Gastonia, North Carolina has an overall cost of living index of 97.3, which is 2.7 points below the US average of 100 — making it about average versus most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,204 per month, while the typical home is valued around $277,600. Households earn a median of $64,059 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$64,059
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,204
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$277,600
Median Home Value
Census ACS
97.3
Cost of Living Index
1BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
97.3
Goods
96.7
Rents / Housing
97.1
Services
84.8
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $133,750 |
| Registered Nurse | $89,150 |
| Elementary Teacher | $55,660 |
| Electrician | $57,300 |
| Accountant | $98,030 |
| Plumber | $56,310 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $312,130 |
| Civil Engineer | $103,430 |
| Operations Manager | $138,460 |
| Market Research Analyst | $88,320 |
| Health Services Manager | $123,540 |
| Truck Driver | $56,440 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $117,480 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
82,884
Latest estimate
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Census ACS
AQI data not available
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
7
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$953
Per month
Avg Home Value
$183,314
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 28016 | — | $837 | $163,300 |
| ZIP 28034 | — | $832 | $201,400 |
| ZIP 28052 | — | $976 | $152,800 |
| ZIP 28054 | — | $1,085 | $192,800 |
| ZIP 28056 | — | $979 | $253,200 |
| ZIP 28086 | — | $825 | $166,800 |
| ZIP 28098 | — | $1,139 | $152,900 |
January Avg
42°F
July Avg
80°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
30.4
poor
Hospitals
1
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
87.1%
Gastonia has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 97.3. The US national average is 100, so Gastonia is 2.7 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Gastonia is $1,204 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Gastonia is $64,059 per year.
The median home value in Gastonia is $277,600 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Air quality data for Gastonia is not yet available.
Tax data for North Carolina is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
