Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Gastonia, NC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

82,884

Median Agei

36.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

51%42,263

Black

29%24,023

Hispanic/Latino

12.8%10,598

Two or More

5.1%4,262

Asian

1.3%1,056

Other

0.7%571

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%84

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%27

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5.5%3,025

High School Diploma

23.4%12,941

Some College (<1 yr)

6.5%3,596

Some College (1+ yr)

15.6%8,625

Associate's Degree

11.2%6,211

Bachelor's Degree

17.8%9,842

Master's Degree

6.4%3,529

Professional Degree

1.2%680

Doctorate

1.2%653

HS or Higher

88.7%

BA or Higher

26.6%

Graduate+

8.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$277,600

Median Renti

$1,204

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

54.2%17,555

Renter-Occupied

45.8%14,823

Total Units

35,337

Homeownership

54.2%

Vacancy Rate

8.4%

Home Values

Under $50K

4.5%782

$50K–$100K

4.1%718

$100K–$150K

6.5%1,143

$150K–$200K

13%2,278

$200K–$300K

29.2%5,121

$300K–$500K

33.5%5,876

$500K–$1M

8.5%1,485

$1M+

0.9%152

Rent Distribution

Under $500

672

$500–$750

1,013

$750–$1,000

1,913

$1,000–$1,250

4,268

$1,250–$1,500

3,135

$1,500–$2,000

2,418

$2,000+

728

Year Built

2020 or later

2.9%1,024

2010–2019

9.9%3,497

2000–2009

12.7%4,503

1990–1999

9.7%3,439

1980–1989

12.3%4,360

1970–1979

13.5%4,775

1960–1969

12.8%4,512

1950–1959

11.3%4,006

1940–1949

6.7%2,384

1939 or earlier

8%2,837

Heating Fuel

Electricity

51.9%16,800

Utility Gas

45.6%14,766

Bottled/LP Gas

1.2%384

No Fuel

0.8%265

Fuel Oil

0.3%105

Wood

0.1%42

Other

0%10

Solar

0%6

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$64,059

Mean Household Incomei

$87,352

Per Capita Incomei

$35,174

Poverty Ratei

15.9%

Unemploymenti

5.7%

Labor Forcei

42,145

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6.6%2,124

$10K–$15K

4.4%1,414

$15K–$20K

4.4%1,439

$20K–$25K

3.7%1,211

$25K–$30K

4.1%1,323

$30K–$35K

4.3%1,397

$35K–$40K

3.9%1,270

$40K–$45K

4%1,303

$45K–$50K

3.7%1,214

$50K–$60K

7.9%2,547

$60K–$75K

10.9%3,542

$75K–$100K

12.3%3,985

$100K–$125K

7.9%2,574

$125K–$150K

7.4%2,410

$150K–$200K

7.7%2,487

$200K+

6.6%2,138

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

1,956

Residentsi

3,549

Avg. Tenant Renti

$345/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

21 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers359 homes87% occupied$313/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8406 homes94% occupied$359/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC82 homes99% occupied$406/mo rent

811/PRAC44 homes87% occupied$356/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $64,059/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $19K/yr

91%

Very low income$19K–$32K/yr

8.6%

Low income$32K–$51K/yr

0.4%

Who Receives This Housing

74.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

54.9% of subsidized households are minority

22.8% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

52.4% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

7,0858.5%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,340

Guatemala

382

China

United Kingdom

India

Philippines

Korea

Canada

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

39,142

Avg. Commutei

26.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

39,715

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

4,015(6.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

87.1%Insured

12.9%Uninsured