Rutherfordton, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28139
Rutherford County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,111
- 44/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $56,558
- Median income Below-median income area
- $240,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 25.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Rutherfordton pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 23rd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 45%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 44
- people per sq mi
- 79%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28139 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 28139 (Rutherfordton, NC) rose +16.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 236.3 in 2023 to 274.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28139 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Rutherfordton, Rutherford County, North Carolina, with 20,111 residents across 453.0 square miles, a density of 44 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28139 reports a modest median household income of $56,558 (18% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,008. The poverty rate is 15.4%, with unemployment at 4.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $240,200 (7% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $818; 78.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 25.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 47.6, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Rutherford County, so 28139 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 28139
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Rutherfordton, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28139.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
58 establishments
- Construction
Construction
55 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
38 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
37 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
32 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 28139, Rutherfordton, 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
20,111
Population
453.0
Area (sq mi)
44
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28139?
47.6
Median Age
47.9%
Male
52.1%
Female
3.6%
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?
$56,558
Median Household Income
-18% vs state ZIP avg
$33,008
Per Capita Income
15.4%
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Unemployment Rate
26.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28139 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Rutherfordton, 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)
$56,558 30th percentile higher than 30% 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
9,103housing units
9,103
Total Housing Units
8,124
Occupied Units
979
Vacant Units
2.40
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$240,200
Median Home Value
-7% vs state ZIP avg
$818
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
+16.0%
YoY Change (2024)
274
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+174%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28139 have increased 16.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +174% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.8% | 164 |
| 2021 | +13.5% | 187 |
| 2022 | +16.9% | 218 |
| 2023 | +8.4% | 236 |
| 2024 | +16.0% | 274 |
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 364 business establishments in ZIP 28139, employing approximately 4,410 people with a combined annual payroll of $204,742,000.
364
Businesses
4,410
Employees
$204.7M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 58 | 15.9% |
| Construction | 55 | 15.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 38 | 10.4% |
| Retail trade | 37 | 10.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 32 | 8.8% |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 6.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 5.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 21 | 5.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 4.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 14 | 3.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 13 | 3.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 10 | 2.8% |
| Educational services | 6 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 1.1% |
| Information | 4 | 1.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.8% |
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 28139 vs 28160 →
ZIP 28139 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
- 28139
Rutherfordton (28139)
20,111 residents
- 28722 6,371
Columbus (28722)
6,371 residents
- 28160 3,929
Spindale (28160)
3,929 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28139 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28139 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28722
Columbus (28722)
$67,760 median income
- 28139
Rutherfordton (28139)
$56,558 median income
- 28043
Forest City (28043)
$42,276 median income
- 28160
Spindale (28160)
$40,868 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28139 ranks #2 of 4 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 28139, 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 (20,111 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 28139 in?
ZIP code 28139 (Rutherfordton) 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 28139?
ZIP code 28139 in Rutherfordton, NC has a population of 20,111 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28139?
The median household income in ZIP 28139 is $56,558, which is 26% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28139?
The median home value in ZIP 28139 is $240,200, which is 14% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28139?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28139 is White at 84.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28139?
ZIP code 28139 has 364 business establishments employing approximately 4,410 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28139?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28139 are: Other services (except public administration) (58), Construction (55), Health care and social assistance (38). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28139?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28139 increased by 16.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 174%. 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 28139?
In ZIP code 28139, 53.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.0% 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 28139?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28139 is 26.6 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 28139?
In ZIP code 28139, approximately 78.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 21.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28139?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28139 is 15.4% 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 28139's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28139 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Rutherfordton, 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.