ZIP Code 28054: Population, Income, Housing

State: NC

Total population: 41,707 Household income: $61,035 Rent: $1,215

Overview

Total population

41,707

Rent

$1,215

Year built

1979

Household income

$61,035

Per capita income

$33,995

Poverty rate

15.3%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

47.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

County

Gaston County

City

Gastonia

Total population

41,707

Adults over 25

28,214

Total households

17,379

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$61,035

Per capita income

$33,995

Poverty rate

15.3%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

47.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$1,215

Year built

1979

Households that rent

53.2%

Households that own

46.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

55.3%

Black

29.6%

Asian

1.2%

Two or more races

9.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

11%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

17,677 (90.2%)

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

1,917 (9.8%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

32.7%

High school graduate or GED

30.3%

Some college or associate degree

15%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

22%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 28054 with: Gaston County, NC Gastonia, NC Charlotte metro area, NC-SC North Carolina United States

ZIP 28054

Total population41,707

Rent$1,215

Year built1979

Household income$61,035

Per capita income$33,995

Poverty rate15.3%

Unemployment rateN/A

Gaston County, NC

Total population234,881

Rent$1,153

Year built1982

Household income$67,478

Per capita income$37,058

Poverty rate13.5%

Unemployment rate3.4%

Gastonia, NC

Total population82,884

Rent$1,204

Year built1978

Household income$64,059

Per capita income$35,174

Poverty rate16.3%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Charlotte Metro Area, NC-SC

Total population2,768,407

Rent$1,473

Year built1996

Household income$83,304

Per capita income$46,738

Poverty rate10.6%

Unemployment rate3.6%

North Carolina State

Total population10,730,404

Rent$1,228

Year built1991

Household income$72,388

Per capita income$41,385

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ZIP28054	CountyGaston, NC	CityGastonia, NC	Metro AreaCharlotte metro area, NC-SC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	41,707	234,881	82,884	2,768,407	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$1,215	$1,153	$1,204	$1,473	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1979	1982	1978	1996	1991	1980
Household income	$61,035	$67,478	$64,059	$83,304	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$33,995	$37,058	$35,174	$46,738	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	15.3%	13.5%	16.3%	10.6%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	3.4%	3.6%	3.6%	3.6%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 28054

Rent & Income

In 28054, the typical monthly rent is $1,215 and the typical household income is $61,035. Rent here is similar to both Gastonia and North Carolina, and household income is similar to Gastonia and lower than North Carolina. The estimated poverty rate is 15.3%, which is lower than the Gastonia rate but higher than the North Carolina rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 53.2% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 47.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 22% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 28054 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 28054 — Poverty

How ZIP 28054 compares in North Carolina (126 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,215	53 / 126	from lower rent	$733 – $2,025
Household income	$61,035	98 / 126	from higher income	$42,810 – $165,586
Poverty rate	15.3%	84 / 126	from lower poverty	2.3% – 34.4%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in North Carolina with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 28054

Rent

For rent, this ZIP is positioned 53rd out of 126 ZIP Codes in North Carolina. In North Carolina as a whole, the range goes from $733 in ZIP 28645 up to $2,025 in ZIP 28079.

Household income

For household income, ZIP Code 28054 ranks 98th out of 126 ZIP Codes. Statewide, values range from $42,810 in ZIP 27893 up to $165,586 in ZIP 27519.

Poverty rate

For poverty levels, this ZIP is positioned 84th out of 126 ZIP Codes. Across North Carolina, figures vary from 2.3% in ZIP 27502 up to 34.4% in ZIP 28607.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 28054 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,215 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 28054

Annual Household Income: $61,035

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 28054

Estimated Rate: 15.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 28054

In ZIP Code 28054, households that rent: 9,251 (53.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	9,251	53.2%
Owner-Occupied	8,128	46.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 28054

In ZIP Code 28054, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,430 (47.9%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,430	47.9%
Other renter households	4,821	52.1%
Total renter households	9,251	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 28054

Less than High School: 9,238 people (32.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 8,550 people (30.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,221 people (15%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 6,205 people (22%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 28,214

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.