Gastonia city, North Carolina
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 80,411
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 87,067
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 85,535
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 80,453
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 80,434
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) 6.3%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 80,411
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 71,741
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 6.9%
Persons under 18 years, percent 24.6%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 14.9%
Female persons, percent 51.9%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 54.1%
Black alone, percent(a) 29.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.5%
Asian alone, percent(a) 1.3%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.0%
Two or More Races, percent 9.3%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 12.8%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 51.0%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 4,015
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 8.5%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) X
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 54.2%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $277,600
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,649
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $546
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $1,204
Building Permits, 2025 X
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 32,378
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.51
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 88.3%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 12.8%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 94.5%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 89.8%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 88.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 26.6%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 10.5%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 15.0%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 65.6%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 61.2%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 301,937
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 1,495,732
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 116,797
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 2,062,456
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $24,983
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 26.8
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $64,059
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $35,174
Persons in poverty, percent 16.3%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 X
Total employment, 2023 X
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) X
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 X
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 X
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 X
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 1,555.9
Population per square mile, 2010 1,420.5
Land area in square miles, 2020 51.68
Land area in square miles, 2010 50.50
FIPS Code 3725580