The Town FilesStanley, North Carolina
Town in Gaston County · population 3,963 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $270,200
- Household income
- $75,461
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 36.9
Stanley is a town of 3,963 people in Gaston County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $270,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 76% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 71% of North Carolina towns.
How Stanley 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 Stanley is worth $270,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $75,461, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,122 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stanley | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $270,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,122 | $969 |
| Median household income | $75,461 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Stanley
| People | Stanley | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Stanley
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 44.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stanley since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 9, 2008 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 3, 1974.
Severe weather in Gaston County since 1996
Gaston County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Gaston County
Gaston County had 79,486 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,211 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Stanley itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Stanley
4 public schools with 2,010 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Public Charter (charter) | K-9 | 755 | 16.8 |
| Stanley Middle | 6-8 | 606 | 15.5 |
| Kiser Elementary | 3-5 | 336 | 17.7 |
| Springfield Primary | PK-2 | 313 | 15.7 |
Towns near Stanley
- Alexis, NC3.3 mi · 589 people · home $196,000
- Ranlo, NC4.9 mi · 4,511 people · home $200,200
- Springdale, NC5.4 mi · 1,203 people · home $201,900
- Lowell, NC5.5 mi · 3,654 people · home $200,600
- Mount Holly, NC5.6 mi · 17,703 people · home $337,800
- Dallas, NC5.7 mi · 5,927 people · home $254,000
- McAdenville, NC6.2 mi · 890 people · home $377,000
- High Shoals, NC6.7 mi · 595 people · home $230,400
Stanley questions
Is Stanley, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stanley scores better for retirees than 45% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 55%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Stanley?
The median owner-occupied home in Stanley is valued at $270,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,461, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,122 a month.
What is the weather like in Stanley?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Stanley get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stanley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 9, 2008. 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)