The Town FilesBluffton, South Carolina
Town in Beaufort County · population 27,716 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $492,100
- Household income
- $111,281
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.7
Bluffton is a town of 27,716 people in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $492,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for families than 94% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 94% of South Carolina towns, more seaside character than 91% of South Carolina towns.
How Bluffton 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 Bluffton is worth $492,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $111,281, which is more affordable than 22% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $2,256 a month. 83.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bluffton | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $492,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $2,256 | $937 |
| Median household income | $111,281 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 83.4% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 2012 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.2% | — |
Who lives in Bluffton
| People | Bluffton | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.9% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Bluffton
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 40.0°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 22 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bluffton since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 6, 2004 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Beaufort County since 1996
Beaufort County has been included in 24 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 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Beaufort County
Beaufort County had 71,044 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,768 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Bluffton itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Bluffton
10 public schools with 9,609 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| May River High | 9-12 | 1,665 | 15.3 |
| Bluffton High | 9-12 | 1,384 | 14.1 |
| River Ridge Academy | PK-8 | 1,138 | 12.8 |
| Pritchardville Elementary | PK-5 | 939 | 11.3 |
| Bluffton Middle | 6-8 | 917 | 14.1 |
| H. E. McCracken Middle | 6-8 | 892 | 12.6 |
| Michael C. Riley Elementary | PK-5 | 718 | 9.3 |
| Bluffton Elementary | PK-5 | 714 | 10.5 |
| Red Cedar Elementary | PK-5 | 643 | 11.5 |
| Okatie Elementary | PK-5 | 599 | 11.1 |
Towns near Bluffton
- Hardeeville, SC8.6 mi · 7,473 people · home $488,900
- Hilton Head Island, SC11.3 mi · 37,661 people · home $687,400
- Whitemarsh Island, GA13.6 mi · 6,983 people · home $399,700
- Thunderbolt, GA14.2 mi · 2,556 people · home $334,600
- Tybee Island, GA14.8 mi · 3,114 people · home $611,200
- Wilmington Island, GA15.1 mi · 15,129 people · home $404,900
- Port Wentworth, GA16.2 mi · 10,878 people · home $228,100
- Port Royal, SC16.6 mi · 14,220 people · home $347,200
Bluffton questions
Is Bluffton, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bluffton scores better for retirees than 80% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 30%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Bluffton?
The median owner-occupied home in Bluffton is valued at $492,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,281, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $2,256 a month.
What is the weather like in Bluffton?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 40.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Bluffton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bluffton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 6, 2004. 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)