At a Glance
Median Income
$59,500
$26,712 per capita
Home Value
$117,900
Zillow: $158,297
Median Rent
$920/mo
23.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
366/100K
3,234/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
9.2%
85.8% high school+
Unemployment
1.7%
20.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.2%
19.0% smoking rate
How Gaston Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Gaston's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Gaston a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.8 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Gaston residents earn a median household income of $59,500 , which is 21% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $26,712. The unemployment rate stands at 1.7% (53% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 20.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 8,854 business establishments, including 628 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Gaston is $117,900 , 58% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $158,297. Median rent is $920/month, with 23.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 93.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1988.
Safety & Crime
Gaston reports 366 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 4% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,234/100K.
Education
9.2% of adults in Gaston hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(73% below the national average).
85.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Gaston has an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C).
Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 45.2 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population2,026
Median Age36.6 yrs
Density381/mi²
Male / Female52% / 48%
Foreign Born11.0%
Veterans9.3%
Economy
B+
Median Income$59,500
Per Capita$26,712
Unemployment1.7%
Poverty20.0%
County GDP$19,752M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,077
Housing
A+
Home Value$117,900
Rent$920
Ownership62.7%
Zillow$158,297
Housing Units886
Rent Burden23.8%
Crime
F
Violent366/100K
Property3,234/100K
Health
Obesity40.2%
Diabetes13.3%
Smoking19.0%
Heart Disease6.8%
Premature Death8,865/100K
Climate
Avg Temp64°F
Rain45.2 in/yr
Elevation483 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+9.2%
High School+85.8%
Graduate+3.2%
School Score5.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 66% / D 33%
Commute27 min
Broadband91.4%
Internet Speed203 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries11
Did You Know?
The median home in Gaston was built in 1988.
The nearest airport is Aiken Regional (36 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.432 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
12.3% of the population has a disability.
11.0% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 203 Mbps.
There are 628 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 41 fatal vehicle crashes.