Zip Code 28043
Forest City, North Carolina — Rutherford County
📍 ZIP code 28043 is in Forest City, Rutherford County, North Carolina.
ZIP code 28043 is located in Forest City, Rutherford County, North Carolina. It is a zip code in the Eastern (EST/EDT) Time Zone with an estimated population of 20,896. The area code for ZIP code 28043 is 704.
Quick Answer
Zip code 28043 is in Forest City, North Carolina (Rutherford County). It has a population of 20,896, median household income of $41,746, and median home value of $176,100.
Population
20,896
Income
$41,746
Home Value
$176,100
Climate
89°F / 27°F
About Zip Code 28043
Zip code 28043 is located in Forest City, North Carolina, within Rutherford County. Home to approximately 20,896 residents, this area sits at an elevation of 939 ft and falls within the Eastern (EST/EDT) timezone. The local area code is 704.
The median household income is $41,746 per year, which is below the national median of $70,784. Homes in this zip code have a median value of $176,100, and the cost of living index is 60 (40% below the national average of 100).
Summers average a high of 89°F while winters drop to 27°F. The area receives about 52 in of rain and 5 in of snow annually. The zip code covers 63.4 square miles of land area and 0.1 square miles of water.
Key Statistics
20,896
$41,746
$176,100
Eastern (EST/EDT)
704
939 ft
63.4 sq mi
40.3
9,356
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Compare With Nearby Zip Codes
| Metric | 28043 | 28160 | 28019 | 28076 | 28139 | 28114 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | Forest City, NC | Rutherfordton, NC | Caroleen, NC | Henrietta, NC | Rutherfordton, NC | Mooresboro, NC |
| Population | 20,896 | 3,825 | 0 | 273 | 18,887 | 7,568 |
| Median Income | $41,746 | $38,625 | $0 | $0 | $52,148 | $60,439 |
| Home Value | $176,100 | $121,300 | $0 | $0 | $195,300 | $132,400 |
| Cost of Living | 60 | 60 | 100 | 100 | 68 | 60 |
| Median Age | 40.3 | 46.6 | -666666666 | 49.9 | 49.1 | 41.9 |
Cost of Living
100 = National Average. Forest City's cost of living is 40% below the national average.
vs. State Avg
Below
Affordability
Very Affordable
Income-to-Home
4.2x
Demographics
Zip code 28043 has a population of 20,896 people with a median age of 40.3. There are 9,356 housing units in this area.
Racial & Ethnic Composition
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates.
Population History
Forest City (28043) population trend from 2010 to 2024
↓ -1.5%Source: U.S. Census Bureau estimates and American Community Survey data.
Climate & Weather
89°F
27°F
52 in
5 in
Forest City experiences warm summers with average highs around 89°F. Winters are cool with lows averaging 27°F. The area receives about 5 in of snow per year.
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Housing & Economy
Median Home Value
$176,100
Median Household Income
$41,746
With 9,356 housing units across 63.4 square miles, 28043 has a housing density of 148 units per square mile. The home price-to-income ratio is 4.2x.
Location & Geography
Latitude
35.3062°
Longitude
-81.8726°
Land Area
63.4 sq mi
Water Area
0.1 sq mi
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip codes closest to 28043 (Forest City, NC) with distances:
ZIP Codes with Similar Income Nationwide
The five U.S. ZIP codes whose median household income is closest to 28043's $41,746. A way to compare Forest City to economically similar communities elsewhere in the country.
Computed from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates by the Zip Code Near Me Data Team.
ZIP Codes with Similar Demographics
The five U.S. ZIP codes whose racial and ethnic composition most closely matches 28043 (Forest City, NC). Similarity is measured by cosine distance on the five-category ACS demographic vector.
Computed from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates by the Zip Code Near Me Data Team.
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People Also Ask
What zip code is Forest City, North Carolina?
Forest City, North Carolina uses zip code 28043.
What county is zip code 28043 in?
Zip code 28043 is located in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
What is the population of zip code 28043?
The population of zip code 28043 is 20,896 with a median age of 40.3.
Is 28043 in Forest City, North Carolina?
Yes, zip code 28043 is in Forest City, Rutherford County, North Carolina. The area code is 704.
Frequently Asked Questions
What city is zip code 28043 in?
Zip code 28043 is in Forest City, North Carolina. It is part of Rutherford County and uses the Eastern (EST/EDT) timezone.
What is zip code 28043?
Zip code 28043 is a U.S. postal code in Forest City, North Carolina (Rutherford County). It has a population of 20,896 and covers 63.4 square miles.
What is the population of zip code 28043?
The population of zip code 28043 (Forest City, NC) is 20,896 with a median age of 40.3. There are approximately 9,356 housing units in this area.
What is the median income in zip code 28043?
The median household income in zip code 28043 (Forest City, NC) is $41,746 per year. The cost of living index is 60 (100 = national average).
What is the average home price in zip code 28043?
The median home value in zip code 28043 (Forest City, NC) is $176,100. The cost of living index is 60 compared to the national average of 100.
What county is zip code 28043 in?
Zip code 28043 is located in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The primary city is Forest City.
What is the area code for zip code 28043?
Zip code 28043 in Forest City, NC uses area code 704. It is located in the Eastern (EST/EDT) timezone.
Is zip code 28043 a good place to live?
Zip code 28043 (Forest City, NC) has a cost of living index of 60 (100 = national average), a median household income of $41,746, and median home values of $176,100. The median age is 40.3. Visit the full page for demographics, climate, and nearby zip code comparisons.
What is the cost of living in zip code 28043?
The cost of living index for zip code 28043 (Forest City, NC) is 60, where 100 represents the national average. This area is below the national average. Median home value: $176,100.
What schools serve zip code 28043?
Zip code 28043 in Forest City, North Carolina is served by the local school district of Rutherford County. For specific school information, check your state's department of education or GreatSchools.org.
All demographic data on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. ZIP code boundary and delivery data is sourced from the United States Postal Service (USPS). Data is updated periodically and may not reflect the most current figures. Census Bureau ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) may differ slightly from USPS ZIP code boundaries.
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Data Sources
- Population, income, housing, age, and demographics
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2019-2023 vintage.
- ZIP to city and county mapping
- USPS and HUD-USPS ZIP-County Crosswalk.
- Time zones and area codes
- IANA tz database and NANPA.
- Elevation
- U.S. Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset (NED), via the USGS Elevation Point Query Service. Mapped to each ZCTA centroid coordinates. Last refreshed 2026-05-19.
- Last refreshed
- 2026-05-18.