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Spencer town, NC

ZIP Code 28159 — Spencer town, NC Demographics & Data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Middle ClassLow Snow AreaRemote Work Hub

Map, Quick Facts & Location

Quick Facts

Local time
Population
3,181
Median Income
$63,396
-16% vs US avg
Home Value
$160,300
-54% vs US avg
Median Rent
$744
-36% vs US avg
Median Age
43.4 yrs
+12% vs US avg
Area Code
Congress
Top Ancestry
EnglishScotch-IrishAmerican
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Location
Coordinates
35.6948, -80.4319
Elevation
700 ft
Land Area
2.5 sq mi
Water Area
0.0 sq mi

At a glance

Population
3,181
Density
N/A
Median income
$63,396
-16% vs US avg
Home value
$160,300
-54% vs US avg
Median rent
$744
-36% vs US avg
Timezone

Overview of ZIP Code 28159

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What to know about ZIP 28159

ZIP code 28159 covers Spencer, NC in Rowan County with a population of about 3,181.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 43.4 versus a U.S. median of about 38.9.

It sits in telephone area codes 704, 980; U.S. House district NC-6; the CHARLOTTE media market.

Income and economy in Spencer, NC

Median household income in ZIP 28159 is about $63,396 — about 16% below the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 12.9%; unemployment rate near 5.1%; 22.5% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 11.2 points below the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Retail trade; about 17.8% of workers reporting work-from-home (about 2.6 points above the U.S. share (15.2%)); a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Housing and affordability in ZIP 28159

Median home value is about $160,300 — about 54% below the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $744 (about 36% below the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 62.0% (about 3.4 points below the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 28159 in Spencer, NC, a household would need roughly $44,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $1,030. That sits below the local median household income ($63,396), suggesting the typical household income is closer to a workable buy-in level under these assumptions. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Climate risk and migration signals

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for Spencer town, NC as Relatively Moderate (composite score 82.9), which is elevated versus much of the country. The strongest component scores on US5 are flood (84.8) and hurricane (72.4). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for Spencer town, NC show little to no average snow and around 43.7 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 132 for ZIP 28159 (Spencer town, NC) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Nearby (from this ZIP)

Airport USA (26.3 miles (42.4 km)) · Catawba College (2.9 miles (4.6 km)) · Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (44.7 miles (72.0 km)) · VA: Salisbury - W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center (3.2 miles (5.1 km))

Full lists and map pins are in the Infrastructure section below.