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All rankings computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets. No proprietary, synthetic, or estimated data is used.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025) Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 Β· FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024 Β· America's Health Rankings, 2025 Β· WalletHub/NAEP, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Β· Cook Political Report, PVI 2024 Β· Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025 Β· ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025 Β· WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 Β· EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024 Β· FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025 Β· National Park Service API, 2024 Β· USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting) Β· FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023 Β· U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 Β· EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 Β· EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024 Β· DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023 Β· BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023 Β· NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24 Β· EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22 Β· NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23 Β· BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023 Β· NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023 Β· Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023 Β· Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022 Β· S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025 Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023) Β· IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022

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National/NC/Gastonia
D

Gastonia

North CarolinaΒ·Rank #805 of 20 in NCΒ·Pop. 83,949
Composite Score44.5

Gastonia, North Carolina scores 44.5/100 (D grade), ranking #805 of 20 cities in North Carolina. Median income: $63,597. Crime rate: 813.2/100K.

πŸ’΅ Median Income
$63,597
β–Ό $3,283vs state ($66,880)
πŸ’Ό Unemployment
3.9%
β–Ό 0.4%vs state (3.5%)
πŸ”’ Violent Crime
813.2
β–Ό 433.2vs state (380)
πŸ“ˆ Pop. Growth
+1.5%
β–² 0.3%vs state (+1.2%)
πŸ›‘οΈViolent Crime Rate
813.2
per 100K Β· State avg: 380
🏚️Property Crime Rate
3893.1
per 100K Β· State avg: 2285
🏠Median Home Value
$250,000
Census ACS 2023
πŸ”‘Median Rent
$1,145/mo
Census ACS 2023
πŸ›’Cost of Living
97
100 = national avg
πŸ’ΈRent Burden
21.6%
Rent as % of income
πŸ“Price-to-Income
3.9x
Home value Γ· income
πŸ“ŠPoverty Rate
14.3%
Census ACS 2023
πŸŽ“Graduation Rate
88.3%
EDFacts ACGR 2021-22
πŸ‘©β€πŸ«Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
NCES CCD 2023-24
πŸ’΅Per-Pupil Spending
$11,659
NCES F-33 Finance 2022-23
πŸ“šTotal Enrollment
15,089
NCES CCD 2023-24
🏫Public Schools
23
Regular public schools
βš–οΈObesity Rate
37.8%
CDC PLACES 2023
🩺Diabetes Rate
13.5%
CDC PLACES 2023
🧠Poor Mental Health Days
17.6
per 30 days Β· CDC BRFSS
πŸš—Mean Commute
23.8 min
State avg: 21.9 min
πŸš‡Public Transit Use
1%
State avg: 0.8%
πŸ’»Work From Home
7.4%
State avg: 12.4%
🌑️Annual Avg
62.9Β°F
NOAA Climate Normals
β˜€οΈSummer Avg
77.7Β°F
Jun\u2013Aug average
❄️Winter Avg
49.9Β°F
Dec\u2013Feb average
🌧️Annual Precip
50.6"
inches per year

Gastonia vs North Carolina

GastoniaNorth Carolina

Scores by Category

πŸ’° Economy48.3
β–² 4.8 vs state (state: 43.5)
πŸ›‘οΈ Safety27.1
β–Ό 28.9 vs state (state: 56)
πŸ₯ Health44.1
β–² 7.4 vs state (state: 36.7)
πŸŽ“ Education51.5
β–² 12.7 vs state (state: 38.8)
πŸ’Ό Fiscal Health41.5
β–Ό 30 vs state (state: 71.5)
πŸ“ˆ Growth56.5
β–Ό 9.2 vs state (state: 65.7)
🏠 Affordability77.1
β–² 2.2 vs state (state: 74.9)
🌿 Environment34.6
β€” same as state (state: 34.6)
🏞️ Outdoor Access13.5
β€” same as state (state: 13.5)
πŸš‡ Transportation33.1
β–Ό 7.3 vs state (state: 40.4)
🎭 Livability43.7
β–² 6.3 vs state (state: 37.4)

Gastonia vs North Carolina

More Cities in North Carolina

Apex72.6Cary65.6Huntersville64.4Chapel Hill58.7Concord57.7Raleigh55.6Charlotte54.4Kannapolis52.7Durham51.3

Gastonia, North Carolina Overview

Gastonia earns an overall grade of D with a composite score of 44.5 out of 100, ranking #805 of 20 cities in North Carolina. The city's strongest category is Affordability (77/100) while its biggest challenge is Outdoor Access (14/100).

Income & Employment in Gastonia

The median household income in Gastonia is $63,597 according to Census ACS data. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. The city's population grew 1.5% recently, indicating strong demand.

Safety in Gastonia

Gastonia has a violent crime rate of 813.2 per 100,000 residents. This is above the national average, and safety is an important factor to consider. The property crime rate is 3893.1 per 100,000.

Cost of Living in Gastonia

Gastonia has a cost of living index of 97 (where 100 equals the national average), which is near the national average. The median home value is $250,000. Median monthly rent is $1,145. Overall, Gastonia offers below-average costs relative to the rest of the country.

Health & Wellness in Gastonia

The adult obesity rate in Gastonia is 37.8% according to CDC PLACES data. The diabetes prevalence rate is 13.5%. Residents report an average of 17.6 poor mental health days per month. These health indicators are important for assessing overall quality of life in Gastonia, North Carolina.

Education & Schools in Gastonia

Gastonia has 23 public schools serving 15,089 students. The high school graduation rate is 88.3%, a solid rate. The student-teacher ratio is 17:1. The district spends $11,659 per student. School data is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data and EDFacts.

Climate in Gastonia

Gastonia has an annual average temperature of 62.9Β°F. Summers average 77.7Β°F. Winters average 49.9Β°F. The city receives approximately 50.6 inches of precipitation per year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall score for Gastonia, North Carolina?

Gastonia has an overall score of 44.5 out of 100, earning a D grade and ranking #805 among 20 cities in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Gastonia?

The median household income in Gastonia is $63,597, based on Census ACS data.

Is Gastonia safe?

Gastonia has a violent crime rate of 813.2 per 100,000 residents.

What is the cost of living in Gastonia?

Gastonia has a cost of living index of 97 (100 = national average). It is more affordable than the national average.

How are the public schools in Gastonia?

Gastonia has 23 public schools with a 88.3% graduation rate. The student-teacher ratio is 17:1.

← Back to North Carolina

Data Sources

πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024πŸ“ŽFBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024πŸ“ŽAmerica's Health Rankings, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub/NAEP, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024πŸ“ŽCook Political Report, PVI 2024πŸ“ŽTax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025πŸ“ŽALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025πŸ“ŽWalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities, 2023πŸ“ŽEPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽFEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024πŸ“ŽFCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025πŸ“ŽNational Park Service API, 2024πŸ“ŽUSGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)πŸ“ŽFHWA Highway Statistics, 2023πŸ“ŽU.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022πŸ“ŽEIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024πŸ“ŽEIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024πŸ“ŽDOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023πŸ“ŽBEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023πŸ“ŽNCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24πŸ“ŽEDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22πŸ“ŽNCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23πŸ“ŽBEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023πŸ“ŽNASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023πŸ“ŽCensus Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023πŸ“ŽPew Charitable Trusts, FY2022πŸ“ŽS&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025πŸ“ŽBureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)πŸ“ŽIRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022