Gastonia, NC vs Jacksonville, NC

Gastonia, NC and Jacksonville, NC have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.5% difference in their overall index. Gastonia scores 89 while Jacksonville scores 86 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Gastonia is $1,145/month compared to $1,268/month in Jacksonville — a 10% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gastonia has cheaper rent, Jacksonville actually has lower median home values ($191,700 vs $250,000).

Median household income in Gastonia is $60,554 compared to $54,069 in Jacksonville (+12%). While Gastonia is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Gastonia spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, less than the 28.1% in Jacksonville.