City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Gaston, SC

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.

2,026
Residents
$59,500
Median income
$117,900
Median home
$1,276
Median rent (state)

Gaston - the verdict

Nationally, Gaston sits in the 34th percentile for household income and the 10th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

34th
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
44th
percentile, median rent
10th
percentile, safety
📝 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, SC

Gaston is a small town in South Carolina, home to 2,026 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Gaston households earn a median of $59,500 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 20.0%. Home values in Gaston run a median of $117,900, and the median resident age is 36.6 years. 9.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 65.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). Gaston's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 3599.8 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts South Carolina at 93.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,276 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Carolina run around $224, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 90.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

2,026 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$59,500 /yr

Poverty 20.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina 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 34% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 44% pricier than other cities
Safety 10% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to South Carolina alone, Gaston ranks #73 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

South Carolina-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Gaston toward the bottom of South Carolina's cities

Among the 441 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Gaston ranks #361 - the 18th 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
#143 of 403
64th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#118 of 441
59th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#264 of 404
35th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#131 of 439
70th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#361 of 441
18th percentile in South Carolina

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 South Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

34thIncome percentile
10thSafety percentile

34th percentile nationally for median household income · 10th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Gaston's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Gaston's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 38 Avg. percentile National median
Gaston's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Gaston's home value compares nationally

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

$117,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $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, SC Gaston, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gaston, SC-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, SC median $59,500/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, SC'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, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.9%

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

Population
2,026
Median Income
$59,500
Median Home Value
$117,900
Median Age
36.6
Poverty Rate
20.0%
Labor force participation
65.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3599.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
366.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3233.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,600 residents1,620 residents1,640 residents1,660 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,616 residents 1,651 residents ▲ +2.2%
Gaston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

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

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.5%
Carpool
11.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.5%
Work from Home
8.2%
Other
1.7%

Based on 1,013 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,276/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Arial
2,024 people
Cowpens
2,031 people
Fairfax
2,037 people
Shell Point
2,005 people
Mayo
1,963 people
Hopkins
1,962 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gaston's 2,026 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mexico, ME
2,026 people
Jermyn, PA
2,026 people
Lakesite, TN
2,026 people
Lopezville, TX
2,026 people
Kensett, AR
2,027 people
Decatur, MS
2,025 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gaston's $59,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

El Centro Naval Air Facility, CA
$59,500 median income
Hanaford, IL
$59,500 median income
Kinderhook, IL
$59,500 median income
Bunker Hill, KS
$59,500 median income
Delton, MI
$59,500 median income
Fairfield, NE
$59,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gaston, SC 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, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 71.3% 16.3% 8.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.8% White 71.3% Black or African American 16.3% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.3% Two or more races 8.3% 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 South Carolina 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) 2,026 $59,500
Arial 2,024 $50,132
Cowpens 2,031 $37,168
Fairfax 2,037 $41,328
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gaston, SC?

What is the population of Gaston, SC? +

Gaston, SC has a population of 2,026 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Gaston is $59,500 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 South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Gaston, SC safe? +

Gaston has a total crime rate of 3599.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

A typical home in Gaston is worth $117,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.