Gastonia, NC vs Imperial, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Gastonia
67.9
#1368 nationally
Imperial
71.3
#996 nationally
Imperial leads in crime level (2.1 vs 23.3). Imperial leads in median household income ($83,029 vs $58,047). Imperial leads in average commute (18.1 min vs 25.7 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Gastonia, NC | Imperial, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.9 (#1368) | 71.3 (#996) |
| Population | 83,942 | 21,591 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $279,555 | $445,376 |
| Median Household Income | $58,047 | $83,029 |
| Average Commute | 25.7 min | 18.1 min |
| Walk Score | 23 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 23.3 | 2.1 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 118 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+25.0 | R+0.9 |
Data coverage note: Imperial is missing data for 1 metric that Gastonia has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
D+
67.9 Score
Gastonia, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$279,555
Population
83,942
Crime
High
Walk Score
23
Southeast
View Gastonia, NC →
C-
71.3 Score
Imperial, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$445,376
Population
21,591
Crime
Low
Median Income
$83,029
Pacific
View Imperial, CA →