The Town FilesPelion, South Carolina
Town in Lexington County · population 631 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,700
- Household income
- $59,455
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 47.6
Pelion is a town of 631 people in Lexington County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $156,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks easier by car than 85% of South Carolina towns.
How Pelion ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Pelion is worth $156,700, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $59,455, which is more affordable than 79% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $888 a month. 90.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pelion | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,700 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $888 | $937 |
| Median household income | $59,455 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 90.1% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pelion
| People | Pelion | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 67.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Pelion
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 34.2°F. About 52.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 68 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelion since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 24, 2012 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 4, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on March 12, 1963.
Severe weather in Lexington County since 1996
Lexington County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Lexington County
Lexington County had 132,596 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,005 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Pelion itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Pelion
4 public schools with 2,410 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelion High | 9-12 | 713 | 13.2 |
| Pelion Elementary | PK-5 | 632 | 12.4 |
| Pelion Middle | 6-8 | 560 | 12.7 |
| Forts Pond Elementary | PK-5 | 505 | 11.7 |
Towns near Pelion
- Fairview Crossroads, SC6.4 mi · 540 people · home $160,100
- Edmund, SC7.2 mi · 969 people · home $164,100
- White Knoll, SC8.4 mi · 7,858 people · home $249,400
- Swansea, SC8.5 mi · 722 people · home $129,200
- Gaston, SC9.2 mi · 1,608 people · home $120,000
- Wagener, SC10.5 mi · 631 people · home $156,300
- Red Bank, SC11.0 mi · 10,924 people · home $189,000
- South Congaree, SC11.5 mi · 2,377 people · home $192,500
Pelion questions
Is Pelion, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pelion scores better for retirees than 9% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 57%. 7.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.6).
How much does a house cost in Pelion?
The median owner-occupied home in Pelion is valued at $156,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,455, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $888 a month.
What is the weather like in Pelion?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 34.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Pelion get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 24, 2012. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)