City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Pelion, SC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Pelion - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,147
Residents
$61,250
Median income
$148,400
Median home
$1,276
Median rent (state)

Pelion - the verdict

Nationally, Pelion sits in the 37th percentile for household income and the 1st percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

37th
percentile, household income
26th
percentile, home value
44th
percentile, median rent
1st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Pelion, SC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,147 residents in Pelion, a small town within South Carolina. The typical household in Pelion brings in $61,250 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.0%. Pelion's housing stock carries a median value of $148,400, and the median resident age is 50.0 years. 22.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). Pelion's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 7532.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Pelion's yearly average temperature at 64.8°F with 52.0 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in South Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 93.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,276 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $224 across South Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 90.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

1,147 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$61,250 /yr

Poverty 6.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Pelion compare to other US cities?

Pelion measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 37% higher than other cities
Home value 26% pricier than other cities
Median rent 44% pricier than other cities
Safety 1% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at South Carolina, Pelion ranks #122 of 127 South Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Pelion against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to South Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

South Carolina-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Pelion toward the bottom of South Carolina's cities

Among the 439 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Pelion ranks #333 - the 24th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Pelion only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#130 of 403
67th percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#118 of 441
59th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#220 of 404
46th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#333 of 439
24th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#167 of 441
62nd percentile in South Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within South Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

37thIncome percentile
1stSafety percentile

37th percentile nationally for median household income · 1st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Pelion's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Pelion's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Pelion's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Pelion's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$148,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 74% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Pelion $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. 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 · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Pelion, SC Pelion, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Pelion, SC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Pelion, SC median $61,250/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Pelion, SC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Pelion, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,147
Median Income
$61,250
Median Home Value
$148,400
Median Age
50.0
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Labor force participation
57.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
7532.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
801.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
6730.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
64.8°F
Annual Precipitation
52.0"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
620 residents625 residents630 residents635 residents 202020212022202320242025 632 residents 625 residents ▼ -1.1%
Pelion's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.2%
Carpool
9.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
4.3%
Other
0.8%

Based on 535 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for South Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$52
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$224
estimated/month

Estimates reflect South Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a South Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Pelion sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,276/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Fort Lawn
1,144 people
Cottageville
1,154 people
Beech Island
1,139 people
Gadsden
1,131 people
Branchville
1,169 people
Wagener
1,170 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Pelion's 1,147 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hotchkiss, CO
1,147 people
New Sharon, IA
1,147 people
Americus, KS
1,147 people
Coleman, MI
1,147 people
Elgin, MN
1,147 people
Columbus, NM
1,147 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Pelion's $61,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Graysville, AL
$61,250 median income
Copper Center, AK
$61,250 median income
Allensworth, CA
$61,250 median income
Tranquillity, CA
$61,250 median income
Wiley, CO
$61,250 median income
Ellenton, GA
$61,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Pelion, SC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Pelion, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.9% 6.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% White 87.9% Black or African American 4.4% Asian 0.3% American Indian 1.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 6.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Pelion compares to nearby South Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Pelion (this city) 1,147 $61,250
Fort Lawn 1,144 $54,141
Cottageville 1,154 $68,750
Beech Island 1,139 $31,996
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Pelion, SC?

What is the population of Pelion, SC? +

The population of Pelion, SC stands at 1,147 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Pelion, SC? +

In Pelion, the typical household earns $61,250 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Pelion? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Pelion; the closest available measure is the South Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 93.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within South Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Pelion, SC safe? +

Pelion has a total crime rate of 7532.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Pelion, SC? +

The median home value in Pelion is $148,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Pelion? +

The average annual temperature in Pelion runs 64.8°F, 52.0 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.