Gaston County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Gaston County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Gaston County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Gaston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,093 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,957 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.2% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.8% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Gaston County is about 7% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Gaston County (5.3%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Gaston County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Gaston County, North Carolina grew by 59.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $67,093 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Gaston County
| Metric | Gaston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.538 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,940 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,731 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.7% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Gaston County, it is 0.538, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Gaston County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $427,315 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Gaston County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 23% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,602 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Gaston County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.4% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 5,595 people are unemployed in Gaston County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Gaston County is 23 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Gaston County, North Carolina has fallen from 12.8% to 4.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.7% in 2013.
Gaston County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Gaston County, NC is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 234,809 residents against a local median of 163,556. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Gaston County, NC an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 15% above the local median at 4.7% against 4.1%. Gaston County, NC has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston County, NC | 234,809 | $67,093 #5/6 | 5.3%/yr #3/6 | 4.7% #5/6 | 0.538 #4/6 |
| Lincoln County, NC | 92,729 | $78,296 | 6.1%/yr | 3.3% | 0.542 |
| York County, SC | 293,716 | $90,058 | 5.9%/yr | 4.1% | 0.534 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 1,154,528 | $87,854 | 5.0%/yr | 4.3% | 0.532 |
| Catawba County, NC | 163,556 | $67,947 | 5.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.527 |
| Cleveland County, NC | 100,962 | $58,567 | 5.2%/yr | 5.2% | 0.541 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Gaston County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with North Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Gaston County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Gaston County, North Carolina?
Gaston County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $67,093, about 7% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Gaston County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Gaston County, North Carolina rose 59%, from $42,097 to $67,093. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +59% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Gaston County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Gaston County, North Carolina was $65,060, up 5% from $62,248 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Gaston County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Gaston County, North Carolina was $53,670. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $67,093.
What is the Gini coefficient in Gaston County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Gaston County is 0.538. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Gaston County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Gaston County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 23% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 19% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,602 since 2009.
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