Gastonia city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Gastonia city is a mid-sized community located in North Carolina. The total population is 81,632. It ranks as the 13th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gastonia city is 37.2 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gastonia city is $60,554. This is 13% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 23% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.3%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $250,000. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 54.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gastonia city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 51.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 30.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (30.6% vs 20.3%). The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

27.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% 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 88.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Gastonia city, 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.