value

-35% vs state

$750

Median Rent

1979

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+36.0%

YoY Change (2024)

353

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+253%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28040 have increased 36.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +253% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +7.5% 180
2021 +13.3% 204
2022 +22.4% 249
2023 +4.2% 260
2024 +36.0% 353

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 68 business establishments in ZIP 28040, employing approximately 299 people with a combined annual payroll of $13,247,000.

68

Businesses

299

Employees

$13.2M

Annual Payroll

8

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 20 29.4%
Construction 15 22.1%
Retail trade 9 13.2%
Manufacturing 5 7.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 7.3%
Wholesale trade 4 5.9%
Accommodation and food services 4 5.9%
Health care and social assistance 3 4.4%

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 28040 vs 28018 →

ZIP 28040 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28040 ranks #2 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 28040 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 28040 ranks #3 of 5 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
28018 Bostic, NC 5,562 6.9 mi
28019 Caroleen, NC 123 8.1 mi
28089 Lattimore, NC 248 7.1 mi
28076 Henrietta, NC 722 9.4 mi
28043 Forest City, NC 21,055 8.8 mi
28017 Boiling Springs, NC 695 10.9 mi
28020 Casar, NC 2,322 11.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Rutherford County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28040 in?
ZIP code 28040 (Ellenboro) 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 28040?
ZIP code 28040 in Ellenboro, NC has a population of 7,969 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28040?
The median household income in ZIP 28040 is $58,816, which is 23% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28040?
The median home value in ZIP 28040 is $169,500, which is 39% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28040?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28040 is White at 87.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28040?
ZIP code 28040 has 68 business establishments employing approximately 299 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28040?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28040 are: Other services (except public administration) (20), Construction (15), Retail trade (9). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28040?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28040 increased by 36.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 253%. 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 28040?
In ZIP code 28040, 52.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.3% 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 28040?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28040 is 25.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28040?
In ZIP code 28040, approximately 85.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 14.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28040?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28040 is 9.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Ellenboro, NC

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.