12 cities
| City | Rank | 2026 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastonia | 1 | 88,022 | 80,561 | 1.43% | 1,605 | 55 | City |
| Mount Holly | 2 | 19,202 | 17,764 | 1.27% | 1,704 | 11 | City |
| Belmont | 3 | 16,483 | 15,165 | 1.35% | 1,352 | 12 | City |
| Cherryville | 4 | 6,532 | 6,090 | 1.15% | 1,125 | 6 | City |
| Dallas | 5 | 6,430 | 5,949 | 1.26% | 2,092 | 3 | Town |
| Bessemer City | 6 | 5,870 | 5,450 | 1.21% | 1,040 | 6 | City |
| Cramerton | 7 | 5,743 | 5,325 | 1.23% | 1,236 | 5 | Town |
| Ranlo | 8 | 4,874 | 4,520 | 1.23% | 2,366 | 2 | Town |
| Stanley | 9 | 4,228 | 3,985 | 0.98% | 1,384 | 3 | Town |
| Lowell | 10 | 3,963 | 3,663 | 1.28% | 1,078 | 4 | City |
| McAdenville | 11 | 959 | 890 | 1.27% | 707 | 1 | Town |
| High Shoals | 12 | 641 | 596 | 1.26% | 246 | 3 | City |
Gastonia is the largest city in Gaston County, with a population of 88,022.
High Shoals is the smallest city in Gaston County, with a population of 641.
There are 12 cities in Gaston County, North Carolina.