Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Gaffney, SC has a Safety Score of 6/100 — higher crime than 94% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,403.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,790 of 2,971 US cities and #31 of 40 in South Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Gaffney, South Carolina Safe?
Gaffney, SC, home to the iconic Peachoid water tower, sits in Cherokee County. This small Southern town, with a population around 13,000, is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson combined statistical area.
Gaffney has a safety score of 6/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,403.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Gaffney ranks #31 out of 40 cities in South Carolina and #2790 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 6th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 94% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Gaffney is murder, at 16.1 per 100K — 2.6x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Gaffney's total crime rate decreased by 4%, with violent crime declining 36.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Gaffney Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 28 | 225.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 16.1 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 7 | 56.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 16.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 17 | 137.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 518 | 4,177.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 80 | 645.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 389 | 3,137.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 49 | 395.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Gaffney vs South Carolina Average
How does Gaffney's crime rate compare to the South Carolina state average?
| Metric | Gaffney | South Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 225.8 | 493.6 | -54.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,177.8 | 2,669.0 | +56.5% |
| Murder Rate | 16.1 | 8.0 | +100.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,403.6 | 3,162.7 | +39.2% |
Gaffney Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Gaffney, South Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,399 | 4,403.6 | 225.8 | 4,177.8 |
| 2022 | 12,291 | 4,588.7 | 358.0 | 4,230.7 |
| 2021 | 12,707 | 5,658.3 | 377.7 | 5,280.6 |
| 2020 | 12,631 | 6,309.9 | 427.5 | 5,882.4 |
| 2019 | 12,528 | 6,665.1 | 814.2 | 5,850.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gaffney, South Carolina safe?
Gaffney has a safety score of 6/100, meaning it has less crime than about 6% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,403.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Gaffney is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Gaffney, South Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Gaffney has a violent crime rate of 225.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,177.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Gaffney compare to the national average?
Gaffney's total crime rate of 4,403.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 12,399 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Gaffney?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Gaffney include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Gaffney safe to visit?
Like any city, Gaffney has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 6/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.