PlainZIP

Spencer, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28159

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

3,108
487/sq mi
$63,036
Median income
$200,300
Median home value
26.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Spencer pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

35th pct
household income, US ZIPs
43th pct
home value, US ZIPs
487
people per sq mi
67%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28159 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28159 covers 6.4 square miles in Spencer, Rowan County, North Carolina (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,108 residents on file, a density of 487 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28159 reports a modest median household income of $63,036 (9% below the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $33,823. The poverty rate stands at 12.6% and the unemployment rate at 7.5%. Median home value sits at $200,300 (23% below the state average), median rent at $932 a month, and owner-occupancy at 67.1%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.7, and the average commute is -. To put 28159 in local context, 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Rowan County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 28159

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Spencer, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28159.

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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 28159, Spencer, 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

3,108

Population

6.4

Area (sq mi)

487

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 28159?

42.7

Median Age

52.0%

Male

48.0%

Female

1.8%

Foreign-Born

White 50.9%
African American 40.5%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.7%
Hispanic or Latino 5.7%

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?

$63,036

Median Household Income

-9% vs state

$33,823

Per Capita Income

12.6%

Poverty Rate

7.5%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 28159 ranks nationally

Spencer, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$63,036 35th percentile higher than 35% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $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 54.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.1%

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

What does housing look like?

1,561

Total Housing Units

1,321

Occupied Units

240

Vacant Units

2.42

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 67.1%
Renter 32.9%

$200,300

Median Home Value

-23% vs state

$932

Median Rent

1952

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

-15.7%

YoY Change (2024)

230

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+130%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28159 have decreased 15.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +130% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.8% 159
2021 +15.9% 184
2022 +14.9% 211
2023 +29.3% 273
2024 -15.7% 230

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 50 business establishments in ZIP 28159, employing approximately 508 people with a combined annual payroll of $15,611,000.

50

Businesses

508

Employees

$15.6M

Annual Payroll

6

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 16 32.0%
Accommodation and food services 8 16.0%
Other services (except public administration) 7 14.0%
Construction 5 10.0%
Health care and social assistance 5 10.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 3 6.0%

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 28159 vs 28039 →

ZIP 28159 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 28159 ranks #5 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 28159 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 28159 ranks #5 of 7 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
28039 East Spencer, NC 116 1.0 mi
28144 Salisbury, NC 24,734 2.0 mi
28072 Granite Quarry, NC 1,357 5.6 mi
27299 Linwood, NC 5,190 4.7 mi
28146 Salisbury, NC 27,614 5.5 mi
28147 Salisbury, NC 24,697 7.5 mi
27014 Cooleemee, NC 840 10.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Rowan County

28146 standard
Salisbury, NC
Pop: 27,614
28144 standard
Salisbury, NC
Pop: 24,734
28147 standard
Salisbury, NC
Pop: 24,697
28023 standard
China Grove, NC
Pop: 14,175
28138 standard
Rockwell, NC
Pop: 10,495
27013 standard
Cleveland, NC
Pop: 6,057

Related Areas

Rowan County Spencer, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28159 in? ▼
ZIP code 28159 (Spencer) 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 28159? ▼
ZIP code 28159 in Spencer, NC has a population of 3,108 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28159? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28159 is $63,036, which is 17% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28159? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28159 is $200,300, which is 28% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28159? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28159 is White at 50.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28159? ▼
ZIP code 28159 has 50 business establishments employing approximately 508 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28159? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28159 are: Retail trade (16), Accommodation and food services (8), Other services (except public administration) (7). There are 6 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28159? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28159 decreased by 15.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 130%. 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 28159? ▼
In ZIP code 28159, 54.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28159? ▼
In ZIP code 28159, approximately 67.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28159? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28159 is 12.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.