Residential delivery area · North Carolina
ZIP Code 28139: Rutherfordton, NC
ZIP code 28139 uses the postal name Rutherfordton, North Carolina and lies mostly in Rutherford County (87% of its land) with the rest in Polk County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 20,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $56,558 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Rutherfordton (2%) and Ruth (under 1%); 98% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Rutherfordton · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Rutherford County (87%); Polk County (13%)
- Census places
- Rutherfordton (2%); Ruth (under 1%)
- Neighborhoods
- Fernwood, Forest Hills, Thermal Valley GeoNames
- Micro area
- Forest City, NC
- House district
- NC-14 119th Congress
- State
- North Carolina
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 181.9 sq mi · 110 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 28139?
28139 centers on 35.348°, -81.995° and covers 181.9 square miles of land plus 0.2 of water. It borders 11 ZIP codes: 28160, 28043, 28074, 28722, 28167, 28782, 28756, 28746, 28018, 29323 and more.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 28139, 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); neighborhoods from the GeoNames gazetteer (CC BY 4.0), placed in this ZIP code by PlainZIP.
How does 28139 compare with the rest of Rutherford County?
| Measure | 28139 | In Rutherford County | In NC |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 20,008 | 2nd of 16 | 201st of 853 |
| Median household income | $57k | 6th of 9 | 394th of 528 |
| Median home value | $240k | 3rd of 9 | 274th of 572 |
Its median household income is higher than in 23% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 55% 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 28139?
The 2020 Census counted 18,665 people in 28139; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 20,008. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 7.2% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 20,008
- 2020 Census count
- 18,665−7.2% since 2010 (20,111)
- Households
- 8,124
- Median age
- 47.6
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 28139?
Of the 20,008 people the ACS estimates in 28139, 20.2% are under 18 and 24.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (82.6%).
- Under 1820.2%
- 18 to 6455.3%
- 65 and older24.6%
- White, not Hispanic82.6%
- Hispanic or Latino6.7%
- Black, not Hispanic5.8%
- Other or two or more4.6%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.3%
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 28139 earn?
Median household income is $56,558 (ACS 2020-2024), the 6th highest of the 9 ranked ZIP codes in Rutherford County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($57,838 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $56,558±$7,013
- Income per person
- $33,008
- Below the poverty line
- 15.4%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.5%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 25.0%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $63,3498,230 returns; wages 68% 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 28139?
FHFA's house price index for 28139, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 118% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 73% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +7.6% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $240,200
- Median gross rent
- $818
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 78.6%
- Housing units
- 9,103
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 28139?
364 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 2 more than in 2018; the most are in other services (except public administration) (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Other services (except public administration)58
- Construction55
- Health care and social assistance38
- Retail trade37
- Professional, scientific, and technical services32
- Manufacturing24
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 28139?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28160 | Spindale | 3,665 | $41k | 4.2 mi |
| 28043 | Forest City | 20,930 | $42k | 7.4 mi |
| 28074 | Harris | 15 | – | 10.0 mi |
| 28722 | Columbus | 6,086 | $68k | 10.4 mi |
| 28167 | Union Mills | 2,253 | $60k | 11.1 mi |
| 28782 | Tryon | 6,519 | $73k | 11.7 mi |
| 28756 | Mill Spring | 4,706 | $64k | 12.1 mi |
| 28746 | Lake Lure | 2,744 | $71k | 12.9 mi |
| 28018 | Bostic | 5,034 | $51k | 14.5 mi |
| 29323 | Chesnee, SC | 15,573 | $63k | 16.1 mi |
| 28114 | Mooresboro | 7,104 | $61k | 16.1 mi |
| 28019 | Caroleen | 0 | – | 12.2 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.