Signals
High Point
Gastonia
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 32%
vs55 · Bottom 47%
Climate
77 · Top 23%
vs72 · Top 39%
Physical resilience
62 · Top 47%
vs66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
86 · Top 40%
vs75 · Bottom 40%
Schools
37 · Bottom 32%
vs36 · Bottom 31%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 31%
vs51 · Bottom 33%
Measured values
| Metric | High Point | Gastonia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 116,245 | 82,884 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,561 | $64,059 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,661 | $35,174 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,024/sq mi | 1,542/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $235,800 | $277,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,116 | $1,204 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.8% | 54.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.2% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.0% | 26.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 16.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 89°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.0" | 43.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 29.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.7 | 36.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 33 | 23 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.52 | 15.87 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 32.3% | 35.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 40.7% | 37.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 99.3% | 92.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
High Point
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Gastonia
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Your best match
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High Point
64
Your Score
61
Area Score
Gastonia
65
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: High Point, NC · Gastonia, NC · How this is calculated: methodology