At $1,045/mo, rent takes about 31% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,045 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Gaffney changed -1.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($41,089) is $1,027 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($980); a 3-bedroom is $1,220.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Gaffney. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Gaffney, SC is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 23.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Gaffney, SC has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $41,089 today, compared with $33,514 five years earlier. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 16.7% to 23.1%.
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Can you afford rent in Gaffney on your salary?
At $1,045/mo, how Gaffney rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Gaffney rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Gaffney. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Gaffney
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Gaffney is $1,045/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $740/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $980/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $750/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,220/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($41,089/yr), Gaffney ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Gaffney?
How does Gaffney rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
At $1,045/mo, rent takes ~31% of Gaffney's median household income ($41,089/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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