Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28138: Rockwell, NC
ZIP code 28138 uses the postal name Rockwell, North Carolina and lies mostly in Rowan County (75% of its land) with the rest in Cabarrus County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 10,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $66,896 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 4% of its land lies in Rockwell; 96% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Rockwell · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Rowan County (75%); Cabarrus County (25%)
- Census places
- Rockwell
- Metro area
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- House districts
- NC-6 (75%), NC-8 (25%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 45.0 sq mi · 228 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28138?
28138 centers on 35.514°, -80.437° and covers 45.0 square miles of land plus 0.1 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 28071, 28146, 28124, 28083, 28023, 28025.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28138, 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 28138 compare with the rest of Rowan County?
| Measure | 28138 | In Rowan County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 10,271 | 8th of 19 | 306th of 853 |
| Median household income | $67k | 8th of 13 | 257th of 528 |
| Median home value | $216k | 12th of 15 | 347th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 42% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 64% 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 28138?
The 2020 Census counted 10,855 people in 28138; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 10,271. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 3.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 10,271±1,254 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 10,855+3.4% since 2010 (10,495)
- Households
- 4,178
- Median age
- 40.7
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 28138?
Of the 10,271 people the ACS estimates in 28138, 21.6% are under 18 and 19.0% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (87.4%).
- Under 1821.6%
- 18 to 6459.3%
- 65 and older19.0%
- White, not Hispanic87.4%
- Hispanic or Latino6.9%
- Other or two or more2.8%
- Black, not Hispanic2.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.5%
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 28138 earn?
Median household income is $66,896 (ACS 2020-2024), the 8th highest of the 13 ranked ZIP codes in Rowan County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($62,456 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $66,896±$6,720
- Income per person
- $33,461
- Below the poverty line
- 6.5%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 1.9%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 19.6%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $62,9254,930 returns; wages 78% 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 28138?
FHFA's house price index for 28138, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 133% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 71% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.7% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $216,100
- Median gross rent
- $966
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 71.3%
- Housing units
- 4,342
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 28138?
188 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 19 more than in 2018; the most are in other services (except public administration) (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Other services (except public administration)34
- Construction31
- Retail trade29
- Transportation and warehousing15
- Accommodation and food services15
- Manufacturing13
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 28138?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28071 | Gold Hill | 4,219 | $93k | 6.8 mi |
| 28146 | Salisbury | 31,292 | $69k | 7.7 mi |
| 28124 | Mount Pleasant | 7,010 | $81k | 8.1 mi |
| 28083 | Kannapolis | 28,095 | $66k | 8.3 mi |
| 28023 | China Grove | 15,495 | $62k | 10.0 mi |
| 28025 | Concord | 58,334 | $80k | 10.3 mi |
| 28041 | Faith | 3 | – | 5.2 mi (near) |
| 28072 | Granite Quarry | 672 | $93k | 6.8 mi (near) |
| 28109 | Misenheimer | 664 | $31k | 9.1 mi (near) |
| 28137 | Richfield | 2,664 | $67k | 9.9 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.