At $1,453/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,453 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Pendleton changed -3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has fallen 4 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($61,901) is $1,548 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,360); a 4-bedroom is $1,770.
Central, 8 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,287/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Pendleton. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Pendleton, SC is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 50% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Pendleton, SC has changed in 5 years
Median household income grew from $52,784 to $61,901 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.3% shift. Headcount in the area went from 3,447 to 3,594 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.3% change. About 47.3% of households rent today, against 42.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 57.3% to 50%.
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Can you afford rent in Pendleton on your salary?
At $1,453/mo, how Pendleton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Pendleton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Pendleton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Pendleton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Pendleton is $1,453/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $930/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,090/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $970/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,360/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($61,901/yr), Pendleton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Pendleton?
How does Pendleton rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
At $1,453/mo, rent takes ~28% of Pendleton's median household income ($61,901/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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