Gastonia, NC vs Kannapolis, NC

Gastonia, NC and Kannapolis, NC have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Gastonia scores 89 while Kannapolis scores 90 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 $1,168/month in Kannapolis — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Gastonia has cheaper rent, Kannapolis actually has lower median home values ($245,500 vs $250,000).

Median household income in Gastonia is $60,554 compared to $70,691 in Kannapolis (-14.3%). While Kannapolis 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, more than the 19.8% in Kannapolis.