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Stanley, NC

Town in Gaston County, North Carolina.

Population

4,069

Land area

3.1sq mi

People per sq mi

1,332

ZIP codes

0

Stanley and its ZIP codes

Full map

Stanley at a glance

  • Stanley is about 6 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $75,461 a year, 4% more than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $270,200 (6% below North Carolina) and median rent is $1,122 a month.

Local data for Stanley, NC

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Stanley, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$75,461

Poverty rate

8.1%

Median home value

$270,200

Median rent

$1,122/mo

Homeownership

70.7%

Bachelor's or higher

23.1%

Median age

36.9

Average commute

26.1 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (666), Polish Americans (355), Irish Americans (258).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Gaston County. PPP loans are for Stanley.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Aug 2026, -0.6 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$56,852

81,516 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$55,398

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$1.49B

FY 2026, $6,538 per person

Gaston County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

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

  • Drove alone75.2%
  • Carpooled13.2%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked0.0%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
  • Worked from home11.1%

Average one-way commute: 26.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Stanley, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: ice storm

Storm events since 1996

553

Countywide, mostly 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 historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Stanley, NC, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

34.2%

U.S. 33.3% +0.9 pts

Diabetes

11.8%

U.S. 12.1% about the same

Smoking

14.6%

U.S. 12.8% +1.8 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

9.3%

U.S. 11.1% -1.8 pts

Cities near Stanley

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
AlexisCensus-designated place3 mi2
Spencer MountainTown3.7 mi0.5
RanloTown5.1 mi2.1
SpringdaleCensus-designated place5.4 mi0.7
LowellCity5.7 mi3.7
Mount HollyCity5.9 mi11.3
DallasTown6 mi3.1
McAdenvilleTown6.3 mi1.4
High ShoalsCity6.4 mi2.6
LowesvilleCensus-designated place6.9 mi6.8
Iron StationCensus-designated place7.2 mi2.4
CramertonTown8.5 mi4.6
GastoniaCity8.9 mi53.7
BelmontCity9 mi12.2
LincolntonCity11 mi9
HuntersvilleTown12 mi41.8

Frequently asked questions

What county is Stanley, NC in?
Stanley is in Gaston County, North Carolina.
What is the population of Stanley, NC?
About 4,069 people live in Stanley, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Stanley?
Nearby places include Alexis (3 mi), Spencer Mountain (3.7 mi), Ranlo (5.1 mi), Springdale (5.4 mi), Lowell (5.7 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023