Gaston County, North Carolina
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 246,558
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 246,558
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 242,010
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 227,944
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 227,944
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 8.2%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 6.2%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 227,943
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 206,086
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 5.8%
Persons under 18 years, percent 22.1%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 16.9%
Female persons, percent 51.7%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 74.1%
Black alone, percent(a) 20.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.8%
Asian alone, percent(a) 2.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.1%
Two or More Races, percent 2.7%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 11.1%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 65.1%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 12,211
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 6.4%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 106,703
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 66.8%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $266,000
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,493
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $471
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $1,153
Building Permits, 2025 2,343
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 93,576
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.48
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 89.8%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 10.0%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 94.2%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 89.0%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 88.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 26.5%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 10.4%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 11.5%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 62.5%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 58.1%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 518,236
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 1,770,621
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 673,667
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 3,610,835
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $15,433
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 27.0
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $67,478
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $37,058
Persons in poverty, percent 12.4%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 4,594
Total employment, 2023 72,268
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 3,565,336
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 3.6%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 17,927
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 3,942
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 1,926
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 1,074
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 701
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 2,827
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 285
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 3,201
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 640.7
Population per square mile, 2010 578.8
Land area in square miles, 2020 355.75
Land area in square miles, 2010 356.03
FIPS Code 37071