Gaston vs Roanoke Rapids
Gaston, North Carolina versus Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Gaston edges out Roanoke Rapids on overall objective livability (50 vs 40 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Gaston | Roanoke Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $35k | $46k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $46k |
| Home Value | $74k | $126k |
| Monthly Rent | $956 | $772 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $184 | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.50% | 1.52% |
| Income Tax | 4.50% | 4.50% |
| Sales Tax | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.99% | 10.98% |
| Unemployment | 23.5% | 6.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 41°F | 41°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 80°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5 in | 49.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.0 in | 5.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 192 days | 194 days |
| Summer Humidity | 68°F | 69°F |
| Comfortable Days | 72 days | 72 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 55.2 | 56.5 |
| Air Quality | 44 AQI | 44 AQI |
| School Quality | 82.5 | 41.4 |
| Violent Crime | 0/100k | 1631/100k |
| Property Crime | 0/100k | 4466/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 849 | 15,143 |
| Median Age | 45.9 | 40.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.52 | 0.59 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.80 | 0.89 |
| Political Leaning | D+21 | D+21 |
| White (%) | 47.1% | 51.8% |
| Black (%) | 49.9% | 34.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.1% | 6.0% |
| Asian (%) | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 0.6% | 6.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 20 min |
| Walkability | 7.6/20 | 8.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 72 mi | 74 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 71.6% | 80.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 494.70 | 31.04 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Gaston or Roanoke Rapids more affordable?
- Roanoke Rapids has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Gaston's $46k and Roanoke Rapids's $46k. Median rent is $956 in Gaston versus $772 in Roanoke Rapids.
- Is Gaston or Roanoke Rapids safer?
- Gaston has the lower violent crime rate. Gaston reports 0/100k and Roanoke Rapids reports 1631/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Gaston or Roanoke Rapids?
- The median home value is $74k in Gaston and $126k in Roanoke Rapids, so homes are more affordable in Gaston.