This data is based on ZIP codes 28612, 28655, 28671, 28690, which covers Valdese and Connelly Springs and Drexel and Glen Alpine and Hildebran and Morganton and Rhodhiss and Rutherford College.
The U.S. Census reports business data by ZIP code, not city boundaries. All numbers reflect the combined ZIP codes 28612, 28655, 28671, 28690 area shared across these towns.
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Valdese ZIP Area Economy · 2023
Wages -4% vs. avg. Burke Co. town
Valdese's ZIP area supports 22,179 jobs across 1,323 businesses, with workers earning an average of $45K per year, 4% below the Burke County average. The economy is well-diversified (0.86 index), led by retail trade and healthcare. 85.2% of businesses have fewer than 20 employees, and each business employs an average of 16.8 people. Jobs grew 3.1% from the prior year while business count grew 1.8%.
Where Businesses Clusteri
Larger blocks have more businesses.
Local Specialization vs. Burke Avg.i
Industries sorted by relative concentration in this ZIP area.
Business Size Distributioni
1,323 businesses by employee count. 85.2% are small businesses (under 20 employees).
Micro (<5)
Small (5-9)
Small (10-19)
Medium (20-49)
Large (100-249)
Medium (50-99)
Major (250-499)
Major (500-999)
Economic Densityi
2.00+
jobs per resident
Capped: ZIP includes employers outside city limits
16.8
employees per business
County avg: 16.6+1%
$213K
payroll per resident
$756K
payroll per business
Valdese ZIP Area vs. Avg. Burke Co. Towni
All Industries in ZIP Areai
| Sector | Valdese ZIP | Avg. Burke Co. | Spec. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 223 | 176 | 1.0x |
| Healthcare | 165 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Other Services | 155 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Food & Accommodation | 145 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Construction | 124 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Professional Services | 86 | 85 | 0.8x |
| Manufacturing | 81 | 64 | 1.0x |
| Admin Services | 64 | 52 | 1.0x |
| Real Estate | 58 | 50 | 0.9x |
| Finance & Insurance | 58 | 56 | 0.8x |
| Wholesale Trade | 40 | 45 | 0.7x |
| Transportation | 30 | 27 | 0.9x |
| Information | 17 | 14 | 1.0x |
| Arts & Entertainment | 13 | 16 | 0.6x |
| Management | 8 | 7 | 0.9x |
| Education | 7 | 8 | 0.7x |
| Utilities | 5 | 4 | 1.0x |
| Agriculture | 3 | 2 | 1.2x |