United States › South Carolina › Gaffney CITY
Gaffney South Carolina · 12,583 residents (2025 est.) · 8.97 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 12,596 people, Gaffney is a city in South Carolina. The median age is 31.9, younger than the US median of 38.9. 29.1% of people here live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 41% less than in South Carolina as a whole. Owners hold 51% of the housing stock. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $137,700.
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 from 12,968 in 2000
12,583 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,404 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 1,443 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K 13K 13K 13K 13K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Gaffney Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $41,089
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,480 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,755 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.475 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 9%
Transportation & warehousing 2.5%
Education & health services 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.6%
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$137,700
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$887
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $380 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 60.7% in 2000
49.5% rent
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.39 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 38.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 52.9%(6,854)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 41.2%(5,194)
Hispanic / Latino 8.2%(1,038)
from 68 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data from 17.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 70.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 77.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 53.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 66.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 56.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 85.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 81.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 52.4%(2,572)
Women 15+
Never married 48.3%(2,536)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 40.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 32.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 52.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 47.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 23.1%(157)
Share of the 681 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
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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.
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