CensusEasy
CITY

Gaffney

South Carolina · 12,583 residents (2025 est.) · 8.97 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Gaffney micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Gaffney has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $41,089. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $137,700. At a median age of 31.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 41% less than the South Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,596
−3%since 2000
from 12,968 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,404 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 1,446 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
31.9
−15%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,583 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K13K13K13K13K1990201020202024Gaffney
202413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,089
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,480 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,994
+24%since 2000
from $17,755 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
23.1%
+10.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
29.1%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.476
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.475 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance11.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9%
US avg: 5.1%
Information8.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$137,700
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$887
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $380 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
50.5%
−10.2 ptssince 2000
from 60.7% in 2000
49.5% rent
Vacancy rate
13.9%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.2%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+40%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
49
RELATED:See current rent listings in Gaffney on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic52.9%(6,854)
Black44%(5,703)
Hispanic / Latino2%(257)
Asian0.4%(58)
Other0%
Diversity Score65%(8,425)
2024
White, non-Hispanic41.2%(5,194)
Black40.6%(5,112)
Hispanic / Latino8.2%(1,038)
Asian0.4%(48)
Other9.6%(1,204)
Diversity Score81.2%(10,223)
Diversity Score
81
+25%since 2000
from 65 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.1%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.5%
+14.3 ptssince 2000
from 70.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.8 min
+42%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 77.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.2%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.9%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.2%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.6%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 15.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2011
from 53.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.6%
−25.6 ptssince 2009
from 58.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% in 2009
Female
51.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
Foreign born
6.4%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.0%
−36.1 ptssince 2009
from 43.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2012
from 17.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
13.4%
−70.9 ptssince 2013
from 84.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.6%
+29.1 ptssince 2017
from 56.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.4%
−5.8 ptssince 2016
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
6.9%
+5.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Gaffney

Brownsville
Pop 16,936
New Port Richey East
Pop 11,939
Florida City
Pop 13,576
Hernando
Pop 9,299
Places similar to Gaffney
Head to head

Compare Gaffney to nearby cities

GAFFNEY VS
Shelby
Income$48,376+18%
Home value$197,200+43%
Population23,309+85%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GAFFNEY VS
Spartanburg
Income$51,964+26%
Home value$203,700+48%
Population39,978+218%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GAFFNEY VS
Valley Falls
Income$55,661+35%
Home value$256,600+86%
Population8,239−35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GAFFNEY VS
Boiling Springs
Income$72,068+75%
Home value$244,400+77%
Population12,936+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Gaffney, South Carolina?

Gaffney, South Carolina has about 12,596 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Gaffney, South Carolina?

The typical household in Gaffney, South Carolina earns about $41,089 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Gaffney, South Carolina expensive?

In Gaffney, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $137,700, and the typical rent is about $887 a month.

How educated are people in Gaffney, South Carolina?

About 23.1% of adults age 25 and over in Gaffney, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Gaffney, South Carolina?

About 29.1% of people in Gaffney, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Gaffney, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Gaffney, South Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 549 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
South Carolina
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Gaffney with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →