Real Estate Investing in Gaffney, South Carolina (29340)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Cherokee County • Population: 21,394 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29340 (Gaffney, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 17.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Gaffney, SC (29340)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $165,226
Avg Monthly Rent $1,235
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $40,242
% Renters 27.1%

Market Analysis: 29340 Gaffney

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Gaffney's 29340 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $165K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 29340 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Within SC, ZIP 29340 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Cherokee County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 29340 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 29340 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $165K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Gaffney:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,235/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Gaffney, SC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Gaffney, SC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 29340

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+12.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$63,913/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $130,315 $900 5.0% +12.3% $65,157
3BR $197,789 $1,140 4.1% +10.2% $65,930
4BR $255,652 $1,350 3.8% +9.5% $63,913

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$177K$153K$130K$106K$83K$59KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,244$1,217$1,190$1,163$1,136$1,109Mar 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29340 Compare?

Metric 29340 Gaffney Gaffney, SC South Carolina
Home Value $165,226 $197,478 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 1.9% 2.4% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,235 $1,094 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.8% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 29340? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 29340 (Gaffney, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.9%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Gaffney, SC metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
61%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $165,226
Monthly Rent $1,235
Price-to-Rent 11.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.0%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.8%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
17.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29340

Population: 21,394

💰 Median Household Income
$40,242
This area
$40,242
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.1%
This area
27.1%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.6%
This area
11.6%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.4 years
This area
41.4 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.8%
This area
17.8%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 69.4%
Black/African American 25.3%
Other/Mixed 5.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.5%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.7%
This area
16.7%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 29340

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,918 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Cherokee Charter Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
516 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,946 Per Student
A Very Good

Corinth Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,161 Per Student
A Very Good

John E. Ewing Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
405 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,161 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Draytonville Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
265 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,161 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Gaffney Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
852 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,161 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby
D
Limestone University
1,782 students · 6.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Gaffney, SC?

Gaffney, SC median home values land near $165K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,235/mo-per-month rentals.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Gaffney, SC?

Tenant demand in Gaffney, SC is solid. The local workforce $1,235/mo rents across most rental classes.

What kind of market is Gaffney, SC for investors?

Investors tracking Gaffney, SC will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $165K median home values and $1,235/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting predictable returns.

How high is vacancy risk in Gaffney, SC?

Vacancy risk in Gaffney, SC is elevated. That supports predictable cash flow for typical rental holds.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Gaffney, SC?

SC ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Gaffney generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

You know 29340 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 29340 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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