PlainZIP

Gaston, SC · standard

ZIP Code 29053

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

18,830
90/sq mi
$56,703
Median income
$126,300
Median home value
12.4%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Gaston pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

24th pct
household income, US ZIPs
19th pct
home value, US ZIPs
90
people per sq mi
72%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29053 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 29053 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gaston, Lexington County, South Carolina, home to 18,830 residents across 210.4 square miles, a density of 90 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 29053 reports a modest median household income of $56,703 (11% below the South Carolina average), while per-capita income is $25,002. Poverty here runs at 21.4%, with unemployment measured at 6.6%. Median home value sits at $126,300 (44% below the state average), median rent at $1,000 a month, and owner-occupancy at 71.6%.

Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.9, and the average commute is 28 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 5 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 29053, plus 6 more within Lexington County, give a clearer read than the national average 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 29053

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gaston, SC

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29053.

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 29053, Gaston, SC · 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

18,830

Population

210.4

Area (sq mi)

90

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 29053?

35.9

Median Age

48.4%

Male

51.6%

Female

9.0%

Foreign-Born

White 58.2%
African American 20.5%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 15.2%
Hispanic or Latino 21.4%

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?

$56,703

Median Household Income

-11% vs state

$25,002

Per Capita Income

21.4%

Poverty Rate

6.6%

Unemployment Rate

27.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 29053 ranks nationally

Gaston, SC household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$56,703 24th percentile higher than 24% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 48.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 12.4%

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

What does housing look like?

8,843

Total Housing Units

7,941

Occupied Units

902

Vacant Units

2.65

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 71.6%
Renter 28.4%

$126,300

Median Home Value

-44% vs state

$1,000

Median Rent

1994

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

+19.6%

YoY Change (2024)

228

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+128%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 29053 have increased 19.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +128% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.6% 145
2021 +7.2% 155
2022 +16.0% 180
2023 +5.7% 190
2024 +19.6% 228

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 176 business establishments in ZIP 29053, employing approximately 3,226 people with a combined annual payroll of $173,314,000.

176

Businesses

3,226

Employees

$173.3M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 42 23.9%
Retail trade 33 18.8%
Other services (except public administration) 18 10.2%
Transportation and warehousing 16 9.1%
Manufacturing 12 6.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 12 6.8%
Accommodation and food services 11 6.3%
Wholesale trade 8 4.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 6 3.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 5 2.8%
Health care and social assistance 5 2.8%

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 29053 vs 29172 →

ZIP 29053 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 29053 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 29053 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 29053 ranks #6 of 6 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
29172 West Columbia, SC 9,293 5.6 mi
29160 Swansea, SC 8,255 6.3 mi
29033 Cayce, SC 11,603 9.1 mi
29170 West Columbia, SC 19,988 8.3 mi
29209 Columbia, SC 33,324 10.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Lexington County

29072 standard
Lexington, SC
Pop: 49,566
29073 standard
Lexington, SC
Pop: 40,775
29212 standard
Columbia, SC
Pop: 28,798
29169 standard
West Columbia, SC
Pop: 22,845
29170 standard
West Columbia, SC
Pop: 19,988
29036 standard
Chapin, SC
Pop: 19,140

Related Areas

Lexington County Gaston, SC South Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 29053 in? ▼
ZIP code 29053 (Gaston) is located in Lexington County, South Carolina. Lexington County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/lexington-sc.
What is the population of ZIP code 29053? ▼
ZIP code 29053 in Gaston, SC has a population of 18,830 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29053? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 29053 is $56,703, which is 26% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29053? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 29053 is $126,300, which is 55% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29053? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 29053 is White at 58.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 21.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29053? ▼
ZIP code 29053 has 176 business establishments employing approximately 3,226 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29053? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29053 are: Construction (42), Retail trade (33), Other services (except public administration) (18). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29053? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29053 increased by 19.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 128%. 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 29053? ▼
In ZIP code 29053, 48.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.4% 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 29053? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29053 is 27.5 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 29053? ▼
In ZIP code 29053, approximately 71.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29053? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29053 is 21.4% 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.