Gastonia, NC vs New Bern, NC

New Bern is moderately more affordable than Gastonia, with a 8% lower cost of living index. Gastonia scores 89 compared to 83 for New Bern, 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 $1,068/month in New Bern — a 7% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Bern is more affordable at $211,500 median vs $250,000.

Median household income in Gastonia is $60,554 compared to $56,893 in New Bern (+6.4%). The higher salaries in Gastonia partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Gastonia spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, more than the 22.5% in New Bern.