1st Advantage MortgageIn Cherokee County, South Carolina, the typical household earns $50,288 a year and the typical rent is $869. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in South Carolina before sharing details.
On this page
- Cherokee County by the numbers
- Work, industries and travel time in Cherokee County
- Paychecks and income spread in Cherokee County
- Housing costs in Cherokee County
- Cherokee County towns compared
- Cherokee County next to its neighbors
- People and households in Cherokee County
- Reading the Cherokee County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Cherokee County median
- Checklist for Cherokee County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Cherokee County
- More guides for Cherokee County
- Frequently asked questions
Cherokee County by the numbers
Roughly 56,647 residents live in Cherokee County, South Carolina, 24th by population among the state's 46 counties and county equivalents. It covers 393 square miles of land, or about 144 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (4 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Gaffney, with about 12,596 residents, or 22% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Cherokee County
The biggest employer of Cherokee County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 23% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). Manufacturing stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 13% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Cherokee County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Cherokee County workers | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.6% | +9.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -3.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -1.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Paychecks and income spread in Cherokee County
The median household income in Cherokee County is $50,288; statewide it is $69,324, so Cherokee County runs 27% below South Carolina as a whole. Only 31 South Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Cherokee County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.0% | +9.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.6% | -7.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -5.4 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. 18.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.455 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $50,288 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Cherokee County
Renters in Cherokee County pay a median of $869 a month, 26% below the South Carolina figure of $1,180. By the Census definition, 46% of Cherokee County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $142,000, about 2.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 74%. Half the housing stock was built before 1984.
| Cost | Cherokee County | South Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $869/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,000 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 26.4% | 14.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 13% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Cherokee County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Cherokee County towns compared
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 33% of Cherokee County residents live in one of the 6. Gaffney has the highest median household income on the list ($41,089) and East Gaffney the lowest ($25,227), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in East Gaffney ($690) and steepest in Gaffney ($887). No Cherokee County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaffney | city | 12,596 | $41,089 | $887 | 3 mi |
| East Gaffney | CDP | 2,824 | $25,227 | $690 | 3 mi |
| Blacksburg | town | 2,063 | $32,092 | $834 | 7 mi |
| Chesnee | city | 896 | $37,708 | $839 | 16 mi |
| Smyrna | town | 38 | $63,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Cherokee Falls | CDP | 36 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
Cherokee County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 20 to 30 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. York County leads the group on income ($89,095), Union County trails ($41,621), and Cherokee County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into North Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | - | $50,288 | $869/mo | 74% |
| Cleveland County, NC | 20 mi | $58,534 | $914/mo | 71% |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 23 mi | $66,234 | $1,084/mo | 73% |
| York County, SC | 25 mi | $89,095 | $1,387/mo | 75% |
| Union County, SC | 25 mi | $41,621 | $804/mo | 71% |
| Gaston County, NC | 30 mi | $67,478 | $1,153/mo | 67% |
| Rutherford County, NC | 30 mi | $51,410 | $783/mo | 74% |
People and households in Cherokee County
18% of Cherokee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 10.5%, against 9.6% for South Carolina.
| Measure | Cherokee County | South Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.4% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.8% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Reading the Cherokee County data as a borrower
What the Cherokee County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 26% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 18% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Budget math at the Cherokee County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Cherokee County's medians:
- $4,191 a month: gross income for a household at the Cherokee County median
- Median rent: $869, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $640 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 43% cap, $1,802 total minus rent leaves $933
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cherokee County's.
Checklist for Cherokee County applicants
A short checklist for Cherokee County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for South Carolina borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Cherokee County
Consumer lenders serving Cherokee County are licensed by the state, not the county; in South Carolina that is the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. South Carolina also has the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions for consumer credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on South Carolina: South Carolina personal loans.
More guides for Cherokee County
For statewide rules and data, see the South Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Cherokee County household make?
About $50,288 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 27% below the South Carolina median.
How much is rent in Cherokee County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $869 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Cherokee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Gaffney, East Gaffney, Blacksburg, Chesnee, Smyrna and 1 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Cherokee County or elsewhere in South Carolina, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Cherokee County?
Start with the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.