The Town FilesGaston, South Carolina
Town in Lexington County · population 1,608 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,000
- Household income
- $60,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.4
Gaston is a town of 1,608 people in Lexington County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $120,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100).
How Gaston ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gaston is worth $120,000, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $60,000, which is more affordable than 93% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $995 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gaston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,000 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $995 | $937 |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Gaston
| People | Gaston | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.3% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Gaston
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaston since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 15, 2008 about 8.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 13, 1991.
Severe weather in Lexington County since 1996
Lexington County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Lexington County
Lexington County had 132,596 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,005 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Gaston itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Gaston
2 public schools with 1,027 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandhills Middle | 7-8 | 519 | 13.0 |
| Frances F. Mack Intermediate | 5-6 | 508 | 13.4 |
Towns near Gaston
- Swansea, SC5.4 mi · 722 people · home $129,200
- Pine Ridge, SC5.8 mi · 2,167 people · home $227,900
- Edmund, SC6.2 mi · 969 people · home $164,100
- South Congaree, SC6.7 mi · 2,377 people · home $192,500
- Pelion, SC9.2 mi · 631 people · home $156,700
- White Knoll, SC9.3 mi · 7,858 people · home $249,400
- Cayce, SC9.8 mi · 13,781 people · home $166,800
- Springdale, SC9.8 mi · 2,744 people · home $221,700
Gaston questions
Is Gaston, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gaston scores better for retirees than 9% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 56%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Gaston?
The median owner-occupied home in Gaston is valued at $120,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,000, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $995 a month.
What is the weather like in Gaston?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Gaston get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 15, 2008. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)