Gaffney

Population: 12,612
Median household income: $41,214
Median home value: $141,100

Gaffney is a community in Cherokee County, South Carolina, home to 12,612 residents. Its median household income of $41,214 runs below the Cherokee County figure of $49,047.

From 2019 to 2023, Gaffney's population held roughly steady from 12,582 to 12,612, while its median home value rose 27.0% from $111,100 to $141,100.

The median gross rent is $822. 21.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 12,612
Median age: 32.8 yrs
Median household income: $41,214
Median home value: $141,100
Median gross rent: $822
Housing units: 5,422
Homeownership rate: 54.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21.8%
Unemployment rate: 11.3%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

12,58212,612

Median household income

$31,047$41,214

Median home value

$111,100$141,100

Median gross rent

$689$822

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	12,582	$31,047	$111,100	$689
2020	12,733	$31,355	$104,900	$711
2021	12,560	$33,514	$106,200	$777
2022	12,651	$38,059	$120,800	$837
2023	12,612	$41,214	$141,100	$822

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 57.5%

5 to 1713.5%

18 to 2414.5%

25 to 3417.5%

35 to 449.4%

45 to 548.6%

55 to 6413.1%

65 to 749.0%

75 and over7.0%

	Count	Share
Under 5	942	7.5%
5 to 17	1,697	13.5%
18 to 24	1,823	14.5%
25 to 34	2,211	17.5%
35 to 44	1,180	9.4%
45 to 54	1,087	8.6%
55 to 64	1,649	13.1%
65 to 74	1,135	9.0%
75 and over	888	7.0%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	5,331	42.3%
Black or African American	5,163	40.9%
American Indian & Alaska Native	112	0.9%
Asian	85	0.7%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	455	3.6%
Two or more races	600	4.8%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	866	6.9%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma15.2%

High school graduate35.9%

Some college or associate's27.2%

Bachelor's degree12.4%

Graduate or professional degree9.4%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	1,236	15.2%
High school graduate	2,925	35.9%
Some college or associate's	2,213	27.2%
Bachelor's degree	1,007	12.4%
Graduate or professional degree	769	9.4%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 18 min

Drove alone77.8%

Carpooled9.6%

Public transit0.0%

Walked4.1%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home4.9%

Other means3.6%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	3,722	77.8%
Carpooled	460	9.6%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	195	4.1%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	233	4.9%
Other means	172	3.6%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	2,554	56.1%
15 to 29 min	993	21.8%
30 to 44 min	594	13.1%
45 to 59 min	196	4.3%
60+ min	212	4.7%

Households

Average household size: 2.49
Poverty rate: 24.8% (2,880 of 11,599)

	Count	Share
Family households	2,564	55.1%
Nonfamily households	2,089	44.9%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1974

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	4,653	85.8%
Vacant	769	14.2%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	2,523	54.2%
Renter-occupied	2,130	45.8%

1-unit, detached65.9%

1-unit, attached0.7%

2 to 4 units13.2%

5 to 19 units12.7%

20 or more units4.0%

Mobile home & other3.5%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	3,571	65.9%
1-unit, attached	36	0.7%
2 to 4 units	717	13.2%
5 to 19 units	687	12.7%
20 or more units	219	4.0%
Mobile home & other	192	3.5%

Geography

Place GEOID: 4528060
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 9.07 sq mi
Water area: 0.02 sq mi
Center point: 35.0736, -81.6615