Gaston, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Gaston, North Carolina had a total population of 912, the 480th largest town in North Carolina, with a median household income of $42,105, which is 42% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 27.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 42% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (27.4%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x.
- Unemployment rate of 17.5% is notably above the national average.
Gaston Quick Facts
How Gaston Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 864 | 912 | +5.6% |
| Median household income | $41,250 | $42,105 | +2.1% |
| Median home value | $76,300 | $77,200 | +1.2% |
How Gaston Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Gaston Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Northampton County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Square | 880 | $37,031 | 35.2% | $85,000 |
| Conway | 832 | $36,920 | 28.4% | $106,000 |
| Jackson | 777 | $49,048 | 16.7% | N/A |
| Seaboard | 585 | $25,776 | 30.9% | $91,500 |
| Garysburg | 572 | $41,333 | 19.2% | $107,600 |
| Woodland | 497 | $37,750 | 22.4% | $112,500 |
| Severn | 158 | $62,500 | 8.9% | $120,500 |
| Lasker | 152 | $84,792 | 3.3% | $112,500 |
| Milwaukee | 139 | N/A | 0.0% | $110,000 |
Cities Similar to Gaston
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chocowinity | 903 | $41,382 | $114,300 | 10.9% | 26.9% |
| Five Points | 940 | N/A | $344,100 | 22.2% | 21.7% |
| Spivey's Corner | 954 | $43,938 | $85,400 | 15.5% | 0.0% |
| Lilesville | 971 | $41,389 | $116,200 | 17.1% | 10.5% |
| Ellenboro | 901 | $49,769 | $164,400 | 7.4% | 18.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 912, Gaston's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Gaston is a small community located in North Carolina, within Northampton County. The total population is 912. It ranks as the 480th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Gaston is 43.0 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Gaston is $42,105. This is 42% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.4%. This is 110% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. 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 17.5%. This is 271% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $77,200. Housing costs are 73% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Gaston is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 58.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% lower than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Gaston is Black or African American, making up 58.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 36.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (58.4% vs 20.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
13.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 63% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Gaston, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all North Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Gaston, North Carolina?
Gaston, North Carolina has a population of 912 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Gaston, NC?
The median household income in Gaston is $42,105, which is 48% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Gaston, NC?
The poverty rate in Gaston is 27.4%. This means approximately 242 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Gaston, North Carolina?
Gaston's population is 36.5% White, 58.4% Black, 1.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.5% Asian.
What is the median home value in Gaston, NC?
The median home value in Gaston is $77,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.8x.
How educated is Gaston, North Carolina?
13.1% of adults (25+) in Gaston hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.