Gaston town, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Gaston town is a small community located in South Carolina. The total population is 2,026. It ranks as the 196th most populous out of 475 cities and towns in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gaston town is 36.6 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gaston town is $59,500. This is 11% lower than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 24% lower. The poverty rate stands at 24.3%. This is 71% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $117,900. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $236,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Gaston town is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 62.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gaston town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 16.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (13.8% vs 7.1%). The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

9.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 71% lower than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gaston town, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in South Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.