Salisbury, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28144
Rowan County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 24,734
- 319/sq mi High-density area
- $52,568
- Median income Below-median income area
- $226,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 29.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Salisbury pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 18th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 49%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 319
- people per sq mi
- 55%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28144 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 28144 (Salisbury, NC) rose +8.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 217.6 in 2023 to 237.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28144 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, with 24,734 residents across 77.5 square miles, a density of 319 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28144 reports a modest median household income of $52,568 (24% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,424. The poverty rate is 26.6%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Median home value is $226,700 (13% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $972; 54.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.9, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Rowan County, so 28144 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 28144
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Salisbury, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28144.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
141 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
116 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
89 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
83 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
66 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 28144, Salisbury, 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
24,734
Population
77.5
Area (sq mi)
319
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28144?
38.9
Median Age
48.8%
Male
51.2%
Female
5.7%
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?
$52,568
Median Household Income
-24% vs state ZIP avg
$32,424
Per Capita Income
26.6%
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Unemployment Rate
20.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28144 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Salisbury, 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)
$52,568 22nd percentile higher than 22% 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
12,859housing units
12,859
Total Housing Units
11,270
Occupied Units
1,589
Vacant Units
2.28
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$226,700
Median Home Value
-13% vs state ZIP avg
$972
Median Rent
1968
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
+8.9%
YoY Change (2024)
237
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+137%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28144 have increased 8.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +137% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.8% | 143 |
| 2021 | +14.1% | 163 |
| 2022 | +20.2% | 196 |
| 2023 | +10.9% | 218 |
| 2024 | +8.9% | 237 |
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 793 business establishments in ZIP 28144, employing approximately 16,426 people with a combined annual payroll of $999,986,000.
793
Businesses
16,426
Employees
$1000.0M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 141 | 17.8% |
| Retail trade | 116 | 14.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 89 | 11.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 83 | 10.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 66 | 8.3% |
| Construction | 53 | 6.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 52 | 6.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 40 | 5.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 38 | 4.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 30 | 3.8% |
| Manufacturing | 27 | 3.4% |
| Educational services | 15 | 1.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 13 | 1.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 1.3% |
| Information | 9 | 1.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8 | 1.0% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.4% |
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 28144 vs 28159 →
ZIP 28144 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28146
Salisbury (28146)
27,614 residents
- 28144
Salisbury (28144)
24,734 residents
- 28147
Salisbury (28147)
24,697 residents
- 28023
China Grove (28023)
14,175 residents
- 27299 5,190
Linwood (27299)
5,190 residents
- 28159 3,108
Spencer (28159)
3,108 residents
- 27054 2,567
Woodleaf (27054)
2,567 residents
- 28072 1,357
Granite Quarry (28072)
1,357 residents
- 27014 840
Cooleemee (27014)
840 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28144 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28144 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28072
Granite Quarry (28072)
$93,125 median income
- 27054
Woodleaf (27054)
$92,560 median income
- 28146
Salisbury (28146)
$69,279 median income
- 27299
Linwood (27299)
$65,621 median income
- 28147
Salisbury (28147)
$65,060 median income
- 28159
Spencer (28159)
$63,036 median income
- 28023
China Grove (28023)
$62,257 median income
- 28144
Salisbury (28144)
$52,568 median income
- 27014
Cooleemee (27014)
$44,625 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28144 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28159 | Spencer, NC | 3,108 | 2.0 mi |
| 28039 | East Spencer, NC | 116 | 2.4 mi |
| 28072 | Granite Quarry, NC | 1,357 | 6.5 mi |
| 27299 | Linwood, NC | 5,190 | 5.4 mi |
| 28147 | Salisbury, NC | 24,697 | 5.9 mi |
| 28146 | Salisbury, NC | 27,614 | 7.1 mi |
| 27014 | Cooleemee, NC | 840 | 8.9 mi |
| 27054 | Woodleaf, NC | 2,567 | 9.6 mi |
| 28023 | China Grove, NC | 14,175 | 12.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28144, 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 (24,734 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Rowan County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28144 in?
ZIP code 28144 (Salisbury) is located in Rowan County, North Carolina. Rowan County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/rowan-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28144?
ZIP code 28144 in Salisbury, NC has a population of 24,734 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28144?
The median household income in ZIP 28144 is $52,568, which is 31% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28144?
The median home value in ZIP 28144 is $226,700, which is 18% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28144?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28144 is White at 51.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 12.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28144?
ZIP code 28144 has 793 business establishments employing approximately 16,426 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28144?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28144 are: Health care and social assistance (141), Retail trade (116), Accommodation and food services (89). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28144?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28144 increased by 8.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 137%. 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 28144?
In ZIP code 28144, 60.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.9% 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 28144?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28144 is 20.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28144?
In ZIP code 28144, approximately 54.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 45.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28144?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28144 is 26.6% 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 28144's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28144 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Salisbury, 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.