Gaston County, NC

County

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2022 Population
228,972
1.27% 1-year growth
US Senator
Thom Tillis
Republican Party
US Senator
Ted Budd
Republican Party
2022 Median Age
39.9
0.25% 1-year decrease
2022 Poverty Rate
12.4%
5.24% 1-year decrease
2022 Median Household Income
$62,628
10.2% 1-year growth
2022 Median Property Value
$206,700
21.2% 1-year growth
2022 Employed Population
109,133
1.54% 1-year growth

About

In 2022, Gaston County, NC had a population of 229k people with a median age of 39.9 and a median household income of $62,628. Between 2021 and 2022 the population of Gaston County, NC grew from 226,097 to 228,972, a 1.27% increase and its median household income grew from $56,819 to $62,628, a 10.2% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Gaston County, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (69.5%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (17%), White (Hispanic) (3.16%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.1%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (2.55%).

None of the households in Gaston County, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.2% of the residents in Gaston County, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Gaston County, NC are Gaston College (3,400 degrees awarded in 2022), Belmont Abbey College (315 degrees), and Paul Mitchell the School-Gastonia (137 degrees).

In 2022, the median property value in Gaston County, NC was $206,700, and the homeownership rate was 67%.

Most people in Gaston County, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 26.5 minutes. The average car ownership in Gaston County, NC was 2 cars per household.

Population & Diversity

Gaston County, NC is home to a population of 229k people, from which 97.2% are citizens. As of 2022, 5.16% of Gaston County, NC residents were born outside of the country (11.8k people).

In 2022, there were 4.08 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (159k people) in Gaston County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 39k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 7.23k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Citizenship

97.2%
2022 Citizenship
97%
2021 Citizenship

As of 2022, 97.2% of Gaston County, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.5%. In 2021, the percentage of US citizens in Gaston County, NC was 97%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Gaston County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Gaston County, NC
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    159k ± 365
  2. Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
    39k ± 812
  3. White (Hispanic)
    7.23k ± 970
8.03%
Hispanic Population
18.4k people

In 2022, there were 4.08 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (159k people) in Gaston County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 39k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 7.23k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

8.03% of the people in Gaston County, NC are hispanic (18.4k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Gaston County, NC as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.
Most Common Origin
  1. Mexico
    214,508 ± 11,254 people
  2. India
    79,868 ± 6,912 people
  3. Honduras
    39,759 ± 4,886 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 214,508 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 79,868 and Honduras with 39,759.

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Foreign-Born Population

5.16%
2022 Foreign-Born Population
11.8k people
5.23%
2021 Foreign-Born Population
11.8k people

As of 2022, 5.16% of Gaston County, NC residents (11.8k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.6%. In 2021, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Gaston County, NC was 5.23%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Gaston County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Vietnam
    4,456 ± 367
  2. Gulf War (1990s)
    2,654 ± 377
  3. Gulf War (2001-)
    2,492 ± 367

Gaston County, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.68 times greater than any other conflict.

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Economy

The economy of Gaston County, NC employs 109k people. The largest industries in Gaston County, NC are Manufacturing (16,864 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (14,029 people), and Retail Trade (13,668 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($92,813), Utilities ($79,326), and Finance & Insurance ($69,189).

Males in North Carolina have an average income that is 1.31 times higher than the average income of females, which is $57,464. The income inequality in North Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.47, which is lower than than the national average.

Occupations

109k
2022 Value
± 2,530
1.54%
1 Year growth
± 3.22%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Gaston County, NC grew at a rate of 1.54%, from 107k employees to 109k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Gaston County, NC, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (11,911 people), Management Occupations (11,362 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (11,109 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Gaston County, NC.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Employment by Industries

109k
2022 Value
± 2,530
1.54%
1 Year growth
± 3.22%

From 2021 to 2022, employment in Gaston County, NC grew at a rate of 1.54%, from 107k employees to 109k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Gaston County, NC, are Manufacturing (16,864 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (14,029 people), and Retail Trade (13,668 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Gaston County, NC, though some of these residents may live in Gaston County, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$48,097
Median earning men ± $1,374
$36,098
Median earning women ± $1,026

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2022 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($75,750), Information ($64,399), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($57,846).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2022 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($55,302), Public Administration ($51,939), and Wholesale Trade ($46,950).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.
Y-Axis
3.04%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.86M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 3.04% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

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Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments
  1. 1,504
    Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance
  2. 1,231
    Manufacturing
  3. 872
    Finance & Insurance, and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

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Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Gaston County, NC went to Donald J. Trump with 63.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (35.5%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.788%).

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing the state of North Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

North Carolina is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

US Senators from North Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.
Thom Tillis
Senator from North Carolina2
Assumed office on January 3, 2015
Ted Budd
Senator from North Carolina3
Assumed office on January 3, 2023

Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are the senators currently representing North Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in North Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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US Representatives from North Carolina

North Carolina is currently represented by 14 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for North Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.

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Education

In 2022, universities in Gaston County, NC awarded 3,852 degrees. The student population of Gaston County, NC in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 2,764 male students and 4,567 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Gaston County, NC are White (2,359 and 62.2%), followed by Unknown (502 and 13.2%), Black or African American (494 and 13%), and Hispanic or Latino (272 and 7.18%).

The largest universities in Gaston County, NC by number of degrees awarded are Gaston College (3,400 and 88.3%), Belmont Abbey College (315 and 8.18%), and Paul Mitchell the School-Gastonia (137 and 3.56%).

The most popular majors in Gaston County, NC are Biotechnology (1,152 and 29.9%), Registered Nursing (387 and 10%), and Liberal Arts & Sciences (369 and 9.58%).

The median tuition cost in Gaston County, NC for private four year colleges is $18,500.

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University
Measure

In 2022 in Gaston County, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 97.2%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 14.7%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 7,331 (37.7% men and 62.3% women).

The line chart  shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

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Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 7,331 students enrolled in Gaston County, NC, 37.7% men and 62.3% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 3,449 records, of which 60.3% were women and 39.7% men.

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Concentrations

Most Common
  1. 34 degrees awarded
  2. 350 degrees awarded
  3. 75 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Gaston County, NC was General Business Administration & Management with 34 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Gaston County, NC according to their major.

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Universities

Gender
Race
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
  1. 3,400 degrees awarded
  2. 315 degrees awarded
  3. 137 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Gaston College with 3,400 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 958 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Gaston County, NC, which is 0.331 times less than the 2,894 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,359 degrees mean that there were 4.7 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Unknown, with 502 degrees awarded.

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Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

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Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($18,500) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($754) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,460) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

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Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.
Measure

In 2022, 0.944% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.805% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

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Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.
Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (2.16M), Some college (1.84M), and Bachelors Degree (1.63M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Gaston County, NC was $206,700 in 2022, which is 0.733 times smaller than the national average of $281,900. Between 2021 and 2022 the median property value increased from $170,500 to $206,700, a 21.2% increase. The homeownership rate in Gaston County, NC is 67%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.8%.

People in Gaston County, NC have an average commute time of 26.5 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Gaston County, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Gaston County, NC is $62,628. In 2022, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Gaston County, NC was Census Tract 333.03 with a value of $110,368, followed by Census Tract 325.07 and Census Tract 325.08, with respective values of $108,438 and $92,938.

In 2022, 15.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Gaston County, NC. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 0.437%.

Property

$206,700
Median Property Value 2022
±$4,984
$60,619
Median Property Taxes
±$1,679

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Gaston County, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Gaston County, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

67%
Homeownership
2022
64.1%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2022

In 2022, 67% of the housing units in Gaston County, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 65.7%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Gaston County, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Income by Location

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Race/Ethnicity
Highest Median Household Income (Total)
  1. Census Tract 333.03
  2. Census Tract 325.07
  3. Census Tract 325.08

In 2022, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Gaston County, NC was Census Tract 333.03 with a value of $110,368, followed by Census Tract 325.07 and Census Tract 325.08, with respective values of $108,438 and $92,938.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Gaston County, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$62,628
Median Household Income
± $1,627
90.4k
Number of Households
± 2,263

In 2022, the median household income of the 90.4k households in Gaston County, NC grew to $62,628 from the previous year's value of $56,819.

The following chart displays the households in Gaston County, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Gaston County, NC is from North Carolina.
0.47
2022 Wage GINI in North Carolina
0.47
2021 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2022, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.47 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.0732% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2022
  1. Drove Alone (80.5%)
  2. Carpooled (9.09%)
  3. Worked At Home (8.2%)

In 2022, 80.5% of workers in Gaston County, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.09%) and those who worked at home (8.2%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Commute Time

26.5 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Gaston County, NC have a shorter commute time (26.5 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.7 minutes). Additionally, 1.72% of the workforce in Gaston County, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Gaston County, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

2 cars
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Gaston County, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Gaston County, NC have 2 cars.

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Severe Housing Problems

In 2022, 15.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Gaston County, NC. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 0.437%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

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Poverty & Diversity

12.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Gaston County, NC (28k out of 225k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 45 - 54.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Gaston County, NC is White, followed by Black and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Children in Poverty

In 2022, 16.1% of the children was living in poverty in Gaston County, NC. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 11.2%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

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Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 390 in Gaston County, NC. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 53.4 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

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Health

89.8% of the population of Gaston County, NC has health coverage, with 47.3% on employee plans, 17.2% on Medicaid, 12.9% on Medicare, 10.8% on non-group plans, and 1.66% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Gaston County, NC see 1741 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.798% decrease from the previous year (1755 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1827 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 370 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.7% were men and 52.3% were women.

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,741 to 1
Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Gaston County, NC

Primary care physicians in Gaston County, NC see an average of 1,741 patients per year. This represents a 0.798% decrease from the previous year (1,755 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Gaston County, NC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

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Health Care Diversity

In 2022, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.8% under 18 years, 20.4% between 18 and 34 years, 39.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.7% were men and 52.3% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

10.2%
Uninsured
47.3%
Employer Coverage
17.2%
Medicaid
12.9%
Medicare
10.8%
Non-Group
1.66%
Military or VA

Between 2021 and 2022, the percent of uninsured citizens in Gaston County, NC declined by 2.24% from 10.4% to 10.2%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Gaston County, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2022, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 57.7 in Gaston County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Gaston County, NC.

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Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2022, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 34.3% in Gaston County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Gaston County, NC.

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Clinical Care

Indicator

In 2022, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance was 13.9% in Gaston County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Gaston County, NC.

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