The Town FilesGaston, North Carolina
Town in Northampton County · population 1,008 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,200
- Household income
- $42,105
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 43.0
Gaston is a town of 1,008 people in Northampton County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $77,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 93% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 91% of North Carolina towns.
How Gaston ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gaston is worth $77,200, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $42,105, which is more affordable than 99% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $818 a month. 58.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gaston | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $818 | $969 |
| Median household income | $42,105 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Gaston
| People | Gaston | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Gaston
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 30.0°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaston since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 16, 2011 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 19, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 14, 2021.
Severe weather in Northampton County since 1996
Northampton County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Northampton County
Northampton County had 4,859 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,460 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Gaston itself the ACS puts it at 17.5%.
Public schools in Gaston
3 public schools with 1,734 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIPP Gaston College Preparatory (charter) | K-12 | 1,183 | 16.4 |
| Gaston STEM Leadership Academy | PK-8 | 294 | 12.3 |
| Northampton County High School | 9-12 | 257 | 13.5 |
Towns near Gaston
- Roanoke Rapids, NC3.4 mi · 15,229 people · home $142,700
- South Rosemary, NC4.7 mi · 2,753 people · home $86,800
- Weldon, NC5.3 mi · 1,444 people · home $100,500
- Garysburg, NC5.8 mi · 904 people · home $107,600
- South Weldon, NC6.2 mi · 550 people · home $66,500
- Seaboard, NC11.4 mi · 542 people · home $91,500
- Emporia, VA15.2 mi · 5,766 people · home $148,500
- Littleton, NC15.3 mi · 559 people · home $108,700
Gaston questions
Is Gaston, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gaston scores better for retirees than 65% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 91%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Gaston?
The median owner-occupied home in Gaston is valued at $77,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,105, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $818 a month.
What is the weather like in Gaston?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 30.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.6 inches of snow.
Does Gaston get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 16, 2011. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)