Those living in Gaston County, North Carolina, know they have a tremendous lifestyle that enables them to enjoy the best of two worlds. Located immediately west of Charlotte in south-central North Carolina, Gaston County mixes museums, dining, and retail with nature preserves and parks. Residents get access to modern amenities and outdoor recreation in one beautiful place. Its perks are why more people are living in Gaston County, NC. Get an overview of the quality of life awaiting here.

About Gaston County

Welcome to the Piedmont region of North Carolina, a landscape of gently rolling hills and striking ridges. The majestic stone outcroppings of Crowders Mountain stand as a testament to the natural beauty of Gaston County. The King’s Pinnacle, the county’s highest point, offers breathtaking views at 1,690 feet above sea level and 800 feet over Gastonia. This scenic beauty is just one of the many reasons to choose Gaston County as your home.

Gaston County’s strategic location immediately west of Charlotte, one of the nation’s fastest-growing major cities, is a major advantage for its residents. This proximity provides easy access to modern conveniences such as an international airport, professional sports teams, advanced health care, and high-paying jobs. The county is also surrounded by Cleveland, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg counties, with its southern border touching York County, South Carolina. The eastern border is defined by the picturesque Mountain Island Lake, Lake Wylie, and the Catawba River. 

Gaston County History

The area’s original inhabitants were the Catawba and Cherokee peoples. German, Dutch, English, and Scots-Irish settlers moved into the area in the mid-1700s. The resulting tension caused two forts to be built at the conjunction of the Catawba and South Fork Rivers, but no skirmishes were fought. 

Early settlers struggled with farming but found corn could thrive in Gaston County. By 1870, Gaston County had a reputation as the “Banner Corn Whiskey County of Carolina.” There were 48 licensed distilleries. 

While farming was challenging, industrialization changed its fate. From 1845 to 1848, three cotton mills were founded. Textile manufacturing became critical to the local economy. Even today, it remains a top county for cotton consumption and operating spindles. It has more cotton mills than any other county in North Carolina. 

In addition to textile manufacturing, local mines provided essential minerals and ore, such as sulfur, tin, and iron. Several iron furnaces were built around Mount Holly, Bessemer City, and High Shoals. 

The county itself was founded in 1846 from the southern portion of Lincoln County. It was named for a congressman and North Carolina Supreme Court Justice. Gastonia was made the county seat in 1911. 

The Roman Catholic Order of Saint Benedict established Abbey College in Belmont in 1876. Today, the Abbey continues to thrive on its 700-acre campus. 

Gaston County Cost of Living

Residents benefit from Gaston County’s affordable cost of living. The Best Places Index Ranks the Cost of Living by setting the US average at 100. Gaston County has an overall score of 89, meaning living here is more affordable than the national average. The most expensive category was health care, with a 100.6 score. The least expensive was housing, with a score of 76.6. All categories indexed below the national average, which is great news for your budget. It shows average costs are below what most Americans pay. Even better is a solid median household income of $65,430, showing you don’t have to stretch far to afford the cost of housing and other expenses.

Gaston County Cities and Areas

Considered part of the greater Charlotte metro, Gaston County has 15 incorporated towns plus several unincorporated communities. Most of the development is on the eastern side, closest to Mecklenburg County. These cities flourished as small towns and have retained their southern character and sense of community even as they have grown.

Gastonia is the largest city by population and the geographical center of Gaston County. It is also the county seat. The National Civic League has named Gastonia an All-America City three times, most recently in 2010. It’s a historic center for textile manufacturing and also has one of the best high schools in the state. Gastonia’s downtown FUSE district is a place to go for entertainment and dining, while it has 12 parks for outdoor activities.

Mount Holly is the second-largest city in Gaston County, and that might be because of its proximity to Charlotte and its location on the Catawba River. The town has a well-developed retail shopping center and a charming, walkable downtown of its own. Miles of walking trails encourage people to enjoy the beautiful sunshine days. 

Belmont is next by population size. Also near the Catawba River, Belmont’s historic atmosphere includes the Belmont Abbey College and brick-lined sidewalks downtown. It has a thriving textile industry and is near the North Carolina Textile School.

Historic Cherryville got its name from the cherry trees planted along an old stagecoach lane. It was incorporated in 1881, and still has signs of pioneering roots with old homes, a heritage park, and museums. At one point, it had 13 textile mills. The small town is in northwestern Gaston County.

Bessemer City is in the county’s western section, at the foot of Whetstone Mountain. It is a mining center and home to a Lithium Corporation plant. Residents have several parks, including a public pool, and a farmer’s market. 

The other incorporated cities and towns in Gaston County include Cramerton, Dallas, Dellview, High Shoals, Lowell, McAdenville, Ranlo, Spencer Mountain, and Stanley. Many of these towns were originally founded as textile centers or around another form of manufacturing. 

Moving Around Gaston County

Getting around the metro and the county is easy. Interstate 85 bisects the county and links it to greater North Carolina. Highway 321 is a vital north-south artery. Residents take I-85 to drop into the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which is practically right across the Catawba River. Given the rural nature of most of the county and the high presence of Charlotte commuters, most residents get around by car. The county lacks an extensive public transportation system, although it has an on-demand van in the Gastonia area.

Parts of the historic towns are walkable, as in downtown Belmont, Mount Holly, and Gastonia.

Gaston County Job Market

From its early days as a textile center to its modern resurgence as a manufacturing hub, Gaston County has long been a center of manufacturing and trade. Available job opportunities concentrate in these fields, but the market does branch out into other sectors like health care, governmental work, and retail. 

The top three employing industries are manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and retail trades. Around 16,000 people in its workforce are employed by manufacturers. Food services and educational services also have significant representation. Gaston County reported a 3.9% unemployment rate in July 2024, under the national average. 

Based on the number of employees, the top employers are CaroMont Health, Gaston County Schools, Freightliner, Gaston County, Walmart, Mann + Hummel, American & Efird, Food Lion, and the City of Gastonia, and Bud Anstle.

The average commute time for Gaston County residents in 2019 was 27 minutes, but that can depend on where and when you’re going.

Gaston County Real Estate Market

You can find your dream home in Gaston County. From historic homes to lakeside living to golf communities, every type of residential lifestyle awaits you, with housing costs below average for the Charlotte metro.

As people look for a quieter lifestyle outside the City of Charlotte, Gaston’s charming towns and wide open spaces have become more appealing. Fromedian home prices rose by 57%. H 2019 to 2023, mowever, at $300,000, housing was still affordable.

The August 2024 real estate market in Gaston County reported a year-to-date median home price of $315,000, up 5% year-over-year. With a 2.8 months’ supply of inventory and high demand, homes were on the market for an average of 35 days until sale. The number of new listings has increased 25% for the year-to-date, and unlike many markets nationwide, closed sales are also up. The housing market has seen 5% more closing YTD than last year.

Housing prices in Gaston County have steadily increased since 2014, with a slightly sharper rise beginning in mid-2020. This trend follows the same as that of the entire Charlotte MLS area. 

Housing Market in the Cities

In Gastonia, NC, the median sales price was $298,000, a 8% jump for the year-to-date. Even better was the 35% increase in new listings, which fueled a 14% growth in closed sales. Gastonia’s real estate market was bucking national trends at the time, showing how it’s important to look at the local housing market than to worry about national trends. Buyers in September 2024 had about a three-month supply of homes.

Belmont reported a 4.7% growth in home prices, with the year-to-date now at a median $442,500. Its new listings and closed sales were also up, by 18% and 5% respectively. It had a 2.7-months supply of inventory and an average days on market of 30, showing its homes were in high demand.

Property Taxes

Gaston County charged residents a 0.599 property tax rate in 2024. Gastonia assessed $0.47, Belmont $0.455, and Mount Holly $0.405. Downtown Gastonia residents paid the highest combined tax rate at

Housing values were last re-evaluated in 2023. 

Gaston County Population

The US Census in 2020 found Gaston County grew 9.6% to 227,943 residents. Projections estimate by 2025, there will be 232,160 people living here. The population is predominantly urban, with 80% of residents living in its towns and cities on the county’s eastern side. Locals averaged 40 years old in 2019.

Gaston County Education

Over 32,000 students were enrolled in grades K-12 during 2020-2021, making the Gaston County School System the ninth largest in North Carolina. AdvancEd has fully accredited it as a quality school system. It operates three primary schools, 28 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 12 high schools, one early college, and two specialized mixed-grade academies. Three of its high schools have a 100% graduation rate. In terms of Top-Rated Schools, Gaston County has the highest-performing public school in all of North Carolina, the Highland School of Technology, a magnet public high school.

Families have 14 private schools available. Cramerton Christian Academy, Victory Christian Academy, and First Wesleyan Christian School are top-ranked. Most private K-12 schools are religiously affiliated. 

Colleges and Universities

For higher educational opportunities, inside the county are two main choices. Gaston College offers two-year associate’s degrees and other courses for area residents. It has 61 degrees, 68 certificates, and 18 diploma programs. About 72% of its students attend part-time. 

The most popular programs were college transfer, business administration, nursing, medical office administration, veterinary medical technology, and criminal justice technology. It is the only community college with a textile technology center and a textile technology program in the states. The Apprenticeship 321 program was ranked the leading Apprenticeship Partner by the NCCCS. 

Belmont Abbey College is a Catholic college founded on Benedictine values. It has around 1,500 students studying Liberal Arts and Sciences with a whole person and spiritual emphasis. The Cardinal Newman Society ranked the college as one of the top Catholic colleges for its affordability and faithfulness. The Princeton Review also named it one of the Best Southeastern colleges. 

It has 26 major courses of study available, including accounting, finance, health care management, history, pastoral ministries, sports management, and theology. There is a master of health administration graduate program. 

Gaston County Health Care

CaroMont Regional Medical Center is a 435-bed not-for-profit medical center providing general and acute care for the region. It is the anchor for the CaroMont Health operations, which includes five affiliate companies and a network of 46 primary and specialty physicians. Some of the services available at this institution include emergency care, diabetes, cancer, heart and vascular, neuroscience, orthopedics, sleep medicine, psychiatry, and women’s and children’s services. 

CaroMont Health operates a Regional Medical Center in Mount Holly. The facility has six rapid medical evaluation rooms, resuscitation rooms, ultrasound, laboratory, and CT scans. 

The Gaston County Health Department offers low-cost medical services to promote good health with at-risk populations. Clinics include a teen wellness center, women’s health, adult health, clinical laboratory, and pharmacy. It operates two satellite locations. 

Local Weather

The central Carolinas tend to have a “humid continental” classified climate. That translates to relatively mild winters with warm summers. The average high in January is 52F, and the low is 30F. The warmest month is July, with an average 90F high and 69F low.

Gaston County averages 43 inches of rain annually, more than the national average. However, the county averages just two inches of snow in winter. So, while you will experience some ice and snow events, they’re typically not the kind that last long and dump buckets of snow. The area typically sees 214 days of sunshine.

Gaston County Things to Do 

Stay busy and be entertained with all the modern recreation and outdoor activities. From here, you can hike and visit an art museum all in one day. 

Outdoor Recreation

If you like to hike, bike, or paddle, Gaston County has it. Over 80 parks inside the county borders appeal to outdoor enthusiasts and sporting types. These facilities include recreational opportunities like the family-friendly playgrounds at Harper Park, Lineberger Park, and Ranlo Park, sporting fields for youth and adult leagues, and walking trails.

Crowders Mountain State Park will give you a view unlike any other in Charlotte. Rock climb or hike to the top to view the Charlotte skyline in the distance. Several trails wander through the state park, so you don’t have to climb the peak if you don’t want to. Primitive camping is available in two areas. If you plan to go, and it’s a nice weather day, try to get there early, as the walk to the top can get crowded.

Parts of the Carolina Thread Trail also wander through Gaston County, linking 25 miles of sidewalks, natural surface, and paved trails. 

Water Recreation

If you prefer water adventures, the 11 Mill Blueway Trail meanders along the South Fork River and the Catawba River. Canoe liveries and marinas rent equipment, and there are plenty of dining and bar options along the way. More boating is available on Lake Wylie, where the open waters are perfect for water skiing or tubing fun. 

Some of the parks have paddle craft access, too, like Rankin Lake Park in Gastonia. The popular park has a fishing pier and boat rentals for the 80-acre lake.

Across the Catawba awaits the US National Whitewater Center, the world’s largest man-made whitewater course. The facility is great for practicing your skills or learning to handle fast-moving water.

Golfing

Six golf courses and one golf academy add to the recreation activities in Gaston County. Three of these courses are around Kings Mountain: the Kings Mountain Golf Course, Kings Mountain Country Club, and Woodbridge Golf and Country Club. Expect stellar views and rolling fairways.

Agritourism

Perhaps you want to put the freshest ingredients on your plate. Agritourism thrives in Gaston County. You can pick blueberries in the summer and pumpkins in the fall. Pick grapes at the wine farms around Dallas, or go for strawberries in the spring. At least nine working farms are open to the public in some capacity throughout the year. 

Locals also have farmer’s markets that bring the freshest and in-season produce from the farms. Find markets in Gastonia, Mount Holly, Belmont, and Cherryville.

Attractions

The Carolina Speedway and its dirt track are known as “The Action Track.” Each week in season, it hosts different divisions, including the late Model Division, Street Stock, Four Cylinder, and Open Wheel Modified Cars. 

Christmas Town USA is one of the top holiday events in North Carolina. Since 1956, the town of McAdenville has transformed every December into an astonishing display of holiday lights and activities. The cities include a 5K run, tree lighting ceremony, Yule Log parade, Santa and his reindeer, and music performances. 

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden invites you to wander its peaceful 300 acres of spectacular gardens along Lake Wylie. The conservatory features sparkling fountains, nine themed gardens, tropical plants and orchids, and nature trails. Children will enjoy playing in the Kimbrell Children’s Garden. The gardens are open in all seasons. 

The Gastonia Honey Hunters are a professional baseball team in the Atlantic League. The team plays 140 games annually, with 70 at the home field during the season. 

Gaston County Museums

The Gaston County Museum in Dallas has an extensive collection of artifacts and folk art. It preserves local arts in history for generations to come. Not all of its 25,000 artifacts are on display at one time, as it has an extensive storage facility, a research facility, and the central Museum hub. 

Schiele Museum of Natural History is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Among its collections is one of the largest groups of mounted land mammals, natural history exhibits, an outdoor replica of a Catawba Native village, and an 18th-century farm. The museum also has a planetarium, recreations of stone age sites, nature trails, and live animal enclosures. 

Cherryville Depot Train Museum exhibits the county’s railroad history and how it transformed the farming communities. Kids will enjoy watching the model trains. 

The Belmont Abbey Basilica and its painted glass windows are a central figure in the Belmont Abbey historic district. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Kings Mountain Historical Museum invites visitors to step back in time to the famous battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War. 

Explore the area’s rich history in textile and manufacturing traditions. Numerous textile buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in downtown Dallas, Cherryville, Belmont, and other local towns. At Loray Mill, the Alfred C. Kessel Center demonstrates what mill life was like and discusses the importance of the Loray Mill Strike to the national labor movement. The Mill is also the home of the African American Museum of History and Culture. 

Gaston County Dining

Gaston County serves up a deliciously varied culinary experience with a highly developed community. Find traditional fish camps, North Carolina BBQ, local craft brewing, and everything in between. 

The delicious dining isn’t concentrated in Gastonia. You’ll find delicious dishes in all the small towns. Here’s a tiny amuse-bouche of dining in Gaston County:

• J. Peter’s Grill & Bar, Mount Holly, has views of the Catawba River and casual eats
• The Brightstar Grill, Mount Holly, a 50-year-old iconic diner 
• Muddy Rum Distillery, Belmont, on the banks of the Catawba River
• Kyle Fletcher’s Barbeque, Lowell, has won awards in the past
• Tony’s Ice Cream, Gastonia, has been mixing it up for over a century
• Twin Tops, Gastonia, a classic-style North Carolina fish camp

The Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail runs through Gaston and Cleveland County, featuring breweries, distilleries, and wineries. Each establishment has its unique take on distilled beverages.

Gaston County Shopping

If you enjoy retail therapy, Gaston County has you covered. Find an abundance of shopping, from local mom-and-pop shops to big chain retailers. 

The East Ridge Mall in Gastonia is a traditional closed-air mall with Belk, Dillard’s, and Teddy’s Emporium Outlets anchors. Its brands include Bath & Body Works, New York & Co, Reeds Jewelers, Things Remembered, and LensCrafters. It also has local businesses like Lulu’s Candy Store and McKinley’s Home Decorations.

Explore any local small towns to find boutique retailers, gift shops, and antiques. Find downtown shopping districts in Belmont, Mount Holly, McAdenville, and Gastonia. Here you’ll find consignment stores, candy factories, and specialty boutiques. 

Living in Gaston County, NC

Gaston County mixes an southern charm, a contemporary urban lifestyle, and opportunities to hike, bike, and paddle. You are close to the nation’s largest Whitewater Center and have hiking trails in your backyard. The local towns are rich in arts and cultural attractions, from botanical gardens to museums. Gaston County has a professional baseball team and stock car racing. McAdenville’s Christmas Town USA is one of the best holiday experiences in the nation. With so much to enjoy right at home, why live anywhere else? 

Updated September 2024