Salisbury, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28146
Rowan County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 27,614
- 107/sq mi High-density area
- $69,279
- Median income Near-median income area
- $247,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 26.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Salisbury pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 45th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 43%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 107
- people per sq mi
- 83%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28146 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 28146 (Salisbury, NC) rose +2.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 234.8 in 2023 to 241.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28146 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, with 27,614 residents across 257.1 square miles, a density of 107 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28146 reports a modest median household income of $69,279 (0% above the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,585. The poverty rate is 11.4%, with unemployment at 5.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $247,700 (5% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $967; 83.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.3, and the average commute is 28 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Rowan County, so 28146 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 28146
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Salisbury, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28146.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
70 establishments
- Construction
Construction
67 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
57 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
35 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation 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 28146, 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
27,614
Population
257.1
Area (sq mi)
107
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28146?
42.3
Median Age
48.7%
Male
51.3%
Female
2.8%
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?
$69,279
Median Household Income
+0% vs state ZIP avg
$37,585
Per Capita Income
11.4%
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Unemployment Rate
27.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28146 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)
$69,279 Top 40% higher than 60% 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
13,871housing units
13,871
Total Housing Units
12,649
Occupied Units
1,222
Vacant Units
2.46
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$247,700
Median Home Value
-5% vs state ZIP avg
$967
Median Rent
1987
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
+2.7%
YoY Change (2024)
241
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+141%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28146 have increased 2.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +141% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +7.3% | 154 |
| 2021 | +14.5% | 176 |
| 2022 | +22.1% | 215 |
| 2023 | +9.1% | 235 |
| 2024 | +2.7% | 241 |
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 437 business establishments in ZIP 28146, employing approximately 6,580 people with a combined annual payroll of $297,247,000.
437
Businesses
6,580
Employees
$297.2M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 70 | 16.0% |
| Construction | 67 | 15.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 57 | 13.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 35 | 8.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 32 | 7.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 30 | 6.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 28 | 6.4% |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 5.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 23 | 5.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 23 | 5.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 3.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 15 | 3.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.4% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.7% |
| Information | 3 | 0.7% |
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 28146 vs 28072 →
ZIP 28146 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
- 28138 10,495
Rockwell (28138)
10,495 residents
- 27299 5,190
Linwood (27299)
5,190 residents
- 28137 3,120
Richfield (28137)
3,120 residents
- 28159 3,108
Spencer (28159)
3,108 residents
- 28071 2,802
Gold Hill (28071)
2,802 residents
- 28072 1,357
Granite Quarry (28072)
1,357 residents
- 28109 387
Misenheimer (28109)
387 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28146 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28146 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28071
Gold Hill (28071)
$93,354 median income
- 28072
Granite Quarry (28072)
$93,125 median income
- 28146
Salisbury (28146)
$69,279 median income
- 28137
Richfield (28137)
$67,163 median income
- 28138
Rockwell (28138)
$66,896 median income
- 27299
Linwood (27299)
$65,621 median income
- 28159
Spencer (28159)
$63,036 median income
- 28144
Salisbury (28144)
$52,568 median income
- 28109 $31,208
Misenheimer (28109)
$31,208 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28146 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28072 | Granite Quarry, NC | 1,357 | 3.0 mi |
| 28039 | East Spencer, NC | 116 | 4.8 mi |
| 28159 | Spencer, NC | 3,108 | 5.5 mi |
| 27299 | Linwood, NC | 5,190 | 9.1 mi |
| 28138 | Rockwell, NC | 10,495 | 7.4 mi |
| 28144 | Salisbury, NC | 24,734 | 7.1 mi |
| 28071 | Gold Hill, NC | 2,802 | 8.2 mi |
| 28109 | Misenheimer, NC | 387 | 10.7 mi |
| 28137 | Richfield, NC | 3,120 | 11.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28146, 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 (27,614 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 28146 in?
ZIP code 28146 (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 28146?
ZIP code 28146 in Salisbury, NC has a population of 27,614 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28146?
The median household income in ZIP 28146 is $69,279, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28146?
The median home value in ZIP 28146 is $247,700, which is 11% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28146?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28146 is White at 81.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28146?
ZIP code 28146 has 437 business establishments employing approximately 6,580 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28146?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28146 are: Retail trade (70), Construction (67), Other services (except public administration) (57). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28146?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28146 increased by 2.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 141%. 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 28146?
In ZIP code 28146, 57.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.9% 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 28146?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28146 is 27.6 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 28146?
In ZIP code 28146, approximately 83.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28146?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28146 is 11.4% 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 28146's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28146 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.