City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Gaston, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Gaston - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

709
Residents
$49,417
Median income
$87,300
Median home
$1,043
Median rent (state)

Gaston - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Gaston lands in the 19th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

19th
percentile, household income
6th
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Gaston, IN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 709 residents in Gaston, a small town within Indiana. The typical household in Gaston brings in $49,417 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.9%. Gaston's housing stock carries a median value of $87,300, and the median resident age is 36.2 years. About 15.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Gaston (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: the state registers 93.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,043 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Indiana run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Gaston report an average commute of 24.8 minutes, with 70.4% driving alone and 1.6% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 76.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

709 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$49,417 /yr

Poverty 9.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Gaston compare to other US cities?

Gaston measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 6% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Gaston against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Indiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Indiana-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Gaston toward the bottom of Indiana's cities

Among the 771 Indiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Gaston ranks #661 - the 14th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Gaston only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#610 of 766
20th percentile in Indiana
Median Gross Rent
#407 of 850
51st percentile in Indiana
Median Home Value
#661 of 771
14th percentile in Indiana
Poverty Rate
#302 of 849
64th percentile in Indiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#427 of 850
50th percentile in Indiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Indiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

19thIncome percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Gaston's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$87,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 94% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Gaston $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Gaston, IN Gaston, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gaston, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Gaston, IN median $49,417/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Gaston, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Gaston, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
709
Median Income
$49,417
Median Home Value
$87,300
Median Age
36.2
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Labor force participation
58.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.0%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
795 residents800 residents805 residents810 residents 202020212022202320242025 797 residents 806 residents ▲ +1.1%
Gaston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 1
2022 0
2023 1
2024 1

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
24.8 minutes
Drive Alone
70.4%
Carpool
13.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
7.8%
Work from Home
1.6%
Other
6.8%

Based on 321 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Gaston sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,043/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
76.3 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Harmony
708 people
Clarks Hill
706 people
Boswell
703 people
Cromwell
703 people
Fountain City
718 people
Shoals
700 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gaston's 709 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Notus, ID
709 people
Armstrong, IA
709 people
Paradis, LA
709 people
St. Joseph, LA
709 people
Vineland, MN
709 people
Heidelberg, MS
709 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gaston's $49,417 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Royal City, WA
$49,417 median income
Huntingdon, TN
$49,421 median income
Haughton, LA
$49,411 median income
Clendenin, WV
$49,423 median income
Exeter, PA
$49,432 median income
Morganton, NC
$49,434 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gaston, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Gaston, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.0% 10.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.2% White 89.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 10.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Gaston compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Gaston (this city) 709 $49,417
Harmony 708 $53,650
Clarks Hill 706 $45,875
Boswell 703 $49,091
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gaston, IN?

What is the population of Gaston, IN? +

The population of Gaston, IN stands at 709 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Gaston, IN? +

In Gaston, the typical household earns $49,417 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gaston? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Gaston; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Gaston, IN? +

Homes in Gaston carry a median value of $87,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.