Who moves to Gastonia, and where they go
Every year the IRS counts how many people move between counties, based on the addresses on their tax returns. Here is what that shows for Gaston County, NC, home of Gastonia, between the 2022 and 2023 tax years.
- Moved in
- 13,447from other US counties
- Moved out
- 11,461to other US counties
- Net
- +1,986more arrivals than departures
- From abroad
- 58tax filers and dependents only
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Where newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 4,710 |
| Cleveland County, NC | 958 |
| Lincoln County, NC | 703 |
| York County, SC (Rock Hill) | 577 |
| Cabarrus County, NC (Concord) | 319 |
| Union County, NC | 206 |
| Catawba County, NC | 205 |
| Iredell County, NC | 131 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 96 |
| Greenville County, SC (Greenville) | 89 |
| Guilford County, NC (Greensboro) | 87 |
| Buncombe County, NC (Asheville) | 74 |
Where people go when they leave
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County, NC (Charlotte) | 2,434 |
| Cleveland County, NC | 1,447 |
| Lincoln County, NC | 1,093 |
| York County, SC (Rock Hill) | 669 |
| Catawba County, NC | 250 |
| Cabarrus County, NC (Concord) | 229 |
| Iredell County, NC | 178 |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 161 |
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 154 |
| Horry County, SC | 136 |
| Cherokee County, SC | 129 |
| Union County, NC | 114 |
Most moves are short hops within the same metro area. 8,482 of the newcomers came from elsewhere in North Carolina and 4,965 from other states. Here are the long-distance moves only, more than 100 miles:
Long-distance newcomers come from
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 96 |
| Cumberland County, NC (Fayetteville) | 65 |
| Broward County, FL (Fort Lauderdale) | 64 |
| Horry County, SC | 58 |
| Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) | 51 |
| Durham County, NC (Durham) | 49 |
| Bronx County, NY | 48 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL (Miami) | 44 |
Long-distance movers go to
| County | People |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC (Raleigh) | 154 |
| Horry County, SC | 136 |
| Brunswick County, NC | 110 |
| New Hanover County, NC (Wilmington) | 52 |
| Providence County, RI (Providence) | 50 |
| Onslow County, NC | 42 |
| Durham County, NC (Durham) | 38 |
| Charleston County, SC (Charleston) | 35 |
Frequently asked questions
Where do people moving to Gastonia come from?
Most people moving into Gaston County, NC come from nearby counties, led by Mecklenburg County, NC (4,710 people). The biggest source more than 100 miles away is Wake County, NC.
Where do people leaving Gastonia move to?
The top destination is Mecklenburg County, NC (2,434 people). Farther away, the most popular is Wake County, NC.
Are more people moving to Gastonia or leaving?
Between the 2022 and 2023 tax years, 13,447 people moved into Gaston County, NC from elsewhere in the US and 11,461 moved out, a net gain of 1,986 (IRS data, not counting moves from abroad).
Thinking about the move yourself? Compare Gastonia with any city it trades people with, like Gastonia vs Raleigh, Gastonia vs Fayetteville, Gastonia vs Fort Lauderdale, Gastonia vs Phoenix.
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, county-to-county migration data for filing years 2022 to 2023, the latest available. Counts are people (the number of personal exemptions, which the IRS uses to approximate individuals): tax filers plus dependents whose address moved to a different county between the two filing years. People who do not file returns are not counted, and the IRS hides very small flows to protect privacy. Figures are for the whole county, not just the city of Gastonia.