Rents are 10% below what Gastonia's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,483 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Gastonia usually run 0.8% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in July, about $25 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Gastonia is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Gastonia changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Gastonia rose 48.6% while median household income rose 29.5% ($49,460 to $64,059). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Gastonia is 51.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($64,059) is $1,601 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,447); a 3-bedroom is $1,787.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Gastonia, 28056 ($2,111/mo), costs 1.5 times the cheapest, 28052 ($1,385/mo).
Cherryville, 18 miles away, rents for 28% less ($1,075/mo), about $4,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Gastonia. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Gastonia, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 26.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Gastonia, NC has changed in 5 years
Rent in Gastonia, NC has increased 34.8% since 2021, going from about $1,100 per month to roughly $1,483 today. Census figures show median household income at $64,059 today, compared with $52,990 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 13.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 79,483 to 82,884 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.3% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Gastonia
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Gastonia on your salary?
At $1,483/mo, how Gastonia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Gastonia rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Gastonia. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Gastonia
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Gastonia is $1,483/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,257/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,447/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,307/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,787/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($64,059/yr), Gastonia ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Gastonia?
Is rent going up or down in Gastonia?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Gastonia?
Has rent outpaced income in Gastonia?
Which Gastonia neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Gastonia rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Gastonia?
At $1,483/mo, rent takes ~28% of Gastonia's median household income ($64,059/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Gastonia.
No discussions yet.