Gaston County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Gaston County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 231,485. It is the 9th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gaston County is 39.5 years. This is 1% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gaston County is $65,472. This is 6% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 17% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.8%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. The median home value is $235,000. Housing costs are 9% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 65.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gaston County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 17.3%.

Education

26.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% 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 88.1%.