28052 ZIP Code — Gastonia, NC

Gaston County, North Carolina

ZIP code 28052 is located in Gastonia, North Carolina, within Gaston County. It covers approximately 41.41 square miles and serves a population of 35,894 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 704/980.

About ZIP code 28052

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1960s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $152,800. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 56%.

Median household income is $44,448. Poverty affects 22% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 29% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 37% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 26 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 15% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (26%) compared to national benchmarks.

Overall, ZIP code 28052 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

35,894

population

41.41

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

28052 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 28052

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 28052. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Gastonia	Acceptable
Gastonia	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

28054 Gastonia (5.7 mi) 28056 Gastonia (6.7 mi) 28016 Bessemer City (7.2 mi) 28086 Kings Mountain (7.4 mi) 28098 Lowell (8.6 mi) 28034 Dallas (9.1 mi) 28032 Cramerton (9.2 mi) 28101 Mc Adenville (9.4 mi) 29710 Clover (11 mi) 28012 Belmont (11.3 mi) 28073 Grover (13.2 mi) 28033 Crouse (14 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	35,894
Population density	867 / sq mi
State FIPS	37
County FIPS	071

Geography
Land area	41.41 sq mi
Water area	0.21 sq mi
Latitude	35.2298
Longitude	-81.2429
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	704/980

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	61.3%	46.6%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	26.8%	30.5%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	11.4%	19.2%	19.1%
Over $200k	0.4%	3.7%	6.0%

Demographics & statistics

35,894

Population

867

People per sq mi

34.8

Median age

$44,448

Median household income

$22,904

Per capita income

$152,800

Median home value

$976

Median monthly rent

55.6%

Home ownership

22.1%

Poverty rate

8.7%

Unemployment

9,372

Housing units

15.1%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

1,491

Under 5

1,511

1,175

5–9

1,190

1,376

10–14

1,394

1,036

15–19

1,050

1,096

20–24

1,110

2,789

25–34

2,825

1,904

35–44

1,930

2,407

45–54

2,438

1,192

55–59

1,208

987

60–64

999

1,341

65–74

1,358

800

75–84

810

237

85+

240

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	9,454	26.3%
18 and over	26,440	73.7%
65 and over	4,786	13.3%
Median age	34.8 years

Race & ethnicity

White 49.3%

Black or African American 30.7%

Hispanic or Latino 8.8%

Two or more races 7.1%

Other race 3.5%

Asian 0.3%

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	19,396	49.3%
Black or African American	12,089	30.7%
Hispanic or Latino	3,454	8.8%
Two or more races	2,791	7.1%
Other race	1,396	3.5%
Asian	103	0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	82	0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	37	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	61.3%	46.6%	44.4%
$50k – $100k	26.8%	30.5%	30.6%
$100k – $200k	11.4%	19.2%	19.1%
Over $200k	0.4%	3.7%	6.0%

Under $10k 6.3%

$10k–$15k 6.8%

$15k–$25k 12.2%

$25k–$35k 13.4%

$35k–$50k 17.4%

$50k–$75k 15.9%

$75k–$100k 13.0%

$100k–$150k 10.1%

$150k–$200k 3.7%

$200k+ 1.2%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	6.3%
$10k–$15k	6.8%
$15k–$25k	12.2%
$25k–$35k	13.4%
$35k–$50k	17.4%
$50k–$75k	15.9%
$75k–$100k	13.0%
$100k–$150k	10.1%
$150k–$200k	3.7%
$200k+	1.2%
Median income	$44,448

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 11.1%

$50k–$100k 15.2%

$100k–$150k 22.1%

$150k–$200k 26.0%

$200k–$300k 17.6%

$300k–$500k 6.7%

$500k–$1M 1.2%

$1M+ 0.2%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$152,800
Median rent / month	$976
Owner occupied	55.6%
Renter occupied	44.4%
Vacant	13.3%
Single-family detached	75.2%
Large apartment buildings	2.7%
Mobile homes	8.1%
Median rooms	5.1
Avg household size (owned)	2.62

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.3%
2010–2019	4.2%
2000–2009	8.2%
1990–1999	10.4%
1980–1989	9.0%
1970–1979	15.2%
1960–1969	17.2%
1950–1959	17.0%
1940–1949	8.0%
1939 or earlier	10.4%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	1.1%
1 bedroom	6.4%
2 bedrooms	33.8%
3 bedrooms	49.3%
4 bedrooms	7.3%
5+ bedrooms	2.1%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	9.2%
1 vehicle	38.3%
2 vehicles	32.6%
3 or more	19.8%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	42.5%
Electricity	52.8%
Propane / LP gas	2.0%
Fuel oil	1.4%
Wood	0.3%
No fuel used	0.9%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	4,363	33.0%
Cohabiting couple	1,500	11.3%
Male householder, no spouse	2,898	21.9%
Female householder, no spouse	4,457	33.7%
Households with children under 18	4,161	31.5%
Households with seniors (65+)	3,754	28.4%
Average household size	2.66

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	42.0%	35.9%
Married	38.4%	35.3%
Separated	4.0%	2.6%
Widowed	3.1%	10.7%
Divorced	12.5%	15.5%

Education

Less than 9th grade 5.4%

Some HS, no diploma 13.0%

HS graduate 37.1%

Some college, no degree 20.8%

Associate's degree 8.6%

Bachelor's degree 10.5%

Graduate / professional 4.5%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	81.6%
Bachelor's or higher	15.1%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	367	4.4%
Kindergarten	451	5.4%
Elementary school	4,434	53.3%
High school	1,612	19.4%
College / grad school	1,456	17.5%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 19.5%

Manufacturing 15.6%

Retail trade 14.4%

Professional & management 9.6%

Arts, food & hospitality 8.6%

Construction 7.5%

Transportation & utilities 7.4%

Other services 4.4%

Finance & real estate 4.2%

Public administration 3.6%

Wholesale trade 2.0%

Information 1.7%

Agriculture & mining 1.4%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	24.2%
Service	18.4%
Sales & office	21.1%
Natural resources & construction	12.9%
Production & transportation	23.4%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	86.4%
Government	9.2%
Self-employed	4.4%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	78.0%
Carpool	13.2%
Public transit	1.5%
Walk	1.5%
Work from home	5.2%
Other means	0.6%
Avg commute (minutes)	26.2

Poverty

All people 22.1%

Under 18 years 31.0%

18 and over 18.9%

Married-couple families 11.0%

Female-led households 25.0%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	36.7%
Retirement income	18.3%
Supplemental Security	10.3%
Cash public assistance	2.8%
Food stamps / SNAP	29.1%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	36.9%
High blood pressure	41.1%
High cholesterol	34.6%
Diabetes	13.5%
Heart disease	7.6%
Stroke	4.4%
Asthma	10.4%
Arthritis	27.6%
Kidney disease	3.7%
Pulmonary disease	9.3%
Cancer	6.0%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	25.5%
Binge drinking	14.7%
No physical activity	30.4%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	35.9%
Depression	24.2%
Fair or poor health	20.7%
Poor mental health	16.7%
Poor physical health	13.9%
No health insurance	24.3%
Visited doctor (checkup)	78.6%
Visited dentist	50.6%
Cholesterol screening	87.6%
Teeth loss	23.5%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	1,859	7.0%

Disability	%
Any disability	16.4%
Under 18	3.2%
18–64 years	17.4%
65 and over	38.8%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	47.2%
Public insurance	47.5%
No insurance	13.3%
Uninsured under 19	5.9%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	32,892	91.6%
Spanish	1,741	5.3%
Other Indo-European	1,608	4.9%
Asian & Pacific Islander	78	0.2%
Other languages	55	0.2%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	33,685	93.8%
Born in same state	33,380	93.0%
Born in different state	25,302	70.5%
Foreign born	305	0.8%
Naturalized citizen	2,209	6.2%
Not a US citizen	728	33.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	7,588	21.1%
French	1,987	5.5%
Italian	1,979	5.5%
English	114	0.3%

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	65	0.2%
German	49	0.1%
Irish	13	0%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	36.8%
Internet access	88.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 28052

What city is ZIP code 28052 in?

ZIP code 28052 is primarily assigned to Gastonia, North Carolina.

What county is ZIP code 28052 in?

ZIP code 28052 falls within Gaston County, North Carolina.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 28052?

22% of residents in ZIP code 28052 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 28052 have a large retiree population?

37% of households in ZIP code 28052 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 28052?

The median home value in ZIP code 28052 is $152,800.

What is the median household income in ZIP code 28052?

The median household income in ZIP code 28052 is $44,448, below the national median of ~$75,000.

What timezone is ZIP code 28052 in?

ZIP code 28052 observes the EST timezone.