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Area data

Locust, NC — ZIP 28097

Population: 8,303 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 28097 (Locust, NC) is $385,616 — up 0.5% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $419,900 after a median 61.5 days on market. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with icestorm, strongwind, tornado the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$385,616

Median home value

+0.5%

1-year change

61.5

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$385,616
1-year appreciation
+0.5%
3-year appreciation
+4.3%
5-year appreciation
+25.8%
10-year appreciation
+108.3%
All-time peak (2026-01)
$387,839
House Price Index (state)
438.2 (+1.0% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$419,900
Median list price
$449,900
Median price per sqft
$186
1-year sale-price change
+13.3%
Median days on market
61.5 days
Homes sold (recent period)
53
For-sale inventory
53
Sale-to-list ratio
98.9%
Active listings
64
1-year forecast
+1.8%
New listings (monthly)
14

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$800/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$810/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$950/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,290/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,520/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Below Average)
92.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
14.0¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.40/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
2
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
1
High schools
0
Schools include
Locust Elementary, West Stanly Middle School

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
iceStorm, strongWind, tornado
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively Low · heatWave: Relatively Low · hurricane: Relatively Low
FEMA flood zone
X
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 26% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
80.5%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Ram Leather Care (13 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
45.2 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
6.2 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
13,782
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
18,048

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
2
Nearest national park
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (57 mi)
National parks include
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Kings Mountain National Military Park
Airports within 30 mi
40
Nearest airport
Tucker Field (4 mi)
Nearest major airport
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA) (19 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
4
Hospitals include
CAROLINAS MEDICAL CENTER-NORTHEAST, STANLY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, ATRIUM HEALTH UNIVERSITY CITY
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.3 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Good (4.5 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+490 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
2,001
Housing built before 1970
17.9%
Housing built 2000 or later
51.0%
Median annual property tax
$2,010
Mean commute to work
26 min
Households with broadband internet
78.5%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
17,953
Average weekly wage
$804
Top industries (by employment)
Administrative Services, Accommodation & Food, Health Care
Annual residential building permits (county)
367

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 28097State medianUS median
Median home value$385,616$287,250$289,727
Median sale price$419,900$330,000$325,000
Median days on market62 days70 days51 days
Median annual property tax$2,010$1,366$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 28097?
$385,616.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 28097?
$419,900.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 28097?
Median days on market: 61.5 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 28097?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $950/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 28097?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: iceStorm, strongWind, tornado.
Is ZIP 28097 in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 28097?
Risk to homes is higher than 26% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 28097?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 28097?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 28097?
2 schools (1 elementary, 1 middle) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 28097 walkable?
Walkability index: 6.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 28097?
Regional Price Parity: 92.5 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

Selling a home in Locust, NC?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents