1st Advantage MortgageGaston County households have a median income of $67,478 and median rent of $1,153 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in North Carolina before sharing details.
On this page
- Gaston County by the numbers
- How Gaston County residents earn a living
- Income in Gaston County compared with North Carolina
- Gaston County housing compared with North Carolina
- Gaston County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Gaston County
- More Gaston County figures
- What the numbers mean for Gaston County borrowers
- Budget math at the Gaston County median
- Licensing and complaints for Gaston County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Gaston County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Gaston County's population at 234,881; only 10 of North Carolina's 100 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 356 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 660 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Gastonia is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 82,884 people (35% of the county total).
How Gaston County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Gaston County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 8% locally and 5% for North Carolina. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 77% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Gaston County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.7% | -2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.5% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | -1.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +3.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Gaston County compared with North Carolina
At $67,478, the typical Gaston County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 29 North Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Band | Gaston County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.9% | -1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -2.6 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.5% of Gaston County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.468 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Gaston County housing compared with North Carolina
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,153 in Gaston County versus $1,228 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $266,000, about 3.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 67%. Half the housing stock was built before 1982.
| Measure | Gaston County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,153/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $266,000 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.6% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 13% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Gaston County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 17 Census places in Gaston County, by population. Together all 17 hold about 167,771 people, so roughly 29% of residents live outside any named place. McAdenville has the highest median household income on the list ($112,083) and Kings Mountain the lowest ($49,564), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $872 in Dallas to $1,811 in Ranlo. One of them, Gastonia, has a separate city guide (linked); for the rest, this is the local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastonia | city | 82,884 | $64,059 | $1,204 | 3 mi |
| Mount Holly | city | 18,208 | $79,385 | $1,256 | 10 mi |
| Belmont | city | 15,546 | $94,883 | $1,365 | 9 mi |
| Kings Mountain | city | 12,039 | $49,564 | $959 | 11 mi |
| Cherryville | city | 6,226 | $70,625 | $1,059 | 13 mi |
| Dallas | town | 6,104 | $58,403 | $872 | 2 mi |
| Bessemer City | city | 5,580 | $60,300 | $1,053 | 6 mi |
| Cramerton | town | 5,450 | $82,160 | $1,364 | 7 mi |
| Ranlo | town | 4,617 | $78,033 | $1,811 | 3 mi |
| Stanley | town | 4,069 | $75,461 | $1,122 | 6 mi |
| Lowell | city | 3,768 | $52,500 | $1,188 | 4 mi |
| Springdale | CDP | 1,075 | $55,096 | $1,233 | 2 mi |
| McAdenville | town | 1,010 | $112,083 | $1,125 | 6 mi |
| Alexis | CDP | 635 | n/a | $1,018 | 8 mi |
Regional comparison for Gaston County
Six nearby counties, 14 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. York County leads the group on income ($89,095), Cherokee County trails ($50,288), and Gaston County out-earns 2 of the six. Some neighbors are in South Carolina. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Gaston County resident follows North Carolina rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston County | - | $67,478 | $1,153/mo | 67% |
| Lincoln County, NC | 14 mi | $80,016 | $1,015/mo | 79% |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 20 mi | $87,005 | $1,627/mo | 55% |
| Cleveland County, NC | 22 mi | $58,534 | $914/mo | 71% |
| York County, SC | 22 mi | $89,095 | $1,387/mo | 75% |
| Catawba County, NC | 26 mi | $67,864 | $965/mo | 72% |
| Cherokee County, SC | 30 mi | $50,288 | $869/mo | 74% |
More Gaston County figures
26% of Gaston County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.7%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Residents | Gaston County | North Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.5% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.7% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.5% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Gaston County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
What the numbers mean for Gaston County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Gaston County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 11% of Gaston County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of Gaston County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Budget math at the Gaston County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Gaston County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Gaston County: $5,623
- Less median rent of $1,153, which is 21% of it
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,265 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Gaston County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Gaston County
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks is the place to verify any lender's North Carolina license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the North Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Gaston County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Gaston County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Gaston County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Gaston County household make?
About $67,478 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% below the North Carolina median.
Is Gaston County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,153 against $1,228 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Gaston County?
By population: Gastonia, Mount Holly, Belmont, Kings Mountain, Cherryville. The county has 17 Census places in all.
Will a Gaston County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming North Carolina as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Gaston County?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.