Gastonia, NC vs Wilmington, NC

Gastonia is moderately more affordable than Wilmington, with a 12.4% lower cost of living index. Gastonia scores 89 compared to 102 for Wilmington, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Wilmington 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 $1,311/month in Wilmington — a 13% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Gastonia is more affordable at $250,000 median vs $350,300.

Median household income in Gastonia is $60,554 compared to $63,900 in Wilmington (-5.2%). Wilmington does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Gastonia spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Wilmington.