ZIP 28160 vs ZIP 28040

28160 is one of 12 ZIP codes that lie mostly in Rutherford County, NC.

Shaded by typical home value, it ranks 7 of the 7 with a value.

2 school locations in 28160: 1 elementary, 1 other.

In alphabetical order: Rutherford Early College High School, Spindale Elementary School. Locations only — no ratings are shown here.

28040 is one of 12 ZIP codes that lie mostly in Rutherford County, NC — 96% of its own area is in the county.

Shaded by typical home value, it ranks 6 of the 7 with a value.

1 school location in 28040: 1 elementary.

In alphabetical order: Ellenboro Elementary School. Locations only — no ratings are shown here.

In January 2000 the typical home in 28160 was worth $44,855.

Values peaked at $157,763 in June 2024. The latest reading is −6.5% from that peak.

As of August 2026: $147,503, +4.4% over twelve months.

Start with the typical home: $147,503. Put 20% down and borrow $118,002 at 7.40%, the 30-year fixed average as of October 8, 2026.

That is $817 a month in principal and interest.

The median household here earns $38,625 a year, $3,219 a month. So the payment takes 25.4% of income — rated “affordable” (Lotvox ZIP bands: under 28% affordable · 28–36% stretched · 36%+ severe).

The line holds today's rate fixed and moves only the price: at that rate, the same share was 7.7% in 2000.

Take the typical home's price each month, borrow 80% at that month's actual 30-year average rate: in January 2000 (8.21%) the payment was $269.

In December 2020, with rates at 2.68%, it was $338.

By August 2026, at 6.67%, it was $759 — +124% since December 2020, while the home's value moved +41%.

Reported values rose +229% since January 2000.

General prices (CPI-U) rose +97% over the same span.

Divide one by the other: in August 2026 dollars, the 2000 home was worth $88,526. So the real change is +67%, not +229%.

28160: +229% since January 2000.

Rutherford County: +187% since January 2000.

North Carolina: +156% since January 2000 — 28160 ran ahead of it by 73 points.

Owning the typical home costs about $965 a month once taxes and insurance (estimated at 1.2% of price a year) are added. Renting runs about $674 a month.

Price divided by a year's rent: 18.2. Lotvox reads under 15 as favoring buying and 20 or more as favoring renting.

In January 2000 the typical home in 28040 was worth $66,507.

Values peaked at $192,456 in July 2024. The latest reading is −3.1% from that peak.

As of August 2026: $186,459, +3.6% over twelve months.

Start with the typical home: $186,459. Put 20% down and borrow $149,167 at 7.40%, the 30-year fixed average as of October 8, 2026.

That is $1,033 a month in principal and interest.

The median household here earns $57,989 a year, $4,832 a month. So the payment takes 21.4% of income — rated “affordable” (Lotvox ZIP bands: under 28% affordable · 28–36% stretched · 36%+ severe).

The line holds today's rate fixed and moves only the price: at that rate, the same share was 7.6% in 2000.

Take the typical home's price each month, borrow 80% at that month's actual 30-year average rate: in January 2000 (8.21%) the payment was $398.

In December 2020, with rates at 2.68%, it was $465.

By August 2026, at 6.67%, it was $959 — +106% since December 2020, while the home's value moved +30%.

Reported values rose +180% since January 2000.

General prices (CPI-U) rose +97% over the same span.

Divide one by the other: in August 2026 dollars, the 2000 home was worth $131,258. So the real change is +42%, not +180%.

28040: +180% since January 2000.

Rutherford County: +187% since January 2000.

North Carolina: +156% since January 2000 — 28040 ran ahead of it by 24 points.

Owning the typical home costs about $1,219 a month once taxes and insurance (estimated at 1.2% of price a year) are added. Renting runs about $671 a month.

Price divided by a year's rent: 23.2. Lotvox reads under 15 as favoring buying and 20 or more as favoring renting.

Homes sold: about 3 a month in August 2026 (Redfin).

The 2015–2019 level for the same month was 2 — so sales ran at 150% of it, and below it in 0 of the last 24 months.

Across Rutherford County, builders pulled permits for 269 new homes in 2025.

Of those, 75% were in 1-unit buildings (the Census Bureau's category for detached and attached single homes).

Picture the Listings Flow Ladder as a basin: new listings pour in from the faucet, the homes for sale are the water, and closed sales run out the drain. Coming in — new listings: about 8 a month (Redfin, 3-month rolling data through August 2026).

On the shelf — homes for sale at the end of the period: 28.

Going out — closed sales: about 7 a month.

The ladder: homes for sale ÷ monthly sales = 3.8 months of supply — below the 4–6 month range Lotvox treats as balanced. In the basin, that is the water level against the shaded balanced band.

The net reading: about 0 more homes came on than sold each month, so inventory is growing. The basin is filling.

Homes sold: about 7 a month in August 2026 (Redfin).

The 2015–2019 level for the same month was 2 — so sales ran at 350% of it, and below it in 0 of the last 24 months.

Across Rutherford County, builders pulled permits for 269 new homes in 2025.

Of those, 75% were in 1-unit buildings (the Census Bureau's category for detached and attached single homes).

This ZIP sits in Rutherford County. IRS tax returns for 2022-2023: among the ten counties sending the most households, 673 moved in. Among the ten receiving the most, 567 moved out.

Net across those counties: +106 households. Beside it, homes for sale in this ZIP: 21 in June 2026.

Most arrivals came from Cleveland, NC (171 households); most departures went to Cleveland, NC (166).

This ZIP sits in Rutherford County. IRS tax returns for 2022-2023: among the ten counties sending the most households, 673 moved in. Among the ten receiving the most, 567 moved out.

Net across those counties: +106 households. Beside it, homes for sale in this ZIP: 28 in June 2026.

Most arrivals came from Cleveland, NC (171 households); most departures went to Cleveland, NC (166).