Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28040: Ellenboro, NC
ZIP code 28040 uses the postal name Ellenboro, North Carolina and lies mostly in Rutherford County (96% of its land) with the rest in Cleveland County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 7,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $58,816 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Ellenboro (2%) and Caroleen (1%); 97% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Ellenboro · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Rutherford County (96%); Cleveland County (4%)
- Census places
- Ellenboro (2%); Caroleen (1%) census-designated place
- Micro area
- Forest City, NC
- House district
- NC-14 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 67.8 sq mi · 103 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28040?
28040 centers on 35.390°, -81.752° and covers 67.8 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 28018, 28019, 28043, 28150, 28114, 28020, 28090.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28040, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 28040 compare with the rest of Rutherford County?
| Measure | 28040 | In Rutherford County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 6,961 | 5th of 16 | 378th of 853 |
| Median household income | $59k | 5th of 9 | 367th of 528 |
| Median home value | $170k | 7th of 9 | 447th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 27% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 54% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 28040?
The 2020 Census counted 7,472 people in 28040; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 6,961. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 6.2% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 6,961±904 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 7,472−6.2% since 2010 (7,969)
- Households
- 2,844
- Median age
- 45.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 28040?
Of the 6,961 people the ACS estimates in 28040, 18.8% are under 18 and 20.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (87.6%).
- Under 1818.8%
- 18 to 6460.6%
- 65 and older20.6%
- White, not Hispanic87.6%
- Other or two or more7.1%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Black, not Hispanic2.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 28040 earn?
Median household income is $58,816 (ACS 2020-2024), the 5th highest of the 9 ranked ZIP codes in Rutherford County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($50,741 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $58,816±$6,208
- Income per person
- $29,929
- Below the poverty line
- 9.6%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 7.4%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 17.3%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $54,3023,100 returns; wages 77% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 28040?
FHFA's house price index for 28040, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 111% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 69% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −10.6% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $169,500
- Median gross rent
- $750
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 85.1%
- Housing units
- 3,326
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 28040?
68 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 7 more than in 2018; the most are in other services (except public administration) (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Other services (except public administration)20
- Construction15
- Retail trade9
- Manufacturing5
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services5
- Wholesale trade4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 28040?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28018 | Bostic | 5,034 | $51k | 7.4 mi |
| 28019 | Caroleen | 0 | – | 7.7 mi |
| 28043 | Forest City | 20,930 | $42k | 8.5 mi |
| 28150 | Shelby | 28,142 | $56k | 10.4 mi |
| 28114 | Mooresboro | 7,104 | $61k | 11.0 mi |
| 28020 | Casar | 2,240 | $60k | 11.1 mi |
| 28090 | Lawndale | 7,268 | $58k | 11.7 mi |
| 28136 | Polkville | 66 | $83k | 6.5 mi (near) |
| 28089 | Lattimore | 167 | $75k | 7.1 mi (near) |
| 28076 | Henrietta | 105 | – | 9.4 mi (near) |
| 28160 | Spindale | 3,665 | $41k | 9.8 mi (near) |
| 28024 | Cliffside | 31 | – | 10.2 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.