PlainZIP

Gastonia, NC · standard

ZIP Code 28056

Gaston County, North Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

31,418
255/sq mi
$90,427
Median income
$315,000
Median home value
33.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Gastonia pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 27%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 31%
home value, US ZIPs
255
people per sq mi
79%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 28056 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 28056 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gastonia, Gaston County, North Carolina, with 31,418 residents across 123.2 square miles, a density of 255 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 28056 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $90,427 (31% above the North Carolina average), while per-capita income is $43,607. 9.1% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 3.0%. Median home value sits at $315,000 (21% above the state average), median rent at $1,214 a month, and owner-occupancy at 78.6%.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 33.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.4, and the average commute is 28 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Gaston County, letting you compare 28056 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 28056

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gastonia, NC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 28056.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 28056, 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

31,418

Population

123.2

Area (sq mi)

255

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 28056?

41.4

Median Age

50.2%

Male

49.8%

Female

9.5%

Foreign-Born

White 70.1%
African American 12.8%
Asian 3.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.6%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%

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?

$90,427

Median Household Income

+31% vs state

$43,607

Per Capita Income

9.1%

Poverty Rate

3.0%

Unemployment Rate

28.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 28056 ranks nationally

Gastonia, NC household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$90,427 Top 27% higher than 73% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 58.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

14,919

Total Housing Units

14,033

Occupied Units

886

Vacant Units

2.58

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 78.6%
Renter 21.4%

$315,000

Median Home Value

+21% vs state

$1,214

Median Rent

1988

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

+0.7%

YoY Change (2024)

242

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+142%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 28056 have increased 0.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +142% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.0% 156
2021 +14.2% 178
2022 +24.4% 221
2023 +8.5% 240
2024 +0.7% 242

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 614 business establishments in ZIP 28056, employing approximately 6,992 people with a combined annual payroll of $267,184,000.

614

Businesses

6,992

Employees

$267.2M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 104 16.9%
Construction 82 13.4%
Other services (except public administration) 70 11.4%
Accommodation and food services 59 9.6%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 45 7.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 43 7.0%
Health care and social assistance 43 7.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 37 6.0%
Finance and insurance 29 4.7%
Wholesale trade 28 4.6%
Manufacturing 24 3.9%
Transportation and warehousing 20 3.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 11 1.8%
Utilities 6 1.0%
Information 5 0.8%
Educational services 5 0.8%

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 28056 vs 28032 →

ZIP 28056 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 28056 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 28056 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 28056 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
28032 Cramerton, NC 3,105 2.8 mi
28054 Gastonia, NC 36,270 3.4 mi
28098 Lowell, NC 3,579 4.0 mi
28101 Mc Adenville, NC 698 3.8 mi
28012 Belmont, NC 20,048 4.8 mi
28052 Gastonia, NC 34,932 6.1 mi
28034 Dallas, NC 16,642 9.9 mi
28278 Charlotte, NC 19,283 9.0 mi
29710 Clover, SC 29,449 9.4 mi
28120 Mount Holly, NC 19,807 9.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Gaston County

28054 standard
Gastonia, NC
Pop: 36,270
28052 standard
Gastonia, NC
Pop: 34,932
28012 standard
Belmont, NC
Pop: 20,048
28120 standard
Mount Holly, NC
Pop: 19,807
28034 standard
Dallas, NC
Pop: 16,642
28164 standard
Stanley, NC
Pop: 14,085

Related Areas

Gaston County Gastonia, NC North Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 28056 in? ▼
ZIP code 28056 (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 28056? ▼
ZIP code 28056 in Gastonia, NC has a population of 31,418 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 28056? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 28056 is $90,427, which is 19% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 28056? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 28056 is $315,000, which is 13% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 28056? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 28056 is White at 70.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 28056? ▼
ZIP code 28056 has 614 business establishments employing approximately 6,992 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 28056? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 28056 are: Retail trade (104), Construction (82), Other services (except public administration) (70). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 28056? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 28056 increased by 0.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 142%. 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 28056? ▼
In ZIP code 28056, 58.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 33.4% 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 28056? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 28056 is 28.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 28056? ▼
In ZIP code 28056, approximately 78.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 21.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28056? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 28056 is 9.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

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