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 Moderate-density area
- $56,703
- Median income Below-median income area
- $126,300
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 12.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 29053 (Gaston, SC) rose +19.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 190.2 in 2023 to 227.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $25,002. The poverty rate is 21.4%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $126,300 (44% below the average South Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $1,000; owner occupancy is 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. The page also surfaces 5 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Lexington County, so 29053 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 29053
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gaston, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29053.
- Construction
Construction
42 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
33 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
18 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing 16
Transportation and warehousing
16 establishments
- Manufacturing 12
Manufacturing
12 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 29053?
35.9
Median Age
48.4%
Male
51.6%
Female
9.0%
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?
$56,703
Median Household Income
-11% vs state ZIP avg
$25,002
Per Capita Income
21.4%
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Unemployment Rate
27.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29053 ranks among South Carolina ZIPs
Gaston, SC household income vs. every South Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 384 reporting South Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$56,703 43rd percentile higher than 43% of 384 South Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more South Carolina 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
8,843housing units
8,843
Total Housing Units
7,941
Occupied Units
902
Vacant Units
2.65
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$126,300
Median Home Value
-44% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 29209
Columbia (29209)
33,324 residents
- 29170
West Columbia (29170)
19,988 residents
- 29053
Gaston (29053)
18,830 residents
- 29033 11,603
Cayce (29033)
11,603 residents
- 29172 9,293
West Columbia (29172)
9,293 residents
- 29160 8,255
Swansea (29160)
8,255 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29053 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 29053 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29170
West Columbia (29170)
$74,902 median income
- 29172
West Columbia (29172)
$64,430 median income
- 29160
Swansea (29160)
$61,964 median income
- 29033
Cayce (29033)
$61,237 median income
- 29209
Columbia (29209)
$58,772 median income
- 29053
Gaston (29053)
$56,703 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29053, both outside SC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (18,830 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Lexington County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 29053's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29053 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Gaston, SC 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.