City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

East Gaffney, SC

East Gaffney's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

3,169
Residents
$26,314
Median income
$78,900
Median home
$1,155
Median rent (state)
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See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for East Gaffney.

Place dossier plate

Sheet SC-EAST-GAFFNEY-SC · East Gaffney, SC 3,169 pop · income 2nd pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-LOW · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 3,169
  • INC-LOW $26,314
  • COL-BELOW 93.7
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 2nd
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Vaughn
  • HOME-LOW $78,900
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Vaughn, NM ( $14 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around East Gaffney

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest East Gaffney on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for East Gaffney on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 3,169.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $26,314. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

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
46th
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. Median household income here is $26,314 per 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 $1,155 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts South Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $224 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 70.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of East Gaffney's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from work and mobility to housing and income to comparison shortlist; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For East Gaffney, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for FBI reported-crime rates, matched public-school count, local building permits, annual population history, within-city Census tract profiles; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the journey to work look like in East Gaffney?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 92.1%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. The profile is strongly car-oriented, so a relocation comparison should put trip distance, vehicle access, and household fuel costs ahead of a citywide commute average. The same-state peer links offer a more relevant benchmark than a national label.

Compare commute patterns →

2. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in East Gaffney?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.0 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 27.7%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

3. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for East Gaffney?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within South Carolina, the closest population matches are Kingstree (3,161 residents, $28,776 income); Lakewood (3,154 residents, $49,255 income); Denmark (3,141 residents, $33,100 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Corning, AR (3,169 residents); Tilton Northfield, NH (3,169 residents); Nevada City, CA (3,168 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Population

3,169 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$26,314 /yr

Lowest-decile income · poverty 27.7% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

City profile score · East Gaffney, SC

20/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Cost of living B
93.7 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Bachelor's+ share F
11.3%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Poverty rate F
27.7%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Household income F
$26,314

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

East Gaffney profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Cost of living, Bachelor's+ share, Poverty rate, Household income. Cost of livingBachelor's+ sharePoverty rateHousehold income 20 F
East Gaffney profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Cost of living: 70/100 (B) · 93.7 index
  • Bachelor's+ share: 10/100 (F) · 11.3%
  • Poverty rate: 3/100 (F) · 27.7%
  • Household income: 0/100 (F) · $26,314

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 46% 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 #1 - 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
#1 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
How in-state ranks are ordered

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
Gauge source note

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

Show national distribution $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

East Gaffney's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.0×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#6,682 of 15,516
More affordable than 57% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#5,659 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.0×, East Gaffney sits in the affordable band: national rank #6,682 of 15,516 and #5,659 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). The multiple is comparatively compact among tracked cities, but a low ratio can still coexist with slow demand or household-level hardship.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$26,314 East Gaffney, SC median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - East Gaffney, SC East Gaffney, SC's median household income ($26,314) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not East Gaffney, SC-specific shares. $ 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 median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for East Gaffney, SC.

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

Commute source

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

South Carolina statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $224

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across South Carolina at $224 (electricity about $130 , water and sewer about $42 ).

These are South Carolina statewide averages, not a meter reading for East Gaffney. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

South Carolina's BEA cost-of-living index is 93.7 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around East Gaffney is $1,155/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to South Carolina statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 70.7 / 100 (High).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a South Carolina statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county East Gaffney sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How East Gaffney compares to similar-size South Carolina cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

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
Primary sources on this page

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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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