CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA

Gaffney Micro

Gaffney, SC · 1 counties · 58,275 residents (2025 est.) · 392.964 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Gaffney has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,288. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 18% 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 $142,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% 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
56,647
+8%since 2000
from 52,537 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
144 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 134 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
+14%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:58,275 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
43K47K51K54K58K1990201020202024Gaffney
202457K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,288
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,787 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,406
+67%since 2000
from $16,421 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.0%
+16.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.455
+4%since 2010
from 0.439 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$142,000
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$869
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $401 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 73.9% in 2000
26.2% rent
Vacancy rate
12.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.6%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.6%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 35.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.8
+43%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
50
RELATED:See current rent listings in Gaffney on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76.2%(40,013)
Black20.5%(10,751)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(1,092)
Asian0.3%(162)
Other0%
Diversity Score45.6%(23,979)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic69.7%(39,486)
Black18.7%(10,574)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(3,137)
Asian0.5%(304)
Other5.6%(3,146)
Diversity Score59.1%(33,499)
Segregation Score41.7%(23,601)
Diversity Score
59
+30%since 2000
from 46 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
−9%since 2020
from 46 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.4%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.2%
+18.5 ptssince 2000
from 66.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.1 min
+65%since 2000
from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 83.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.4%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−8.2 ptssince 2011
from 14.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 58.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.5%
−25.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.3%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2012
from 18.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.5%
−71.7 ptssince 2013
from 82.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.7%
+22.1 ptssince 2017
from 58.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 3.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

GaffneyCENTRAL12,583
What's inside

1 component county

Cherokee CountyCENTRAL58,275
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Gaffney

Eagle Pass
Pop 58,823
Glasgow
Pop 56,224
Boone
Pop 54,786
Douglas
Pop 52,861
Places similar to Gaffney
Head to head

Compare Gaffney side by side

GAFFNEY VS
Eagle Pass
Income$49,568−1%
Home value$158,700+12%
Population58,823+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GAFFNEY VS
Glasgow
Income$50,787+1%
Home value$165,233+16%
Population56,224−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GAFFNEY VS
Boone
Income$51,693+3%
Home value$358,900+153%
Population54,786−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
GAFFNEY VS
Douglas
Income$49,338−2%
Home value$120,851−15%
Population52,861−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Gaffney, SC?

Gaffney, SC has about 56,647 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Gaffney, SC?

The typical household in Gaffney, SC earns about $50,288 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Gaffney, SC expensive?

In Gaffney, SC, the median home is worth about $142,000, and the typical rent is about $869 a month.

How educated are people in Gaffney, SC?

About 18.4% of adults age 25 and over in Gaffney, SC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Gaffney, SC?

About 18.4% of people in Gaffney, SC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Gaffney, SC grown since 1990?

Yes, Gaffney, SC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 12,141 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Gaffney with another metro

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →