City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Gaffney, SC

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

12,612
Residents
$41,214
Median income
$141,100
Median home
$902
Median rent (state)

Gaffney - the verdict

Nationally, Gaffney sits in the 9th percentile for household income and the 6th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

9th
percentile, household income
24th
percentile, home value
4th
percentile, median rent
6th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Gaffney, SC

South Carolina's Gaffney is a small town, with 12,612 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Gaffney brings in $41,214 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 19.4%. Gaffney's housing stock carries a median value of $141,100, and the median resident age is 32.8 years. Educational attainment runs 21.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 48.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 55 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 1275% from five years earlier. Gaffney's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 4403.6 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $902 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $224 across South Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Gaffney report an average commute of 17.1 minutes, with 77.8% driving alone and 4.9% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 69.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

12,612 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$41,214 /yr

Poverty 19.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Gaffney compare to other US cities?

Where Gaffney sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 24% pricier than other cities
Median rent 4% pricier than other cities
Safety 6% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at South Carolina, Gaffney ranks #86 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares 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 Gaffney near the bottom of South Carolina's cities

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

Median Household Income
#286 of 403
29th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#349 of 441
0th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#229 of 404
43rd percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#140 of 439
68th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#169 of 441
61st 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.

9thIncome percentile
6thSafety percentile

9th percentile nationally for median household income · 6th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Gaffney's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Gaffney's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Gaffney's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Gaffney's home value compares nationally

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

$141,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 76% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. 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 - Gaffney, SC Gaffney, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not 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 Gaffney, SC median $41,214/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%
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 Gaffney, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 19.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.9%

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

Population
12,612
Median Income
$41,214
Median Home Value
$141,100
Median Age
32.8
Poverty Rate
19.4%
Labor force participation
48.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4403.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
225.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
4177.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
11
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,400 residents12,500 residents12,600 residents12,700 residents12,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,722 residents 12,583 residents ▼ -1.1%
Gaffney's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
55
housing units authorized
Single-Family
21
detached homes
Multifamily
34
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 6
2021 2
2022 5
2023 15
2024 55

Permit volume increased 1275% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.1 minutes
Drive Alone
77.8%
Carpool
9.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.1%
Work from Home
4.9%
Other
3.6%

Based on 4,782 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 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

Boiling Springs
12,609 people
Parker
12,564 people
Orangeburg
13,189 people
Oak Grove
12,031 people
Tega Cay
13,267 people
Irmo
11,799 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gaffney's 12,612 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

St. Marys, PA
12,612 people
Fulton, MO
12,611 people
Brown Deer, WI
12,615 people
Saddlebrooke, AZ
12,616 people
Riviera Beach, MD
12,608 people
Lewisburg, TN
12,607 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gaffney's $41,214 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bonnetsville, NC
$41,217 median income
Duquesne, PA
$41,208 median income
Hammond, LA
$41,222 median income
Walnut Grove, AL
$41,223 median income
Grandview Plaza, KS
$41,202 median income
Oberlin, LA
$41,198 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - 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 Gaffney, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 42.3% 40.9% 9.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.9% White 42.3% Black or African American 40.9% Asian 0.8% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.4% Two or more races 9.7% 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 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
Gaffney (this city) 12,612 $41,214
Boiling Springs 12,609 $79,798
Parker 12,564 $38,607
Orangeburg 13,189 $33,066
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gaffney, SC?

What is the population of Gaffney, SC? +

12,612 people live in Gaffney, SC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Gaffney is $41,214 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gaffney? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for 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.

Is Gaffney, SC safe? +

Gaffney has a total crime rate of 4403.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

A typical home in Gaffney is worth $141,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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

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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.