Gaston town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Gaston town is a small community located in North Carolina, within Northampton County. The total population is 864. It ranks as the 484th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gaston town is 39.4 years. This is about average than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gaston town is $41,250. This is 41% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 47% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.6%. This is 72% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 14.4%. This is 197% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $76,300. Housing costs are 71% lower than the state median of $259,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Gaston town is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 41.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gaston town is Black or African American, making up 60.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 31.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (60.5% vs 20.3%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

11.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 80.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gaston town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.