Gaston, NC Demographics

A map of Gaston's Population by Race

Gaston, North Carolina has an estimated population of 912, a decrease from the 1,008 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 58.4% Black, 36.5% White, 2.1% Multiracial, 1.4% Hispanic, 1.0% Native American/Other, and 0.5% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Gaston, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Gaston has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Gaston, that probability was 55.4% in 2020 and 52.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Gaston is ranked the 480th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Gaston was ranked the 441st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Gaston's White Population

333 residents of Gaston, or 36.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Gaston is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Gaston ranks 571st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaston's White population has declined by an estimated 33.7%. White residents' share of Gaston's population has decreased from 49.8% to 36.5%.

Gaston is more White than neighboring Weldon (14.5% White), South Weldon (17.2% White), and Garysburg (0% White). Gaston is less White than neighboring Roanoke Rapids (50.1% White), and South Rosemary (37.2% White).

Gaston's Black Population

533 residents of Gaston, or 58.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Gaston is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Gaston ranks 107th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaston's Black population has grown by an estimated 19.2%. Black residents' share of Gaston's population has increased from 44.3% to 58.4%.

Gaston is more Black than neighboring Roanoke Rapids (37% Black). Gaston is less Black than neighboring Weldon (82.8% Black), South Rosemary (58.5% Black), South Weldon (79.4% Black), and Garysburg (94.6% Black).

Gaston's Asian Population

5 residents of Gaston, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Gaston is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Gaston ranks 627th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaston's Asian population has grown from 0 to an estimated 5. Asian residents' share of Gaston's population has increased from 0.0% to 0.5%.

Gaston is more Asian than neighboring Weldon (0% Asian), South Rosemary (0% Asian), South Weldon (0% Asian), and Garysburg (0% Asian). Gaston is less Asian than neighboring Roanoke Rapids (1.1% Asian).

Gaston's Hispanic Population

13 residents of Gaston, or 1.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Gaston is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Gaston ranks 733rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaston's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 13.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Gaston's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.4%.

Gaston is more Hispanic than neighboring Weldon (1.3% Hispanic), South Rosemary (0% Hispanic), South Weldon (0% Hispanic), and Garysburg (0.5% Hispanic). Gaston is less Hispanic than neighboring Roanoke Rapids (6.1% Hispanic).

Gaston's Native American/Other Population

9 residents of Gaston, or 1.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Gaston is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Gaston ranks 177th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaston's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 30.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Gaston's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.0%.

Gaston is more Native American/Other than neighboring Roanoke Rapids (0.5% Native American/Other), Weldon (0.9% Native American/Other), South Rosemary (0% Native American/Other), South Weldon (0% Native American/Other), and Garysburg (0.5% Native American/Other).

Gaston's Multiracial Population

19 residents of Gaston, or 2.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Gaston is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Gaston ranks 540th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaston's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 38.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Gaston's population has decreased from 3.1% to 2.1%.

Gaston is more Multiracial than neighboring Weldon (0.5% Multiracial). Gaston is less Multiracial than neighboring Roanoke Rapids (5.2% Multiracial), South Rosemary (4.3% Multiracial), South Weldon (3.4% Multiracial), and Garysburg (4.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.