Median Income
$63,750
household / year
Median Home Value
$202,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$946
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100

Is Pendleton, SC a Good Place to Live?

Pendleton is a small town of 3,498 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $63,750 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Pendleton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Pendleton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Pendleton 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: 92.8

Pendleton's overall cost of living index is 92.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pendleton costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric Pendleton, SC National Avg
Median Home Value $202,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $946 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 54.3% 65.9%
Median Household Income $63,750 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Pendleton's violent crime rate is 296.4 per 100,000 residents — 22% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
296.4 /100k
Property Crime
1589.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Pendleton is served primarily by Anderson 04. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Pendleton, SC National Avg
School District Anderson 04
Elementary Schools 4
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.1:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 55.9% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 91.9% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Pendleton sees average highs of 53.4°F in January and 91.0°F in July, with 52.4 inches of annual precipitation and 2.2 inches of snow per year.

MetricPendleton, SC
Average High — January53.4°F
Average High — July91.0°F
Annual Precipitation52.4"
Annual Snowfall2.2"

Demographics

MetricPendleton, SCNational Avg
Population3,498
Median Age40.738.9
Unemployment Rate2.9%3.7%
Avg Commute Time20.9 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)77.9%59.3%
Black or African American13.7%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino3.1%18.9%
Asian1.3%6.3%
Under 1815.6%22.2%
65 and over19.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Pendleton

Pendleton, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Pendleton vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Pendleton's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Pendleton roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $202,000 and median rent is $946/month.
Pendleton's violent crime rate is 296.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1589.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Pendleton are operated by Anderson 04. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 55.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Pendleton, SC has a population of 3,498, a median household income of $63,750, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. 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.
Pendleton averages 53.4°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.4 inches with about 2.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Pendleton, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29670.
The population of Pendleton, South Carolina is 3,498 with a median age of 40.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Pendleton: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $202,000, median household income $63,750, crime index 77 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pendleton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.