CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

Gaffney

South Carolina · 12,764 residents · 8.97 sq mi
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The short version

With 12,764 people, Gaffney is a city in South Carolina. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. The poverty rate is 28.2%, above the 12.8% national rate. That trails the South Carolina median by roughly 43%. Median home value sits at $104,900. 50% of homes are owner-occupied.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

12,764
−2%since 2000
from 12,968 in 2000
1990 – 2025
38.1
+2%since 2000
from 37.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
8.97 sq mi
Population, 19902024
12K13K13K13K13K19902000201020202024Gaffney
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.4%(690)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(744)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.3%(807)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 198.1%(1,040)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248%(1,015)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.8%(1,637)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.9%(1,391)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.3%(1,447)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6412.5%(1,600)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.7%(1,366)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.7%(722)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.4%(305)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$31,355
−29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,480 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$18,716
+5%since 2000
from $17,755 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
17.3%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
28.2%
+12.0 ptssince 2000
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade19.6%
US avg: 10%
Information11.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance8.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical7.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services7.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Transportation & warehousing5.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.2%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$104,900
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$711
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $380 in 2000
US average: $1,124
50.0%
−10.7 ptssince 2000
from 60.7% in 2000
50.0% rent
2.65 people
+11%since 2009
from 2.39 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.3
+8%since 2009
from 3.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic52.9%(6,854)
Black44%(5,703)
Hispanic / Latino2%(257)
Asian0.4%(58)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic45.4%(5,798)
Black45.2%(5,763)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(619)
Asian0.6%(81)
Other4%(512)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican1.2%(153)
Mexican1.1%(134)
Cuban0.3%(33)
Honduran0.2%(21)
Panamanian0.1%(19)
Asian origin
Korean0.1%(7)
Cambodian0.1%(7)
Ancestry
American12.3%(1,561)
Irish8.2%(1,039)
German3.5%(451)
French2.7%(342)
English2.6%(332)
Scotch-Irish2.3%(298)
Dutch1.9%(237)
Italian1.3%(168)
British1.2%(153)
Israeli0.8%(106)
Scottish0.7%(92)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.5%(62)
Welsh0.4%(49)
Portuguese0.4%(48)
Austrian0.2%(22)
Hungarian0.2%(22)
Polish0.1%(13)
Belgian0.1%(11)
Canadian0.1%(10)
Danish0.1%(9)
Egyptian0.1%(8)
Czech0%(5)
Section 05

Education

17.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 17.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.0%
+11.8 ptssince 2000
from 70.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
8.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

20.8 min
+57%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
78.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 77.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
15.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

9.5%
−6.3 ptssince 2011
from 15.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
54.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2011
from 53.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
66.2%
US average: 73.3%
23.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

48.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% in 2009
51.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
0.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
13.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2013
from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
85.4%
US average: 91.9%
81.8%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married52.4%(2,572)
Married29.8%(1,463)
Widowed5.7%(280)
Divorced12%(591)
Women 15+
Never married48.3%(2,536)
Married30.5%(1,602)
Widowed12.2%(642)
Divorced9%(474)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

13.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2013
from 15.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
40.5%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
15.3%
US average: 13.7%
19.1%
US average: 17.6%
32.1%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.7%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
52.6%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
47.1%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)26.3%(272)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)32.4%(335)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era26.7%(276)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War7.7%(80)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II1.4%(14)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,034 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Gaffney, South Carolina?

Gaffney, South Carolina has about 12,764 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Gaffney, South Carolina earns about $31,355 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 $104,900, and the typical rent is about $711 a month.

How educated are people in Gaffney, South Carolina?

About 17.4% 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 28.2% 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 381 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →