The Town FilesPelzer, South Carolina
Town in Anderson County · population 1,344 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,100
- Household income
- $58,134
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.1
Pelzer is a town of 1,344 people in Anderson County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $178,100, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more walkable than 85% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 72% of South Carolina towns.
How Pelzer 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 Pelzer is worth $178,100, close to the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $58,134, which is more affordable than 66% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,029 a month. 76.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pelzer | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,029 | $937 |
| Median household income | $58,134 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 76.2% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pelzer
| People | Pelzer | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.9% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Pelzer
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 30.7°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelzer since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 27, 1973 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 11, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 16, 2009.
Severe weather in Anderson County since 1996
Anderson County has been included in 21 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 Anderson County
Anderson County had 72,695 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,737 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Pelzer itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Pelzer
2 public schools with 1,827 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellen Woodside Elementary | PK-5 | 1,051 | 18.8 |
| Fork Shoals School | K-5 | 776 | 14.9 |
Towns near Pelzer
- West Pelzer, SC0.8 mi · 962 people · home $172,500
- Williamston, SC2.0 mi · 4,043 people · home $162,800
- Piedmont, SC4.4 mi · 5,411 people · home $161,900
- Golden Grove, SC5.5 mi · 3,002 people · home $178,000
- Belton, SC8.4 mi · 4,335 people · home $133,500
- Powdersville, SC9.7 mi · 10,025 people · home $334,900
- Gantt, SC10.2 mi · 15,006 people · home $184,400
- Conestee, SC10.4 mi · 904 people · home $225,000
Pelzer questions
Is Pelzer, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pelzer scores better for retirees than 23% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 35%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Pelzer?
The median owner-occupied home in Pelzer is valued at $178,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,134, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,029 a month.
What is the weather like in Pelzer?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 30.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Pelzer get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pelzer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 27, 1973. 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)