Gastonia, NC
Census place 3725580 · pop 82,884
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
54.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
12.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
16.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
27 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
37.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$64,059 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
89.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
27.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
26.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$277,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.88% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
82/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,501/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+9.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
Not measured for Gastonia: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Gastonia, NC a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Gastonia scores 45/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is homeownership. North Carolina overall ranks #16 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Gastonia, NC expensive to live in?
- Gastonia has a median home value of $277,600 and typical rent around $1,501/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Gastonia, NC?
- Its weakest measured area is homeownership (54.2%) — 23/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Gastonia, NC best at?
- Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+9.2%) — 79/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.