What is the largest city in Rowan County, NC?

Salisbury is the largest city or town in Rowan County, with about 35,825 residents.

How many ZIP codes are in Rowan County?

Rowan County includes 15 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27013, 27054, 28023, 28039, 28041.

What is the population of Rowan County, NC?

About 149,875 people live in Rowan County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

What counties border Rowan County?

Rowan County borders Cabarrus County, Iredell County, Davidson County, Stanly County, Davie County.

Rowan County, NC: Cities, ZIP Codes & Local Data

Population

149,875

Land area

512sq mi

People per sq mi

293

ZIP codes

15

Rowan County at a glance

Rowan County is 33% denser than North Carolina as a whole.
It is the 20th most populous of 100 counties in North Carolina.
Households here earn a median of $65,725 a year, 9% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $238,400 (17% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,013 a month.
The biggest population centers are Salisbury (35,825), China Grove (4,530) and Landis (3,765).

Local data for Rowan County, NC

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Rowan County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$65,725

Poverty rate

16.0%

Median home value

$238,400

Prices +4.1% in a year

Median rent

$1,013/mo

Homeownership

72.3%

Bachelor's or higher

23.3%

Median age

40.4

Average commute

26.2 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (21,448), Irish Americans (11,879), Mexican Americans (11,387).

Home values and rents Income, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans

Details

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$60,925

51,121 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$51,712

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$1.09B

FY 2026, $7,420 per person

PPP loans

$192M

2,461 loans, 23,097 jobs reported

Campaign donations

$459K

Itemized, 2026 cycle

Economy Federal spending PPP loans

How people get to work

Rowan County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

Drove alone78.0%
Carpooled10.2%
Public transit0.6%
Walked0.9%
Bicycle0.2%
Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.7%
Worked from home8.4%

Average one-way commute: 26.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Rowan County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: ice storm

Storm events since 1996

609

Most often thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

188

0.3% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

88° / 29°F

43.7 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm history Check a flood zone 38 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Rowan County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

37.4%

U.S. 33.3% +4.1 pts

Diabetes

12.7%

U.S. 12.1% +0.6 pts

Smoking

15.9%

U.S. 12.8% +3.1 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

11.7%

U.S. 11.1% +0.6 pts

Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Rowan County

Population shown

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Rowan County, NC?: Salisbury is the largest city or town in Rowan County, with about 35,825 residents.
How many ZIP codes are in Rowan County?: Rowan County includes 15 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27013, 27054, 28023, 28039, 28041.
What is the population of Rowan County, NC?: About 149,875 people live in Rowan County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What counties border Rowan County?: Rowan County borders Cabarrus County, Iredell County, Davidson County, Stanly County, Davie County.