The Town FilesGaffney, South Carolina
City in Cherokee County · population 12,764 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,700
- Household income
- $41,089
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 31.9
Gaffney is a city of 12,764 people in Cherokee County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $137,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks hipper than 90% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 87% of South Carolina towns, more walkable than 78% of South Carolina towns.
How Gaffney ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gaffney is worth $137,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $41,089, which is more affordable than 52% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $887 a month. 50.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gaffney | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,700 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $887 | $937 |
| Median household income | $41,089 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 50.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gaffney
| People | Gaffney | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.9 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.1% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Gaffney
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 26.5°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaffney since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 27, 1973 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 18,064 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,261 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Gaffney itself the ACS puts it at 10.6%.
Public schools in Gaffney
13 public schools with 6,769 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaffney High | 9-12 | 1,878 | 17.6 |
| Gaffney Middle | 6-8 | 852 | 13.3 |
| B. D. Lee Elementary | PK-5 | 617 | 14.7 |
| Cherokee Charter Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 516 | 11.7 |
| Grassy Pond Elementary | PK-5 | 504 | 14.8 |
| Limestone-Central Elementary | PK-5 | 475 | 13.2 |
| Northwest Elementary | PK-5 | 425 | 14.7 |
| John E. Ewing Middle | 6-8 | 405 | 14.5 |
| Luther L. Vaughan Elementary | PK-5 | 397 | 12.0 |
| Corinth Elementary | PK-5 | 305 | 11.7 |
| Draytonville Elementary | PK-5 | 265 | 12.6 |
| Goucher Charter Academy (charter) | K-6 | 130 | 10.0 |
Towns near Gaffney
- East Gaffney, SC2.3 mi · 2,882 people · home $77,600
- Boiling Springs, NC12.3 mi · 4,615 people · home $265,400
- Whitney, SC16.0 mi · 4,409 people · home $157,400
- Shelby, NC16.3 mi · 21,918 people · home $197,200
- Spartanburg, SC17.4 mi · 38,732 people · home $203,700
- Valley Falls, SC18.0 mi · 8,012 people · home $256,600
- Boiling Springs, SC18.0 mi · 10,405 people · home $244,400
- Hilltop, SC18.1 mi · 3,273 people · home $125,800
Gaffney questions
Is Gaffney, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gaffney scores better for retirees than 44% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 32%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.9).
How much does a house cost in Gaffney?
The median owner-occupied home in Gaffney is valued at $137,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,089, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $887 a month.
What is the weather like in Gaffney?
July highs average 87.8°F and January lows 26.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Gaffney get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaffney since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 27, 1973. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)