Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28081: Kannapolis, NC
ZIP code 28081 uses the postal name Kannapolis, North Carolina and lies mostly in Cabarrus County (51% of its land) with the rest in Rowan County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 29,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the more populous of Kannapolis's 2 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $71,665 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Kannapolis (45%) and Enochville (14%); 42% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Kannapolis · 2 residential ZIPs
- County
- Cabarrus County (51%); Rowan County (49%)
- Census places
- Kannapolis (45%); Enochville (14%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- House district
- NC-6 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 30.3 sq mi · 960 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 28082 also use the name Kannapolis
Where is ZIP code 28081?
28081 centers on 35.503°, -80.670° and covers 30.3 square miles of land plus 0.4 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 28088, 28083, 28023, 28027, 28036, 28115.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28081, 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 28081 compare with the rest of Kannapolis?
| Measure | 28081 | In Kannapolis | In Cabarrus County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 29,075 | 1st of 2 | 7th of 15 | 131st of 853 |
| Median household income | $72k | 1st of 2 | 10th of 14 | 203rd of 528 |
| Median home value | $285k | 1st of 2 | 11th of 15 | 213th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 49% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 78% 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 28081?
The 2020 Census counted 28,583 people in 28081; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 29,075. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 13.5% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 29,075
- 2020 Census count
- 28,583+13.5% since 2010 (25,190)
- Households
- 11,581
- Median age
- 39.7
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 28081?
Of the 29,075 people the ACS estimates in 28081, 22.1% are under 18 and 15.8% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (65.5%), then Black (not Hispanic) (16.4%).
- Under 1822.1%
- 18 to 6462.1%
- 65 and older15.8%
- White, not Hispanic65.5%
- Black, not Hispanic16.4%
- Hispanic or Latino11.1%
- Other or two or more5.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.7%
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 28081 earn?
Median household income is $71,665 (ACS 2020-2024), the 10th highest of the 14 ranked ZIP codes in Cabarrus County. It rose from $62,992 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $71,665
- Income per person
- $36,399
- Below the poverty line
- 11.1%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.2%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 26.2%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $65,66413,530 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 28081?
FHFA's house price index for 28081, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 138% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 70% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.7% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $285,100
- Median gross rent
- $1,173
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 73.5%
- Housing units
- 12,763
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 28081?
420 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 85 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction73
- Retail trade63
- Other services (except public administration)54
- Accommodation and food services38
- Professional, scientific, and technical services34
- Real estate and rental and leasing32
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 28081?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28088 | Landis | 3,054 | $60k | 4.2 mi |
| 28083 | Kannapolis | 28,095 | $66k | 5.0 mi |
| 28023 | China Grove | 15,495 | $62k | 5.9 mi |
| 28027 | Concord | 81,772 | $92k | 6.2 mi |
| 28036 | Davidson | 22,963 | $157k | 7.1 mi |
| 28115 | Mooresville | 43,544 | $88k | 7.7 mi |
| 28125 | Mount Ulla | 2,765 | $86k | 10.9 mi (near) |
| 28025 | Concord | 58,334 | $80k | 11.7 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.