City profile · South Carolina · Census ACS 2023

West Pelzer, SC

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

1,276
Residents
$53,125
Median income
$125,700
Median home
$1,173
Median rent (state)

West Pelzer - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, West Pelzer places in the 24th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

24th
percentile, household income
20th
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: West Pelzer, SC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,276 residents in West Pelzer, a small town within South Carolina. Median household income here is $53,125 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 17.7%. Typical homes in West Pelzer are valued around $125,700, and the median resident age is 33.5 years. 18.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 60.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 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. Natural-hazard exposure scores 87.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

1,276 residents

Census ACS 2023 - South Carolina

Median Household Income

$53,125 /yr

Poverty 17.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.7 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, South Carolina average

How does West Pelzer compare to other US cities?

Here's how West Pelzer stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 20% 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

Each percentile compares West Pelzer 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 sits close to the middle of South Carolina's city distribution

Among the 439 South Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, West Pelzer ranks #155 - the 64th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares West Pelzer only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#188 of 403
53rd percentile in South Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#237 of 441
44th percentile in South Carolina
Median Home Value
#248 of 404
38th percentile in South Carolina
Poverty Rate
#155 of 439
64th percentile in South Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#222 of 441
50th 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.

24thIncome percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How West Pelzer's home value compares nationally

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

$125,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% 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. West 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 - West Pelzer, SC West Pelzer, SC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not West 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 West Pelzer, SC median $53,125/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%
West 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 West Pelzer, SC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.9%

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

Population
1,276
Median Income
$53,125
Median Home Value
$125,700
Median Age
33.5
Poverty Rate
17.7%
Labor force participation
60.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.3%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
950 residents1,000 residents1,050 residents 202020212022202320242025 967 residents 1,038 residents ▲ +7.3%
West Pelzer's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.6%
Carpool
7.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.5%
Work from Home
5.5%

Based on 568 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 West 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

Edmund
1,274 people
Meggett
1,274 people
Latta
1,301 people
Olympia
1,301 people
Whitmire
1,241 people
Buffalo
1,232 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to West Pelzer's 1,276 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Redway, CA
1,276 people
Greenfield, MO
1,276 people
Highlands, NC
1,276 people
Pioneer, OH
1,276 people
Rustburg, VA
1,276 people
Markesan, WI
1,276 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to West Pelzer's $53,125 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ninilchik, AK
$53,125 median income
Subiaco, AR
$53,125 median income
Eckley, CO
$53,125 median income
Campbellton, FL
$53,125 median income
Pierce, ID
$53,125 median income
Calumet, IA
$53,125 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - West 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 West Pelzer, SC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.9% White 91.4% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 6.0% 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 West 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
West Pelzer (this city) 1,276 $53,125
Edmund 1,274 $35,750
Meggett 1,274 $96,032
Latta 1,301 $45,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS SC NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about West Pelzer, SC?

What is the population of West Pelzer, SC? +

West Pelzer, SC counts 1,276 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

West Pelzer households earn a median of $53,125 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in West Pelzer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for West 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 West Pelzer, SC? +

Homes in West Pelzer carry a median value of $125,700, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.