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 High-density area
- $63,036
- Median income Near-median income area
- $200,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 26.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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
- 43rd 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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 28159 (Spencer, NC) fell -15.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 273.1 in 2023 to 230.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,823. The poverty rate is 12.6%, with unemployment at 7.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $200,300 (23% below the average North Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $932; owner occupancy is 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 -. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Rowan County, so 28159 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 28159
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Spencer, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28159.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
16 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
8 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
7 establishments
- Construction 5
Construction
5 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 5
Health care and social assistance
5 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 28159?
42.7
Median Age
52.0%
Male
48.0%
Female
1.8%
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?
$63,036
Median Household Income
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$33,823
Per Capita Income
12.6%
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 28159 ranks among North Carolina ZIPs
Spencer, 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)
$63,036 46th percentile higher than 46% 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
1,561housing units
1,561
Total Housing Units
1,321
Occupied Units
240
Vacant Units
2.42
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$200,300
Median Home Value
-23% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 28146
Salisbury (28146)
27,614 residents
- 28144
Salisbury (28144)
24,734 residents
- 28147
Salisbury (28147)
24,697 residents
- 27299 5,190
Linwood (27299)
5,190 residents
- 28159 3,108
Spencer (28159)
3,108 residents
- 28072 1,357
Granite Quarry (28072)
1,357 residents
- 27014 840
Cooleemee (27014)
840 residents
- 28039 116
East Spencer (28039)
116 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28159 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28159 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
- 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
- 28144
Salisbury (28144)
$52,568 median income
- 27014
Cooleemee (27014)
$44,625 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28159, 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 (3,108 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 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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 28159's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28159 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Spencer, 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.