Cost of Living in Gaston County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Gaston County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Gaston County ranks #2,463 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 22%)
Sourced county brief
Gaston County Median Gross Rent $176 Above State Mean
Median gross rent in Gaston County was estimated at $1,153 per month, which is $176 higher than the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $977. The official gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.3%, according to ACS table B25071. This is 1.4 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.9%. Median home value in the county was $266,000, while the unweighted county mean for the state was $235,312. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,089, which is $162 above the state unweighted county mean of $927. The median renter-household income was $46,859. These data points represent a snapshot of the housing landscape during the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Gaston County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.3% of renter household income in Gaston County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,153 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,089. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $46,120 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Gaston County's $1,153 median is 18.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Gaston County
Rent Burden
20.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,574
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.4%
of gross income
The median home in Gaston County may be a stretch
Median home value is $266,000. Estimated monthly cost: $2,124 vs. your max of $1,574.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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