Gastonia, NC · standard
ZIP Code 28054
Gaston County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 36,270
- 700/sq mi High-density area
- $61,035
- Median income Below-median income area
- $245,100
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 22.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Gastonia pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 31st pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 44%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 700
- people per sq mi
- 47%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28054 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 28054 (Gastonia, NC) rose +6.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 243.8 in 2023 to 259.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 28054 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina, with 36,270 residents across 51.8 square miles, a density of 700 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 28054 reports a modest median household income of $61,035 (12% below the average North Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,995. The poverty rate is 15.3%, with unemployment at 5.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $245,100 (6% below the average North Carolina ZIP) and median rent is $1,215; 46.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.2, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Gaston County, so 28054 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 28054
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gastonia, NC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28054.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
280 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
156 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 109
Other services (except public administration)
109 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 100
Accommodation and food services
100 establishments
- Construction 77
Construction
77 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 28054, Gastonia, NC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
36,270
Population
51.8
Area (sq mi)
700
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 28054?
36.2
Median Age
46.7%
Male
53.3%
Female
7.3%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$61,035
Median Household Income
-12% vs state ZIP avg
$33,995
Per Capita Income
15.3%
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
24.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 28054 ranks nationally
Gastonia, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$61,035 31st percentile higher than 31% of 30,318 US ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. 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 · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
18,564housing units
18,564
Total Housing Units
17,379
Occupied Units
1,185
Vacant Units
2.35
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$245,100
Median Home Value
-6% vs state ZIP avg
$1,215
Median Rent
1979
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+6.4%
YoY Change (2024)
259
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+159%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 28054 have increased 6.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +159% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.0% | 161 |
| 2021 | +16.8% | 188 |
| 2022 | +21.8% | 229 |
| 2023 | +6.5% | 244 |
| 2024 | +6.4% | 259 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 1,113 business establishments in ZIP 28054, employing approximately 20,820 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,109,524,000.
1,113
Businesses
20,820
Employees
$1.1B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 280 | 25.2% |
| Retail trade | 156 | 14.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 109 | 9.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 100 | 9.0% |
| Construction | 77 | 6.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 63 | 5.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 60 | 5.4% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 57 | 5.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 48 | 4.3% |
| Manufacturing | 42 | 3.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 37 | 3.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 29 | 2.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 28 | 2.5% |
| Information | 11 | 1.0% |
| Educational services | 7 | 0.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 0.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 28054 vs 28098 →
ZIP 28054 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28054
Gastonia (28054)
36,270 residents
- 28052
Gastonia (28052)
34,932 residents
- 28056
Gastonia (28056)
31,418 residents
- 28012
Belmont (28012)
20,048 residents
- 28120
Mount Holly (28120)
19,807 residents
- 28034
Dallas (28034)
16,642 residents
- 28016 13,463
Bessemer City (28016)
13,463 residents
- 28098 3,579
Lowell (28098)
3,579 residents
- 28032 3,105
Cramerton (28032)
3,105 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28054 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 28054 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 28101
Mc Adenville (28101)
$111,042 median income
- 28056
Gastonia (28056)
$90,427 median income
- 28012
Belmont (28012)
$83,391 median income
- 28120
Mount Holly (28120)
$78,231 median income
- 28034
Dallas (28034)
$62,083 median income
- 28054
Gastonia (28054)
$61,035 median income
- 28032
Cramerton (28032)
$60,924 median income
- 28016
Bessemer City (28016)
$57,147 median income
- 28098
Lowell (28098)
$53,000 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 28054 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28098 | Lowell, NC | 3,579 | 3.0 mi |
| 28056 | Gastonia, NC | 31,418 | 3.4 mi |
| 28101 | Mc Adenville, NC | 698 | 4.0 mi |
| 28032 | Cramerton, NC | 3,105 | 4.4 mi |
| 28034 | Dallas, NC | 16,642 | 6.5 mi |
| 28052 | Gastonia, NC | 34,932 | 5.4 mi |
| 28012 | Belmont, NC | 20,048 | 7.2 mi |
| 28120 | Mount Holly, NC | 19,807 | 8.5 mi |
| 28016 | Bessemer City, NC | 13,463 | 8.7 mi |
| 28077 | High Shoals, NC | 482 | 10.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 28054, both outside NC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (36,270 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Gaston County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 28054 in?
ZIP code 28054 (Gastonia) is located in Gaston County, North Carolina. Gaston County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/gaston-nc.
What is the population of ZIP code 28054?
ZIP code 28054 in Gastonia, NC has a population of 36,270 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28054?
The median household income in ZIP 28054 is $61,035, which is 20% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28054?
The median home value in ZIP 28054 is $245,100, which is 12% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28054?
The largest racial group in ZIP 28054 is White at 55.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28054?
ZIP code 28054 has 1,113 business establishments employing approximately 20,820 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28054?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28054 are: Health care and social assistance (280), Retail trade (156), Other services (except public administration) (109). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28054?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28054 increased by 6.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 159%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 28054?
In ZIP code 28054, 52.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 28054?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28054 is 24.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28054?
In ZIP code 28054, approximately 46.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 53.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28054?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28054 is 15.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 28054's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 28054 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Gastonia, NC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.