Gastonia, NC vs Salisbury, NC

Salisbury is moderately more affordable than Gastonia, with a 7.6% lower cost of living index. Gastonia scores 89 compared to 83 for Salisbury, 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 $1,030/month in Salisbury — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Salisbury is more affordable at $215,200 median vs $250,000.

Median household income in Gastonia is $60,554 compared to $51,058 in Salisbury (+18.6%). 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 24.2% in Salisbury.