Shelby, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28152

Cleveland County, North Carolina — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

24,735
116/sq mi
$57,806
Median income
$205,200
Median home value
25.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Shelby pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

25th pct
household income, US ZIPs
45th pct
home value, US ZIPs
116
people per sq mi
66%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28152 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28152 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 214.2 square miles in Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina. The area is home to 24,735 residents, producing a population density of 116 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 28152 against North Carolina and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 28152 sits at $57,806 (16% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $29,158. The poverty rate stands at 17.3% and the unemployment rate at 6.3%. On housing, the median home value is $205,200 (21% below the state average) with median rent at $973 per month, and 65.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 28152 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 25.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.5, and the average commute is 22 minutes. We also surface 6 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Cleveland County, so you can benchmark 28152 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 28152

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28152.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 28152, Shelby, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

24,735

Population

214.2

Area (sq mi)

116

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 28152?

34.5

Median Age

47.7%

Male

52.3%

Female

2.5%

Foreign-Born

White 66.4%
African American 21.2%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.5%
Hispanic or Latino 3.8%

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?

$57,806

Median Household Income

-16% vs state

$29,158

Per Capita Income

17.3%

Poverty Rate

6.3%

Unemployment Rate

21.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28152 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$57,806 25th percentile higher than 25% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 56.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

11,265

Total Housing Units

10,016

Occupied Units

1,249

Vacant Units

2.57

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 65.5%
Renter 34.5%

$205,200

Median Home Value

-21% vs state

$973

Median Rent

1980

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+7.3%

YoY Change (2024)

239

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+139%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28152 have increased 7.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +139% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.7% 145
2021 +15.7% 168
2022 +20.9% 203
2023 +9.4% 222
2024 +7.3% 239

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 519 business establishments in ZIP 28152, employing approximately 6,858 people with a combined annual payroll of $257,219,000.

519

Businesses

6,858

Employees

$257.2M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 134 25.8%
Other services (except public administration) 60 11.6%
Construction 58 11.2%
Accommodation and food services 54 10.4%
Health care and social assistance 42 8.1%
Manufacturing 26 5.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 26 5.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 21 4.0%
Finance and insurance 20 3.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 20 3.9%
Wholesale trade 19 3.7%
Transportation and warehousing 12 2.3%
Information 11 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 7 1.4%
Educational services 5 1.0%

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 28152 vs 28017 →

ZIP 28152 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28152 ranks #2 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 28152 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 28152 ranks #3 of 6 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
28017 Boiling Springs, NC 695 4.3 mi
28150 Shelby, NC 28,098 7.4 mi
28089 Lattimore, NC 248 6.3 mi
28073 Grover, NC 5,621 7.2 mi
29341 Gaffney, SC 19,330 10.9 mi
29702 Blacksburg, SC 10,059 11.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Cleveland County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28152 in?
ZIP code 28152 (Shelby) is located in Cleveland County, North Carolina. Cleveland County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cleveland-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28152?
ZIP code 28152 in Shelby, NC has a population of 24,735 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28152?
The median household income in ZIP 28152 is $57,806, which is 24% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28152?
The median home value in ZIP 28152 is $205,200, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28152?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28152 is White at 66.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28152?
ZIP code 28152 has 519 business establishments employing approximately 6,858 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28152?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28152 are: Retail trade (134), Other services (except public administration) (60), Construction (58). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28152?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28152 increased by 7.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 139%. 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 28152?
In ZIP code 28152, 56.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.6% 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 28152?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28152 is 21.5 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 28152?
In ZIP code 28152, approximately 65.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 34.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28152?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28152 is 17.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Shelby, NC

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.