Cotton - panoramio (1), 2009
Pelion’s story
126 years in pictures
Census counts: 184 in 1920, 631 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1944 on.
- 1900Pelion is settled
PelionSC
A town of 625, settled in 1900.
Photo: Bernardgeorgeh · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
625
2025 Census estimate · −1.3% since 2020
Typical home
$149K
+3% in a year
Household income
$59K
median
Median age
47.6
years
Jobs based here
517
A job hub
Is Pelion a good place to live?
Among 170 South Carolina towns, just 7 have a higher share of households owning their home than Pelion. Pelion has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Pelion stand out
Where Pelion beats most towns.
Small town
625 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Pelion: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Pelion, and how to reach them.
PowerDominion Energy South Carolina16.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLcjmwsc-Pelion Town of (Sc3210010)No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Pelion’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn South Carolina you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLexington Board of Voter RegistrationLexington County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jan 2024
ZIP code2912329123 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Pelion.
Work & commute
Pelion has 2.0 jobs for every working resident, and 510 people commute in
Most working residents leave Pelion for work: only 3% work in town. Pelion’s average trip to work is 32 minutes, above both South Carolina’s towns (24 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Since 2013, Pelion has lost 70 jobs, to 517 in 2023.
3%work in town
| Pelion | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 8.7% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 17% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.7% | 6.1% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Pelion3%
Columbia12%
Cayce8%
Lexington7%
Forest Acres2%
20 mi
median commute distance
517
jobs based in Pelion
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Pelion’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Lexington 01 school district. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Pelion High, with 718 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelion ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 642 | C− |
| Pelion HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 718 | B |
NCES · EDFacts
Housing
Pelion’s typical home value is about $149K
The typical Pelion home is worth about $149,000, up 3% in a year, 51% below the South Carolina typical home.
$149KZillow home value
Typical home value
Pelion$149K
South Carolina$304K
+3%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than South Carolina overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 56% of residents (38% statewide); people 65 and older are 8% of residents (19% statewide). Pelion’s median age is 47.6 years, against 38.9 years in South Carolina’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. 28% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across South Carolina.
47.6median age · SC 40.2
| Pelion | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6 years | 38.9 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 28% | 23% | 29% |
PelionSouth CarolinaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
32%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma12%
High school35%
Some college18%
Associate’s7%
Bachelor’s8%
Graduate19%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 23% and 84% women
The Census survey reached too few of Pelion’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±30.3 points. Across South Carolina, 51.3% of residents are women.
| Pelion | SC | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.2% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.4% | 12.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.6% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.4% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 31.8% | 13.2% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 5.7% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 2.2% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 12.2% | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 35% | 28.2% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.8% | 19.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7.4% | 10% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 8.3% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 19.3% | 12.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 600, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In Pelion, expect mild winters and hot summers
Pelion has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Pelion is 92°F.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter36–59°
Spring51–76°
Summer69–90°
Fall52–76°
Nov 4
typical first frost
Mar 28
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Pelion
47 crimes were reported in Pelion in 2024: 42 property and 5 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Pelion is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
5
violent crimes reported in 2024
42
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
Health
Pelion stands out in South Carolina and nationally, with more of its adults who have been diagnosed with depression
27% of Pelion adults have been diagnosed with depression. Pelion beats the South Carolina average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 13% of Pelion adults have diabetes.
| Pelion | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 23% | 23% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 8.1% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 28% | 25% |
32 measures vs. South Carolina
0 better18 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Pelion | SC |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 18.2% | 13.3% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 18.4% | 13.9% |
| More uninsured adults | 15.5% | 11.8% |
Lexington Medical Center
17.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Pelion faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 52% of U.S. communities.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHurricanes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 15 attractions →Williams-Brice Stadium and 7 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Pelion. Close and well known come first.
19 mi Stadium & arenaWilliams-Brice Stadium
22 mi National ParkCongaree National Park288K visitors a year
21 mi LakeLake Murray27 mi LakeAlcohol and Drug Abuse Lake
20 mi Stadium & arenaColonial Life Arena
19 mi Zoo & aquariumRiverbanks ZooSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Williams-Brice Stadium: SRA MARVIN PRESTON, Public domain · Congaree National Park: Unknown, Public domain · Lake Murray: Greygh0st at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Colonial Life Arena: Dfscgt21, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Riverbanks Zoo: Carlo Giovannetti (Thief12), CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Pelion
19pages on Pelion
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Pelion
About 3 of every 100 Pelion residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across South Carolina.
A job hub
Every workday, about 510 people come to Pelion for work
Where Pelion’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
517jobs based in Pelion
3%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Pelion
Town in South Carolina, United States
Pelion is a town in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Pelion had a population of 631. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area .
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1912
- Area
- 3.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 387 ft
- ZIP code
- 29123
- Area code
- 803
Questions about Pelion
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Pelion, SC a good place to live?
Pelion has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Pelion, SC known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Paul Benjamin and Dalton Freeman.