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 Moderate-density area
- $58,816
- Median income Below-median income area
- $169,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 17.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 28040 (Ellenboro, NC) rose +36.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 259.9 in 2023 to 353.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28040 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Ellenboro, Rutherford County, North Carolina, home to 7,969 residents across 184.0 square miles, a density of 43 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28040 reports a modest median household income of $58,816 (15% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,929. The poverty rate is 9.6%, with unemployment at 7.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $169,500 (35% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $750; owner occupancy is 85.1%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 17.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.1, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Rutherford County, so 28040 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 28040
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Ellenboro, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28040.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
20 establishments
- Construction
Construction
15 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
9 establishments
- Manufacturing 5
Manufacturing
5 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
5 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 28040, Ellenboro, 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
7,969
Population
184.0
Area (sq mi)
43
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28040?
45.1
Median Age
48.5%
Male
51.5%
Female
2.4%
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?
$58,816
Median Household Income
-15% vs state ZIP avg
$29,929
Per Capita Income
9.6%
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Unemployment Rate
25.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28040 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Ellenboro, 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)
$58,816 35th percentile higher than 35% 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
3,326housing units
3,326
Total Housing Units
2,844
Occupied Units
482
Vacant Units
2.44
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$169,500
Median Home Value
-35% vs state ZIP avg
$750
Median Rent
1979
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
+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.
- 28043
Forest City (28043)
21,055 residents
- 28040 7,969
Ellenboro (28040)
7,969 residents
- 28018 5,562
Bostic (28018)
5,562 residents
- 28020 2,322
Casar (28020)
2,322 residents
- 28076 722
Henrietta (28076)
722 residents
- 28017 695
Boiling Springs (28017)
695 residents
- 28089 248
Lattimore (28089)
248 residents
- 28019 123
Caroleen (28019)
123 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28040 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28040 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28089
Lattimore (28089)
$75,000 median income
- 28020
Casar (28020)
$59,978 median income
- 28040
Ellenboro (28040)
$58,816 median income
- 28018
Bostic (28018)
$50,727 median income
- 28043
Forest City (28043)
$42,276 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28040, 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 (7,969 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 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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 28040's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28040 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Ellenboro, 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.