Gastonia, NC vs Hickory, NC

Hickory is moderately more affordable than Gastonia, with a 9.9% lower cost of living index. Gastonia scores 89 compared to 81 for Hickory, 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 Gastonia is $1,145/month compared to $975/month in Hickory — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hickory is more affordable at $248,300 median vs $250,000.

Median household income in Gastonia is $60,554 compared to $63,361 in Hickory (-4.4%). Hickory offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Gastonia spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, more than the 18.5% in Hickory.