The Town FilesPendleton, South Carolina
Town in Anderson County · population 3,489 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $250,500
- Household income
- $61,901
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 40.4
Pendleton is a town of 3,489 people in Anderson County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $250,500, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks hipper than 98% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 95% of South Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 92% of South Carolina towns.
How Pendleton 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 Pendleton is worth $250,500, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $61,901, which is more affordable than 33% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,034 a month. 52.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pendleton | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,500 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,034 | $937 |
| Median household income | $61,901 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 52.7% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Pendleton
| People | Pendleton | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.0% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.8% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Pendleton
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 52.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pendleton since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 13, 2020 about 6.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 17, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 29, 1991.
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 Pendleton itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Pendleton
4 public schools with 1,905 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pendleton Elementary | PK-6 | 532 | 13.6 |
| Mt. Lebanon Elementary | PK-6 | 491 | 13.6 |
| La France Elementary | PK-6 | 453 | 14.6 |
| Riverside Middle | 7-8 | 429 | 13.0 |
Towns near Pendleton
- Clemson, SC3.4 mi · 17,681 people · home $398,400
- Clemson University, SC3.9 mi · 7,311 people · home —
- Central, SC6.2 mi · 5,247 people · home $256,600
- Northlake, SC7.3 mi · 3,818 people · home $277,700
- Centerville, SC8.6 mi · 7,185 people · home $229,700
- Seneca, SC10.9 mi · 8,850 people · home $240,000
- Liberty, SC11.3 mi · 3,366 people · home $174,300
- Anderson, SC11.4 mi · 28,106 people · home $218,200
Pendleton questions
Is Pendleton, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pendleton scores better for retirees than 79% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 33%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Pendleton?
The median owner-occupied home in Pendleton is valued at $250,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,901, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,034 a month.
What is the weather like in Pendleton?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.4 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Pendleton get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pendleton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 2020. 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)