Locust is a city in Stanly County, North Carolina, home to about 5,840 people across 8.1 square miles. Its ZIP code is 28097, and parts of 28107, 28124 and 28163 are in Locust too.
Homes sold for a median of $174 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.
Mostly Locust; also Red Cross
Mostly Midland; part is in Locust
Part is in Locust, part in Mount Pleasant
Part is in Locust, part in Stanfield and Oakboro
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Locust. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Locust’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Locust well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)29 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA)17 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Charlotte, NC23 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA437 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Locust; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Locust had 4,537 residents in the 2020 census, up 88% since 2000.
It’s the 153rd largest of 771 towns in North Carolina by population.
Stanly County grew from 15,220 residents in 1900 to 62,504 in 2020.
Stanly County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 92°F in summer, and winter lows average 29°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 3 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Concord, NC weather station (13 miles away).
18,013 jobs at 1,459 businesses in Stanly County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
45 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Locust.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 9 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 6 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 13 |
| Mental health providers | 9 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 6 |
| Chiropractors | 2 |
| Pharmacies | 5 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (1 nearby)
Grocery stores (2 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Stanly County Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locust ElementaryLocust | K–5 | 563 | Public | 1.2 mi |
| West Stanly Middle SchoolLocust | 6–8 | 662 | Public | 3.1 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Christian SchoolLocust | Pre-K–12 | 232 | Presbyterian | 1.3 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Locust? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Midland, Stanfield, Mount Pleasant, Red Cross, Fairview Town and Oakboro.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.