City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Pelzer, SC

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

1,570
Residents
$54,886
Median income
$170,400
Median home
$1,173
Median rent (state)

Pelzer - the verdict

Nationally, Pelzer sits in the 27th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

27th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Pelzer, SC

South Carolina's Pelzer is a small town, with 1,570 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Pelzer households earn a median of $54,886 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 23.8%. Typical homes in Pelzer are valued around $170,400, and the median resident age is 40.0 years. 24.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 42.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,173 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in South Carolina run around $224, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 28.6 minutes, with 81.1% driving alone and 5.0% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 87.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,570 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$54,886 /yr

Poverty 23.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does Pelzer compare to other US cities?

Where Pelzer sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Pelzer's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in South Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

27thIncome percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Pelzer's home value compares nationally

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

$170,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Pelzer $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 - Pelzer, SC Pelzer, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Pelzer, 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 Pelzer, SC median $54,886/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%
Pelzer, 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 Pelzer, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 23.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.4%

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

Population
1,570
Median Income
$54,886
Median Home Value
$170,400
Median Age
40.0
Poverty Rate
23.8%
Labor force participation
42.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.8%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,300 residents1,350 residents1,400 residents1,450 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,346 residents 1,434 residents ▲ +6.5%
Pelzer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
28.6 minutes
Drive Alone
81.1%
Carpool
13.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.0%

Based on 498 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 Pelzer sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.7
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,173/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in South Carolina

Awendaw
1,574 people
Ridgeville
1,591 people
Bonneau Beach
1,543 people
Camp Croft
1,604 people
Utica
1,529 people
St. Matthews
1,626 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Pelzer's 1,570 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Moody AFB, GA
1,570 people
McCaysville, GA
1,571 people
Dale, IN
1,569 people
Jonesboro, IN
1,571 people
Jenkins, KY
1,569 people
Groton, MA
1,571 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Pelzer's $54,886 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Williamsburg, CO
$54,886 median income
Pitsburg, OH
$54,886 median income
Hendersonville, PA
$54,886 median income
Leechburg, PA
$54,886 median income
Cleveland, TX
$54,888 median income
Gray Summit, MO
$54,883 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Pelzer, 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 Pelzer, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.8% 8.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.8% White 87.8% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 0.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.6% Two or more races 8.4% 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 Pelzer 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
Pelzer (this city) 1,570 $54,886
Awendaw 1,574 $70,781
Ridgeville 1,591 $56,134
Bonneau Beach 1,543 $57,561
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Pelzer, SC?

What is the population of Pelzer, SC? +

Pelzer, SC counts 1,570 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Pelzer is $54,886 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Pelzer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Pelzer; 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.

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

A typical home in Pelzer is worth $170,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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 Editorial

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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.