Checked
ZIP Code 28043
Forest City, NC, Rutherford County
Population
20,930
Land area
66.3sq mi
People per sq mi
316
City
Forest City
ZIP 28043 and nearby ZIP codes
ZIP 28043 at a glance
- ZIP 28043 (Forest City) is 43% denser than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $42,276 a year, 42% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $175,400 (39% below North Carolina) and median rent is $783 a month.
Local data for ZIP 28043
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
ZIP 28043, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$42,276
Poverty rate
22.3%
Median home value
$175,400
Prices +2.6% in a year
Median rent
$783/mo
Homeownership
64.4%
Bachelor's or higher
18.5%
Median age
40.1
Average commute
23.6 min
Economy and federal money
Businesses, pandemic loans and political donations
Business establishments
506
ZIP Business Patterns 2023
Employees
7,997
$308M annual payroll
PPP loans
$22.15M
343 loans
Campaign donations
$29.32K
10% D, 58% R, 2026 cycle
Environment and hazard risk
ZIP 28043, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
601
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
102
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 27°F
52.1 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in ZIP 28043, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.0%
U.S. 33.3% +6.7 pts
Diabetes
15.2%
U.S. 12.1% +3.1 pts
Smoking
19.2%
U.S. 12.8% +6.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.9%
U.S. 11.1% +1.8 pts
Cities in ZIP 28043
ZIP codes near 28043
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| 28160Spindale | 4.3 mi | 5.5 |
| 28019Caroleen | 4.9 mi | 0.1 |
| 28074Henrietta | 5.4 mi | 0.1 |
| 28076Henrietta | 5.5 mi | 1 |
| 28024Cliffside | 7.6 mi | 0.3 |
| 28139Rutherfordton | 7.9 mi | 181.9 |
| 28114Cliffside | 8.4 mi | 65.6 |
| 28040Ellenboro | 8.9 mi | 67.8 |
| 28018Bostic | 11 mi | 99.5 |
| 28782Rutherfordton | 11 mi | 49.1 |
| 28089Lattimore | 12 mi | 0.4 |
| 28017Boiling Springs | 12 mi | 0.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What city is ZIP code 28043?
- ZIP code 28043 is in Forest City, NC (Rutherford County).
- What county is ZIP code 28043 in?
- ZIP code 28043 is mostly in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
- How many people live in ZIP code 28043?
- About 20,930 people live in the 28043 ZIP Code Tabulation Area, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas closely match, but are not identical to, USPS ZIP code delivery areas.