Pelion is a small town of 1,056 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $54,966
and a 2.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Pelion stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes. Whether Pelion is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Pelion city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.9
Pelion's overall cost of living index is 92.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Pelion costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Pelion, SC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$143,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$777
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,966
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Pelion's violent crime rate is 801.3 per 100,000 residents
— 111% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
801.3 /100k
Property Crime
6730.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Pelion is served primarily by Lexington 01.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Pelion, SC
National Avg
School District
Lexington 01
—
Elementary Schools
18
—
Middle Schools
8
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Pelion sees average highs of 58.7°F in January
and 93.3°F in July,
with 52.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.2 inches of snow per year.
Pelion's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Pelion roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $143,800 and median rent is $777/month.
Pelion's violent crime rate is 801.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 6730.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Pelion are operated by Lexington 01.
The district has 18 elementary, 8 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 21.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Pelion, SC has a population of 1,056, a median household income of $54,966, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Pelion averages 58.7°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.0 inches
with about 1.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Pelion, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29123.
The population of Pelion, South Carolina is 1,056 with a median age of 49.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Pelion: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $143,800, median household income $54,966, crime index 255 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pelion side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.