Signals
Mooresville
Gastonia
Opportunity
60 · Top 41%
vs55 · Bottom 47%
Climate
72 · Top 39%
vs72 · Top 39%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 37%
vs66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 43%
vs75 · Bottom 40%
Schools
80 · Top 14%
vs36 · Bottom 31%
Access
86 · Bottom 32%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
70 · Top 29%
vs51 · Bottom 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Mooresville | Gastonia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 52,381 | 82,884 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $89,647 | $64,059 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,111 | $35,174 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,914/sq mi | 1,542/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $390,900 | $277,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,626 | $1,204 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.3% | 54.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.9% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.5% | 26.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 16.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 43.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 27 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 29.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.8 | 36.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 23 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.09 | 15.87 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 62.3% | 35.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 64.5% | 37.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 49.7% | 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
Mooresville
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Gastonia
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Mooresville
71
Your Score
68
Area Score
Gastonia
65
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Mooresville, NC · Gastonia, NC · How this is calculated: methodology