Gaffney, SC Demographics

A map of Gaffney's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	5,194	5,798	41.2%	45.4%
Black	5,112	5,763	40.6%	45.2%
Hispanic	1,038	619	8.2%	4.8%
Multiracial	743	380	5.9%	3.0%
Native American/Other	461	123	3.7%	1.0%
Asian	48	81	0.4%	0.6%

Gaffney, South Carolina has an estimated population of 12,596, a slight decrease from the 12,764 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 41.2% White, 40.6% Black, 8.2% Hispanic, 5.9% Multiracial, 3.7% Native American/Other, and 0.4% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Gaffney, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Gaffney has become considerably more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than South Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Gaffney, that probability was 58.6% in 2020 and 65.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Gaffney is ranked the 51st most populous place in South Carolina, out of 475 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Gaffney was ranked the 51st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Gaffney's White Population

5,194 residents of Gaffney, or 41.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Gaffney is significantly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Gaffney ranks 324th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaffney's White population has declined by an estimated 10.4%. White residents' share of Gaffney's population has decreased from 45.4% to 41.2%.

Gaffney is less White than neighboring East Gaffney (62.3% White), Cherokee Falls (100% White), Blacksburg (62.3% White), Cowpens (71% White), and Earl (72.8% White).

Gaffney's Black Population

5,112 residents of Gaffney, or 40.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Gaffney is significantly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Gaffney ranks 132nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaffney's Black population has declined by an estimated 11.3%. Black residents' share of Gaffney's population has decreased from 45.2% to 40.6%.

Gaffney is more Black than neighboring East Gaffney (32.9% Black), Cherokee Falls (0% Black), Blacksburg (17% Black), Cowpens (12.3% Black), and Earl (11.3% Black).

Gaffney's Asian Population

48 residents of Gaffney, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Gaffney is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Gaffney ranks 205th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaffney's Asian population has declined by an estimated 40.7%. Asian residents' share of Gaffney's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Gaffney is more Asian than neighboring East Gaffney (0% Asian), Cherokee Falls (0% Asian), Blacksburg (0% Asian), Cowpens (0.3% Asian), and Earl (0% Asian).

Gaffney's Hispanic Population

1,038 residents of Gaffney, or 8.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Gaffney is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Gaffney ranks 189th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaffney's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 67.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Gaffney's population has increased from 4.8% to 8.2%.

Gaffney is more Hispanic than neighboring East Gaffney (3.3% Hispanic), and Cherokee Falls (0% Hispanic). Gaffney is less Hispanic than neighboring Blacksburg (13.4% Hispanic), Cowpens (12.8% Hispanic), and Earl (14.2% Hispanic).

Gaffney's Native American/Other Population

461 residents of Gaffney, or 3.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Gaffney is slightly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Gaffney ranks 130th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaffney's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 274.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Gaffney's population has increased from 1.0% to 3.7%.

Gaffney is more Native American/Other than neighboring East Gaffney (0% Native American/Other), Cherokee Falls (0% Native American/Other), Blacksburg (0% Native American/Other), Cowpens (0% Native American/Other), and Earl (0.6% Native American/Other).

Gaffney's Multiracial Population

743 residents of Gaffney, or 5.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Gaffney is slightly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Gaffney ranks 305th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Gaffney's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 95.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Gaffney's population has increased from 3.0% to 5.9%.

Gaffney is more Multiracial than neighboring East Gaffney (1.6% Multiracial), Cherokee Falls (0% Multiracial), Cowpens (3.6% Multiracial), and Earl (1% Multiracial). Gaffney is less Multiracial than neighboring Blacksburg (7.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.