Gaffney, SC · standard
ZIP Code 29340
Cherokee County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,763
- 49/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $44,123
- Median income Below-median income area
- $108,800
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 11.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Gaffney pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 8th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 12th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 49
- people per sq mi
- 76%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29340 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 29340 (Gaffney, SC) rose +4.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 225.5 in 2023 to 236.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 29340 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, with 20,763 residents across 422.0 square miles, a density of 49 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 29340 reports a modest median household income of $44,123 (31% below the average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $25,113. The poverty rate is 24.1%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $108,800 (52% below the average South Carolina ZIP), and median rent is $798; owner occupancy is 75.8%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 11.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 2 more in Cherokee County, so 29340 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 29340
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Gaffney, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29340.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
56 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
51 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
34 establishments
- Construction 20
Construction
20 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 20
Accommodation and food services
20 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 29340, Gaffney, SC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
20,763
Population
422.0
Area (sq mi)
49
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 29340?
41.4
Median Age
48.7%
Male
51.3%
Female
2.9%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$44,123
Median Household Income
-31% vs state ZIP avg
$25,113
Per Capita Income
24.1%
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
26.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29340 ranks among South Carolina ZIPs
Gaffney, SC household income vs. every South Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 384 reporting South Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$44,123 16th percentile higher than 16% of 384 South Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more South Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
9,576housing units
9,576
Total Housing Units
8,131
Occupied Units
1,445
Vacant Units
2.43
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$108,800
Median Home Value
-52% vs state ZIP avg
$798
Median Rent
1978
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+4.8%
YoY Change (2024)
236
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+136%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 29340 have increased 4.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +136% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.2% | 154 |
| 2021 | +10.2% | 170 |
| 2022 | +26.9% | 215 |
| 2023 | +4.8% | 226 |
| 2024 | +4.8% | 236 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 273 business establishments in ZIP 29340, employing approximately 4,256 people with a combined annual payroll of $166,763,000.
273
Businesses
4,256
Employees
$166.8M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 56 | 20.5% |
| Retail trade | 51 | 18.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 34 | 12.4% |
| Construction | 20 | 7.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 20 | 7.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 17 | 6.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 16 | 5.9% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 4.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 10 | 3.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 2.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 7 | 2.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 1.8% |
| Information | 4 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 4 | 1.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 1.5% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 1.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 29340 vs 29372 →
ZIP 29340 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29340
Gaffney (29340)
20,763 residents
- 29341
Gaffney (29341)
19,330 residents
- 29702
Blacksburg (29702)
10,059 residents
- 29372 4,507
Pacolet (29372)
4,507 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29340 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 29340 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29341
Gaffney (29341)
$58,029 median income
- 29702
Blacksburg (29702)
$49,705 median income
- 29372
Pacolet (29372)
$46,739 median income
- 29340
Gaffney (29340)
$44,123 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 29340 ranks #4 of 4 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29340, both outside SC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (20,763 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Cherokee County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 29340 in?
ZIP code 29340 (Gaffney) is located in Cherokee County, South Carolina. Cherokee County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cherokee-sc.
What is the population of ZIP code 29340?
ZIP code 29340 in Gaffney, SC has a population of 20,763 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29340?
The median household income in ZIP 29340 is $44,123, which is 42% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29340?
The median home value in ZIP 29340 is $108,800, which is 61% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29340?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29340 is White at 71.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29340?
ZIP code 29340 has 273 business establishments employing approximately 4,256 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29340?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29340 are: Other services (except public administration) (56), Retail trade (51), Health care and social assistance (34). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29340?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29340 increased by 4.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 136%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 29340?
In ZIP code 29340, 54.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 11.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 29340?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29340 is 26.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 29340?
In ZIP code 29340, approximately 75.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29340?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29340 is 24.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 29340's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29340 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Gaffney, SC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.