William J. Wilson House · National Register of Historic Places
Gastonia’s story
Gastonia in pictures
15 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
GastoniaNC
A city of 82,884. Nearly 11.6% of it is conserved land.
7 bordering townsMap →
Photo: GastoniaHappening Jim Bob Willy · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
82,884
+12.1% since 2010
Typical home
$275K
−0.4% in a year
Household income
$64K
median
Median age
36.5
years
Jobs based here
44,202
Balanced
What makes Gastonia stand out
The 3 things Gastonia does most differently from other towns.
Outdoors
#36 most conserved land in NC
25 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
11.6% of the town is conserved land.
100 U.S. towns● Gastonia
Health
63% of U.S. towns are healthier
on CDC estimates
Better than NC on 0 measures, worse on 10.
100 U.S. towns● Gastonia
Safety
Safer than 4%
of U.S. towns we grade
Safety Grade D−. FBI data, crimes reported to police.
A growing town
Gastonia has grown 12.1% since 2010
71,741 people in 2010; 82,884 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Gastonia’s report card
Outdoors25 mi#81 for trails in NCHealthC+Healthier than 37% of U.S. townsSafetyD−Less crime than 4% of U.S. townsCommute17 miHalf of commuters travel lessSchoolsB−Beats 49% of NC districtsClimate89°/31°Summer high · winter low · 1″ snowHousing$275K18% below the NC typical homeHazards40/100Moderate risk of storm & flood damage
Now in Gastonia
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Weather
Forecast →55°
Clear
H 81° · L 56°
Local news
All →- Trump calls North Carolina ‘violent’ but state crime data shows sharp declinesWBTV · Sep 26
- Missions of Mercy free dental clinic returns to Gastonia Oct. 2-3Gaston Gazette · Sep 26
- Republicans are already starting to give up on Michael Whatley in NC | OpinionCharlotte Observer · Sep 25
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Gastonia. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
11.6% of Gastonia is conserved land
25 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves.
#81for trails in NC
11.6%
conserved · 4,058 of 35,092 acres
25 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
#36
most conserved land in NC
#118
most walkable in NC
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Martha Rivers Park | 1.8 mi | 65 |
| 2. Northeast Community Park | — | 46 |
| 3. T. Jeffers Park | — | 42 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Health
Healthier than 37% of U.S. towns
Gastonia beats the North Carolina average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 10.
C+Health Grade
32 measures vs. North Carolina
0 better22 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Gastonia | NC |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 11.3% | 8.1% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 20.7% | 15.2% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 16.5% | 12.2% |
Caromont Regional Medical Center
3.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
38th
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 4% of U.S. towns
Gastonia reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 96% report less.
D−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Gastonia8.8
North Carolina3.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Gastonia28.7
North Carolina18.1
U.S.15.5
4th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
14th
percentile among NC towns
768
violent crimes reported in 2025
2,490
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Work & commute
About one in four working residents works right in Gastonia
About one in 4 of Gastonia’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Charlotte (30%), Raleigh (2%) and Belmont (2%). Half commute less than 17 miles.
23%work in town
Where working residents work
In Gastonia23%
Charlotte30%
Raleigh2%
Belmont2%
Concord2%
17 mi
median commute distance
44,202
jobs based in Gastonia
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Schools
Gastonia’s public schools outperform 49% of North Carolina districts
The public schools Gastonia’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 51% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Ridge Elementary | PK–5 | 887 | C+ |
| Woodhill Elementary | PK–5 | 577 | D− |
| Gardner Park Elementary | PK–5 | 560 | C+ |
| Sherwood Elementary | PK–5 | 553 | D |
| Brookside Elementary | PK–5 | 512 | C |
| Lingerfeldt Elementary | PK–5 | 450 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduationAll 22 schools →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Gastonia has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 31°, and about 1 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter32–54°
Spring48–72°
Summer67–88°
Fall49–72°
Nov 9
typical first frost
Mar 27
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Housing
A typical Gastonia home is worth about $275K
The typical Gastonia home is worth about $275,000, about the same as a year ago, 18% below the North Carolina typical home.
$275KZillow home value
Typical home value
Gastonia$275K
North Carolina$335K
Market temperature
71
days on market
98.7%
sale-to-list price
−0.4%
value change, 1 year
106
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 40% of U.S. communities.
40risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesEarthquakes
20
paid flood claims since 1979
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Landmarks
15 places in Gastonia on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Gastonia
City in North Carolina, United States
Gastonia is a city in and the county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. The most populous city in the county and the 13th-most populous city in North Carolina, the population was 80,411 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC Combined Statistical Area. The city is a historic center for textile manufacturing and was the site of the Loray Mill Strike of 1929, which became a key event in the labor movement. While manufacturing remains important to the local economy, the city also has healthcare, education, and government sectors.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 80,411
- Area
- 52 sq mi
- Elevation
- 797 ft
- ZIP code
- 28052, 28053, 28054
Gastonia’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Gastonia.
SpringdaleBessemer CityLowellKings MountainDallasCramertonRanloGastonia
More about Gastonia
Still missing for Gastonia:archive photosupcoming events