City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

East Gaffney, SC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for East Gaffney - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,169
Residents
$26,314
Median income
$78,900
Median home
$902
Median rent (state)

East Gaffney - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, East Gaffney places in the 2nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
3rd
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: East Gaffney, SC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,169 residents in East Gaffney, a small town within South Carolina. The typical household in East Gaffney brings in $26,314 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 27.7%. Typical homes in East Gaffney are valued around $78,900, and the median resident age is 41.7 years. Educational attainment runs 11.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 49.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, South Carolina scores 93.7 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $902 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $224 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 69.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

3,169 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$26,314 /yr

Poverty 27.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does East Gaffney compare to other US cities?

Here's how East Gaffney stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 3% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares East Gaffney against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to South Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

South Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places East Gaffney near the bottom of South Carolina's cities

Among the 441 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, East Gaffney ranks #349 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares East Gaffney only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#389 of 403
3rd percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#349 of 441
0th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#360 of 404
11th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#71 of 439
84th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#333 of 441
24th percentile in South Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within South Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

2ndIncome percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How East Gaffney's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$78,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 97% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. East Gaffney $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - East Gaffney, SC East Gaffney, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not East Gaffney, SC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution East Gaffney, SC median $26,314/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
East Gaffney, SC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for East Gaffney, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 27.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,169
Median Income
$26,314
Median Home Value
$78,900
Median Age
41.7
Poverty Rate
27.7%
Labor force participation
49.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.3%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
92.1%
Carpool
6.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
1.1%

Based on 1,223 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county East Gaffney sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$902/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
69.7 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Kingstree
3,161 people
Lakewood
3,154 people
Denmark
3,141 people
Cherryvale
3,136 people
Lesslie
3,202 people
Clearwater
3,124 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to East Gaffney's 3,169 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Corning, AR
3,169 people
Tilton Northfield, NH
3,169 people
Nevada City, CA
3,168 people
Blue Earth, MN
3,170 people
Byrnes Mill, MO
3,168 people
Millersburg, OH
3,170 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to East Gaffney's $26,314 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Vaughn, NM
$26,300 median income
El Negro comunidad, PR
$26,354 median income
Sabana Hoyos comunidad, PR
$26,272 median income
Lame Deer, MT
$26,364 median income
Clarksville, TX
$26,364 median income
Vanceburg, KY
$26,369 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - East Gaffney, SC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition East Gaffney, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 67.0% 30.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.3% White 67.0% Black or African American 30.7% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 2.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How East Gaffney compares to nearby South Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
East Gaffney (this city) 3,169 $26,314
Kingstree 3,161 $28,776
Lakewood 3,154 $49,255
Denmark 3,141 $33,100
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about East Gaffney, SC?

What is the population of East Gaffney, SC? +

East Gaffney, SC counts 3,169 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in East Gaffney, SC? +

East Gaffney households earn a median of $26,314 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in East Gaffney? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for East Gaffney; the closest available measure is the South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in East Gaffney, SC? +

A typical home in East Gaffney is worth $78,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.