Mount Holly, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28120
Gaston County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 19,807
- 252/sq mi High-density area
- $78,231
- Median income Near-median income area
- $321,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 33.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Mount Holly pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 40%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 30%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 252
- people per sq mi
- 75%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28120 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 28120 (Mount Holly, NC) rose +9.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 253.2 in 2023 to 276.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28120 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Mount Holly, Gaston County, North Carolina, home to 19,807 residents across 78.6 square miles, a density of 252 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28120 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $78,231 (13% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,978. The poverty rate is 12.2%, with unemployment at 5.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $321,500 (24% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while 74.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,234.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 33.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.4, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Gaston County, so 28120 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 28120
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Mount Holly, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28120.
- Construction
Construction
63 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
50 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
37 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
33 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
31 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 28120, Mount Holly, 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
19,807
Population
78.6
Area (sq mi)
252
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28120?
40.4
Median Age
47.9%
Male
52.1%
Female
5.5%
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?
$78,231
Median Household Income
+13% vs state ZIP avg
$41,978
Per Capita Income
12.2%
Poverty Rate
5.0%
Unemployment Rate
27.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28120 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Mount Holly, 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)
$78,231 Top 25% higher than 75% 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
10,863housing units
10,863
Total Housing Units
10,241
Occupied Units
622
Vacant Units
2.52
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$321,500
Median Home Value
+24% vs state ZIP avg
$1,234
Median Rent
1990
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
+9.0%
YoY Change (2024)
276
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+176%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28120 have increased 9.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +176% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.3% | 165 |
| 2021 | +16.3% | 192 |
| 2022 | +23.1% | 237 |
| 2023 | +7.0% | 253 |
| 2024 | +9.0% | 276 |
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 388 business establishments in ZIP 28120, employing approximately 5,963 people with a combined annual payroll of $346,858,000.
388
Businesses
5,963
Employees
$346.9M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 63 | 16.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 50 | 12.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 37 | 9.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 33 | 8.5% |
| Retail trade | 31 | 8.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 28 | 7.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 28 | 7.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 21 | 5.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 19 | 4.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 19 | 4.9% |
| Manufacturing | 17 | 4.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 12 | 3.1% |
| Utilities | 10 | 2.6% |
| Educational services | 7 | 1.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.6% |
| Information | 5 | 1.3% |
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 28120 vs 28164 →
ZIP 28120 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28216
Charlotte (28216)
47,208 residents
- 28054
Gastonia (28054)
36,270 residents
- 28214
Charlotte (28214)
34,721 residents
- 28012
Belmont (28012)
20,048 residents
- 28120
Mount Holly (28120)
19,807 residents
- 28164 14,085
Stanley (28164)
14,085 residents
- 28080 7,299
Iron Station (28080)
7,299 residents
- 28098 3,579
Lowell (28098)
3,579 residents
- 28032 3,105
Cramerton (28032)
3,105 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28120 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28120 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28101
Mc Adenville (28101)
$111,042 median income
- 28214
Charlotte (28214)
$86,447 median income
- 28012
Belmont (28012)
$83,391 median income
- 28164
Stanley (28164)
$79,728 median income
- 28120
Mount Holly (28120)
$78,231 median income
- 28080
Iron Station (28080)
$71,997 median income
- 28216
Charlotte (28216)
$65,795 median income
- 28054
Gastonia (28054)
$61,035 median income
- 28032
Cramerton (28032)
$60,924 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28120 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28164 | Stanley, NC | 14,085 | 4.2 mi |
| 28214 | Charlotte, NC | 34,721 | 5.1 mi |
| 28101 | Mc Adenville, NC | 698 | 5.9 mi |
| 28098 | Lowell, NC | 3,579 | 5.8 mi |
| 28012 | Belmont, NC | 20,048 | 8.4 mi |
| 28006 | Alexis, NC | 1,130 | 6.5 mi |
| 28032 | Cramerton, NC | 3,105 | 7.3 mi |
| 28216 | Charlotte, NC | 47,208 | 7.9 mi |
| 28054 | Gastonia, NC | 36,270 | 8.5 mi |
| 28080 | Iron Station, NC | 7,299 | 9.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28120, 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 (19,807 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 28120 in?
ZIP code 28120 (Mount Holly) 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 28120?
ZIP code 28120 in Mount Holly, NC has a population of 19,807 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28120?
The median household income in ZIP 28120 is $78,231, which is 3% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28120?
The median home value in ZIP 28120 is $321,500, which is 16% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28120?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28120 is White at 69.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28120?
ZIP code 28120 has 388 business establishments employing approximately 5,963 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28120?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28120 are: Construction (63), Other services (except public administration) (50), Professional, scientific, and technical services (37). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28120?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28120 increased by 9.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 176%. 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 28120?
In ZIP code 28120, 58.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 33.8% 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 28120?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28120 is 27.4 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 28120?
In ZIP code 28120, approximately 74.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 25.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28120?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28120 is 12.2% 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 28120's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28120 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Mount Holly, 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.