The Town FilesGastonia, North Carolina
City in Gaston County · population 80,411 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $277,600
- Household income
- $64,059
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 36.5
Gastonia is a city of 80,411 people in Gaston County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $277,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 97% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 92% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 90% of North Carolina towns.
How Gastonia ranks
Percentile among North 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 North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gastonia is worth $277,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $64,059, which is more affordable than 32% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,204 a month. 54.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gastonia | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,204 | $969 |
| Median household income | $64,059 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Gastonia
| People | Gastonia | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Gastonia
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gastonia since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 6, 2020 about 8.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 29, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 79 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 3, 1974.
Severe weather in Gaston County since 1996
Gaston County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Gaston County
Gaston County had 79,486 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,211 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Gastonia itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Gastonia
24 public schools with 15,080 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Community Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 1,940 | 15.9 |
| Ashbrook High | 9-12 | 1,341 | 26.8 |
| Hunter Huss High | 9-12 | 1,134 | 21.4 |
| Forestview High | 9-12 | 1,116 | 21.5 |
| Pleasant Ridge Elementary | PK-5 | 882 | 17.6 |
| Southwest Middle | 6-8 | 809 | 15.3 |
| W A Bess Elementary School | PK-5 | 641 | 16.0 |
| W P Grier Middle School | 6-8 | 587 | 19.6 |
| H H Beam Elementary | PK-5 | 569 | 21.1 |
| Gardner Park Elementary | PK-5 | 549 | 13.7 |
| New Hope Elementary | K-5 | 541 | 17.5 |
| Highland Sch of Technology | 9-12 | 528 | 13.5 |
Towns near Gastonia
- Ranlo, NC4.2 mi · 4,511 people · home $200,200
- Dallas, NC4.8 mi · 5,927 people · home $254,000
- Lowell, NC4.9 mi · 3,654 people · home $200,600
- Bessemer City, NC6.0 mi · 5,428 people · home $206,100
- Cramerton, NC6.4 mi · 5,296 people · home $343,400
- Belmont, NC8.3 mi · 15,010 people · home $395,000
- Stanley, NC9.0 mi · 3,963 people · home $270,200
- Kings Mountain, NC9.5 mi · 11,142 people · home $204,100
Gastonia questions
Is Gastonia, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gastonia scores better for retirees than 12% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 6%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Gastonia?
The median owner-occupied home in Gastonia is valued at $277,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,059, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,204 a month.
What is the weather like in Gastonia?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Gastonia get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gastonia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 6, 2020. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)