City · North Carolina
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia, city, in Gaston County, North Carolina. Gastonia had 87,067 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 80,411 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 82,884 (±72). GEOID 3725580.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
87,067
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 80,411 · ACS 2020-2024: 82,884 ±72
Median household income
$64,059
±$3,551 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$277,600
±$8,325 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,204
±$30 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Gastonia and what county is it in?
Gastonia is a city in Gaston County, North Carolina. It covers 53.7 square miles of land, 1,496 residents per square mile in 2020.
Gastonia is in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 11 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Gastonia, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 87,067 people lived in Gastonia on July 1, 2025, up 8.2% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 80,411 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 82,884 (±72).
| Measure | Gastonia | Gaston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 82,884 ±72 | 234,881 | +6,997 |
| Households | 32,378 ±588 | 93,576 | +3,405 |
| Average household size | 2.51 ±0.05 | 2.48 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 35,337 ±538 | 101,671 | +2,743 |
Gastonia's population since 2000
From 66,277 in 2000 to 87,067 in 2025: up 31.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Gastonia as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Gastonia?
The median resident of Gastonia is 36.5 years old; 24.6% are under 18 and 14.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 51.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 29.0%. 8.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Gastonia | Gaston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 ±1.0 | 39.1 | −1.9 |
| Under 18 years | 24.6% ±1.0 pts | 22.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.9% ±0.7 pts | 16.5% | – |
| Male | 48.1% ±0.9 pts | 48.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.8% ±1.0 pts | 9.9% | +2.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 51.0% ±1.5 pts | 66.4% | −5.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 29.0% ±1.7 pts | 17.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±0.4 pts | 1.6% | −0.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.1% ±1.0 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.5% ±1.2 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.8% ±1.3 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.4% ±0.7 pts | 6.7% | – |
| With a disability | 14.3% ±1.0 pts | 14.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.9% ±1.9 pts | 10.7% | +3.3 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.7% ±1.1 pts | 88.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.6% ±1.4 pts | 26.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.8% ±1.0 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.3% ±1.5 pts | 89.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7% ±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Gastonia earn?
Half of Gastonia's 32,378 households earn less than $64,059 a year (±$3,551), against $67,478 in Gaston County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $60,870 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Gastonia | Gaston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,059 ±$3,551 | $67,478 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $87,352 ±$3,657 | $91,074 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,174 ±$1,615 | $37,058 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.3% ±1.8 pts | 13.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.3% ±3.9 pts | 18.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.6% ±2.0 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.5% ±1.1 pts | 94.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.8% ±1.5 pts | 89.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Gastonia?
Owners occupy 54.2% of Gastonia's occupied homes and renters 45.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $277,600 by its owner (±$8,325). The median renter pays $1,204 a month including utilities, and 41.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Gastonia | Gaston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $277,600 ±$8,325 | $266,000 | +$86,596 |
| Median gross rent | $1,204 ±$30 | $1,153 | +$122 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.9% ±4.0 pts | 40.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,649 ±$81 | $1,493 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.2% ±2.0 pts | 66.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 45.8% ±2.0 pts | 33.2% | – |
| Housing units | 35,337 ±538 | 101,671 | +2,743 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.2% ±1.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.6% ±1.9 pts | 73.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% ±0.7 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.9% ±0.7 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.9% ±1.4 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.0% ±1.3 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.9% ±1.5 pts | 5.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Gastonia building?
Gastonia last reported building permits to the Census Bureau for 2023.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Gastonia work and get to work?
77.1% of Gastonia's workers drive alone and 12.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.7%.
| Measure | Gastonia | Gaston County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.7% ±1.5 pts | 62.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7% ±1.0 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 77.1% ±2.0 pts | 76.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.8% ±1.6 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±0.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.0% ±1.4 pts | 12.4% | +9.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.8 min ±0.9 | 27.0 min | +2.0 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Gastonia?
24 census tracts lie mostly in Gastonia, and 20 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $27,825 (Tract 315) to $128,446 (Tract 333.13).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 325.06Gaston County | 4,304 | $55,673 |
| Tract 325.05Gaston County | 4,233 | $66,210 |
| Tract 326Gaston County | 4,050 | $89,545 |
| Tract 327.04Gaston County | 3,772 | $59,870 |
| Tract 329Gaston County | 3,644 | $69,420 |
| Tract 318Gaston County | 3,650 | $38,393 |
| Tract 331Gaston County | 3,502 | $60,679 |
| Tract 328.02Gaston County | 4,088 | $41,058 |
| Tract 315Gaston County | 3,436 | $27,825 |
| Tract 325.07Gaston County | 4,076 | $122,422 |
| Tract 333.03Gaston County | 3,527 | $116,324 |
| Tract 320Gaston County | 3,201 | $50,255 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Gastonia) · Census block assignment files
How does Gastonia compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Gastonia is the 416th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 13th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Gastonia ranks 217th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 13th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 100th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 78th | 443 |
| Median household income | 217th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 188th | 443 |
| Median home value | 182nd | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 134th | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 166th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 208th | 421 |
| Median age | 336th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 337th | 443 |
| Work from home | 167th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 137th | 439 |
Gastonia's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Gastonia with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Gastonia?
2 of the 57 figures for Gastonia on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Gastonia are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Gastonia.