What is the largest city in Gaston County, NC?

Gastonia is the largest city or town in Gaston County, with about 82,884 residents.

How many ZIP codes are in Gaston County?

Gaston County includes 14 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28006, 28012, 28016, 28021, 28032.

What is the population of Gaston County, NC?

About 234,881 people live in Gaston County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

What counties border Gaston County?

Gaston County borders Mecklenburg County, York County, SC, Cleveland County, Lincoln County.

Gaston County, NC: Cities, ZIP Codes & Local Data

Population

234,881

Land area

356sq mi

People per sq mi

660

ZIP codes

14

Gaston County at a glance

Gaston County is about 3 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
By population, it ranks 11th among 100 counties in North Carolina.
The median household income is $67,478, 7% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $266,000 (8% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,153 a month.
Its largest cities are Gastonia (82,884), Mount Holly (18,208) and Belmont (15,546).

Local data for Gaston County, NC

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Gaston County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$67,478

Poverty rate

13.5%

Median home value

$266,000

Prices +1.9% in a year

Median rent

$1,153/mo

Homeownership

66.8%

Bachelor's or higher

26.5%

Median age

39.1

Average commute

27.0 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (23,732), Irish Americans (18,151), Mexican Americans (7,760).

Home values and rents Income, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans

Details

Unemployment rate

3.2%

Sep 2026, -0.7 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$56,852

81,516 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$55,398

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$1.5B

FY 2026, $6,538 per person

PPP loans

$301M

4,125 loans, 37,545 jobs reported

Campaign donations

$1.2M

Itemized, 2026 cycle

Economy Federal spending PPP loans

How people get to work

Gaston County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

Drove alone76.7%
Carpooled8.7%
Public transit0.4%
Walked0.9%
Bicycle0.0%
Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
Worked from home12.4%

Average one-way commute: 27.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Gaston County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: ice storm

Storm events since 1996

553

Most often thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

313

0.4% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

91° / 31°F

44.0 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm history Check a flood zone 20 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Gaston County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

36.2%

U.S. 33.3% +2.9 pts

Diabetes

12.3%

U.S. 12.1% about the same

Smoking

15.0%

U.S. 12.8% +2.2 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

10.9%

U.S. 11.1% about the same

Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Gaston County

Population shown

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Gaston County, NC?: Gastonia is the largest city or town in Gaston County, with about 82,884 residents.
How many ZIP codes are in Gaston County?: Gaston County includes 14 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28006, 28012, 28016, 28021, 28032.
What is the population of Gaston County, NC?: About 234,881 people live in Gaston County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What counties border Gaston County?: Gaston County borders Mecklenburg County, York County, SC, Cleveland County, Lincoln County.