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Gaffney, SC
City in Cherokee County, South Carolina.
Population
12,596
Land area
9.1sq mi
People per sq mi
1,389
ZIP codes
0
Gaffney and its ZIP codes
Gaffney at a glance
- Gaffney is about 7.9 times as dense as South Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 51st most populous of 474 cities and towns in South Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $41,089 a year, 41% less than the South Carolina figure of $69,324.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $137,700 (47% below South Carolina) and median rent is $887 a month.
Local data for Gaffney, SC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Gaffney, SC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$41,089
Poverty rate
29.1%
Median home value
$137,700
Median rent
$887/mo
Homeownership
50.5%
Bachelor's or higher
23.1%
Median age
31.9
Average commute
18.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (736), Irish Americans (583), German Americans (404).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Cherokee County. PPP loans are for Gaffney.
Unemployment rate
5.4%
Aug 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,376
18,221 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$43,456
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$332M
FY 2026, $5,914 per person
How people get to work
Gaffney, SC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.4%
- Carpooled9.2%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked3.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.9%
- Worked from home4.9%
Average one-way commute: 18.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Gaffney, SC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
476
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
23
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 27°F
45.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Gaffney, SC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.8%
U.S. 33.3% +7.5 pts
Diabetes
17.0%
U.S. 12.1% +4.9 pts
Smoking
17.4%
U.S. 12.8% +4.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
15.2%
U.S. 11.1% +4.1 pts
Cities near Gaffney
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| East GaffneyCensus-designated place | 2.2 mi | 3 |
| Cherokee FallsCensus-designated place | 6.3 mi | 0.1 |
| BlacksburgTown | 8.6 mi | 1.9 |
| CowpensTown | 9.3 mi | 2.3 |
| Earl, NCTown | 11 mi | 0.9 |
| MayoCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 3 |
| CliftonCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 1.1 |
| ConverseCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.7 |
| Central PacoletTown | 13 mi | 0.2 |
| Boiling Springs, NCTown | 13 mi | 4.5 |
| ChesneeCity | 13 mi | 1.1 |
| PacoletTown | 13 mi | 5.8 |
| Patterson Springs, NCTown | 13 mi | 1 |
| GlendaleCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 0.2 |
| Cliffside, NCCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 2.3 |
| Grover, NCTown | 14 mi | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Gaffney, SC in?
- Gaffney is in Cherokee County, South Carolina.
- What is the population of Gaffney, SC?
- About 12,596 people live in Gaffney, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Gaffney?
- Nearby places include East Gaffney (2.2 mi), Cherokee Falls (6.3 mi), Blacksburg (8.6 mi), Cowpens (9.3 mi), Earl, NC (11 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023