Fayetteville, NC vs Gastonia, NC

Fayetteville is moderately more affordable than Gastonia, with a 8.2% lower cost of living index. Fayetteville scores 82 compared to 89 for Gastonia, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gastonia can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fayetteville is $1,179/month compared to $1,145/month in Gastonia — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gastonia has cheaper rent, Fayetteville actually has lower median home values ($171,900 vs $250,000).

Median household income in Fayetteville is $56,395 compared to $60,554 in Gastonia (-6.9%). The higher salaries in Gastonia partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fayetteville spend roughly 25.1% of their income on rent, more than the 22.7% in Gastonia.