Average Rent in Gastonia, NC (2026)

Typical asking rent in Gastonia is $1,473. Across the 3 ZIP codes with data it runs from $1,396 to $2,113, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of July 2026.

Median rent
$1,473
Average rent
$1,661
Lowest ZIP
$1,396
Highest ZIP
$2,113

Rent by ZIP code in Gastonia

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
28056Gaston County$2,113+43%
28054Gaston County$1,4730%
28052Gaston County$1,396-5%

Rent by bedroom count in Gastonia

Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Gaston County. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for. Gaston County uses Small Area FMRs, and the two bedroom figure runs from $1,300 to $1,520 depending on the Gastonia ZIP code.

Unit sizeFY2027 Fair Market RentChange from FY2026
Studio$1,574+7.1%
1 bedroom$1,640+6.6%
2 bedroom$1,785+5.9%
3 bedroom$2,179+5.0%
4 bedroom$2,773+5.2%

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.

Is rent going up or down in Gastonia?

Typical rent across Gaston County is $1,666 as of August 2026. That is up 1.6% from a year earlier and up 26.4% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Gaston CountyChange
2021$1,380+14.3%
2022$1,486+7.7%
2023$1,554+4.5%
2024$1,615+3.9%
2025$1,628+0.8%
2026 (through August)$1,666+2.3%

Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.

Gastonia rent questions

What is the average rent in Gastonia, NC?
Typical asking rent in Gastonia is $1,473 a month as of July 2026, across 3 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,396 to $2,113.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Gastonia?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Gaston County is $1,785 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,640 and a three bedroom is $2,179. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Gastonia?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Gaston County is $1,666 as of August 2026, up 1.6% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Gastonia?
ZIP 28052 has the lowest typical asking rent in Gastonia at $1,396 a month, compared with $1,473 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Gastonia?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Gastonia rent of $1,473, that is about $4,419 a month, or $53,028 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.

How to use these numbers

These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.

If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Gastonia sits in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area.

Other North Carolina cities

Would a rental in Gastonia cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Gastonia median rent of $1,473 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.