Small-town market profile · South Carolina
Gaffney, SC area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Gaffney area, each scored against other small-town markets.
- Population, 2025
- 58,275
- +3.7% since 2020
- Households
- 22,063
- Median household income
- $50,288
- +36.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $142,000
- Jobs located here
- 18,680
- Highest market score
- 88
- Insurance agencies, #20 of 537 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Gaffney area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Gaffney area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 58,275 people live in the Gaffney area, in 22,063 households. Population estimates show the Gaffney area grew 3.7% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Gaffney area is $50,288 a year, 38% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 36.3% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Gaffney area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (51).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Gaffney area are for insurance agencies (88); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (80); and landscaping and lawn care companies (79). The Gaffney area ranks #20 of 537 scored small-town markets for insurance agencies.
The Gaffney area is made up of one county, Cherokee County. For its number of households, the Gaffney area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (75% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Gaffney area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Gaffney area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 88 | #20 of 537 | 21 | 9.5 | $2.7M | 214 | 14 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 80 | #23 of 481 | 11 | 5.0 | $2.5M | 148 | 12 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 79 | #23 of 399 | 6 | 2.7 | $4.5M | 155 | 12 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 74 | #32 of 529 | 11 | 5.0 | $6.1M | 164 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 72 | #37 of 533 | 17 | 7.7 | Index only | 310 | 8 |
| Real estate | 68 | #60 of 536 | 26 | 11.8 | Index only | 255 | 16 |
| Home repair trades | 65 | #94 of 526 | 17 | 7.7 | $3.1M | 127 | 28 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 63 | #111 of 538 | 60 | 27.2 | $270K | 127 | 8 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 62 | #108 of 400 | 5 | 2.3 | $4.1M | 132 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 62 | #131 of 506 | 11 | 5.0 | $10.7M | 115 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 62 | #152 of 538 | 105 | 47.6 | $197K | 129 | 30 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 62 | #156 of 538 | 179 | 81.1 | $374K | 101 | 71 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 61 | #134 of 535 | 15 | 6.8 | $731K | 110 | 5 |
| Spas and skin care | 61 | #134 of 504 | 10 | 4.5 | $1.6M | 185 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 61 | #143 of 538 | 36 | 16.3 | $450K | 105 | 5 |
| Pizza | 61 | #144 of 520 | 14 | 6.3 | $4.8M | 94 | 34 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 61 | #162 of 526 | 16 | 7.3 | $1.3M | 131 | 7 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 60 | #150 of 507 | 16 | 7.3 | $4.2M | 101 | 3 |
| Barbershops | 59 | #128 of 377 | 6 | 2.7 | $2.7M | 143 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 58 | #129 of 365 | 7 | 3.2 | $441K | 65 | 5 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 57 | #177 of 458 | 13 | 5.9 | $1.6M | 89 | 9 |
| Pet stores | 56 | #81 of 220 | 5 | 2.3 | $3.1M | 69 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 56 | #156 of 398 | 9 | 4.1 | $1.7M | 64 | 4 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 56 | #164 of 476 | 10 | 4.5 | $5.3M | 111 | 19 |
| Gyms | 55 | #197 of 506 | 9 | 4.1 | $1.2M | 94 | 5 |
| Nail salons | 54 | #174 of 387 | 7 | 3.2 | $2.3M | 139 | Under 3 |
| Property management | 52 | #87 of 180 | 6 | 2.7 | Index only | 86 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 51 | #258 of 538 | 102 | 46.2 | $656K | 99 | 34 |
| Pet businesses | 50 | #283 of 527 | 32 | 14.5 | $488K | 56 | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 46 | #218 of 378 | 6 | 2.7 | $1.8M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 46 | #247 of 431 | 17 | 7.7 | $1.2M | 46 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 45 | #275 of 454 | 9 | 4.1 | $768K | 77 | 14 |
| Gas stations | 44 | #335 of 536 | 48 | 21.8 | $1.4M | 57 | 40 |
| Auto repair and car care | 42 | #351 of 538 | 87 | 39.4 | $227K | 84 | 42 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 42 | #356 of 537 | 36 | 16.3 | $1.9M | 61 | 34 |
| Auto repair shops | 40 | #373 of 538 | 58 | 26.3 | $340K | 77 | 28 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 36 | #296 of 387 | 9 | 4.1 | $2.2M | 71 | 10 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 35 | #315 of 387 | 12 | 5.4 | $1.3M | 51 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 35 | #417 of 538 | 54 | 24.5 | $2.2M | 64 | 20 |
| Chiropractors | 34 | #338 of 426 | 11 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 78 | 11 |
| Convenience stores | 26 | #462 of 529 | 37 | 16.8 | $3.2M | 40 | 12 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 24 | #480 of 536 | 64 | 29.0 | $539K | 61 | 35 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 22 | #498 of 536 | 57 | 25.8 | $605K | 48 | 32 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.8 | $4.9M | 196 | 5 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.8 | $13.2M | 155 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $17.5M | 146 | 9 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $9.1M | 142 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $6.6M | 48 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.4 | $6.9M | 286 | 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | $17.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.9 | $13.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $34.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 5 |
Household spending in the Gaffney area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $19.7M | $894 | 93 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $65.8M | $2,981 | 115 |
| Food away from home | $66.9M | $3,034 | 75 |
| Groceries | $117.3M | $5,318 | 84 |
| Personal care products and services | $16.2M | $735 | 73 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.9M | $313 | 54 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $11M | $497 | 51 |
| Medical and dental services | $20.6M | $935 | 73 |
| Pets | $15.6M | $708 | 78 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $34.5M | $1,564 | 76 |
| Vehicle insurance | $56.5M | $2,561 | 131 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $52.6M | $2,384 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $27.3M | $1,236 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $287M | $13,007 | 78 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Gaffney area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 58,275+3.7% since 2020
- Households
- 22,063
- Median age
- 39.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 393 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 144
- Median household income
- $50,288+36.3% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $67,479
- Median home value
- $142,000
- Jobs located here
- 18,680
- Daytime population
- 47,816Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Gaffney area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Gaffney area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Gaffney area 1
- Cherokee County, SC56,647 people
Other markets based in South Carolina 12
- Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area961,939 people
- Columbia, SC metro area849,181 people
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area834,267 people
- Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area383,016 people
- Spartanburg, SC metro area374,737 people
- Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area227,455 people
- Florence, SC metro area199,675 people
- Sumter, SC metro area104,725 people
- Greenwood, SC area93,909 people
- Orangeburg, SC area83,253 people
- Seneca, SC area80,469 people
- Murrells Inlet, SC area64,811 people
Questions
How fast is the Gaffney, SC area growing?
Population estimates put the Gaffney area at 58,275 people in 2025, up 3.7% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 22,063 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 36.3%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Gaffney, SC area spend?
Households in the Gaffney area spend about $287M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $117.3M on groceries and $66.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Gaffney area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 131, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (51).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Gaffney, SC area?
Of the business types scored in the Gaffney area, insurance agencies (88); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (80); and landscaping and lawn care companies (79) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #20 of 537 scored small-town markets.
How does the Gaffney, SC area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Gaffney area is $50,288, 38% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $142,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (75% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in the Gaffney area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Gaffney area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Gaffney area?
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The button opens the report at the center of the Gaffney area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.