The Town FilesHilton Head Island, South Carolina
Town in Beaufort County · population 37,661 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $687,400
- Household income
- $94,657
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 59.8
Hilton Head Island is a town of 37,661 people in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $687,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more seaside character than 95% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 94% of South Carolina towns, more upscale than 93% of South Carolina towns.
How Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island is worth $687,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 7.3 times the median household income of $94,657, which is more affordable than 4% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,479 a month. 78.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hilton Head Island | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $687,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,479 | $937 |
| Median household income | $94,657 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.7% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.2% | — |
Who lives in Hilton Head Island
| People | Hilton Head Island | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.8 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.1% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.8% | — |
| Work from home | 20.1% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Hilton Head Island
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 40.1°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 17 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hilton Head Island since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 7, 2021 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 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 Hilton Head Island itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Hilton Head Island
5 public schools with 3,726 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island High | 9-12 | 1,317 | 13.2 |
| Hilton Head Island Middle | 6-8 | 831 | 11.7 |
| Hilton Head Island Elementary | 1-5 | 723 | 9.2 |
| Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts | PK-5 | 528 | 10.4 |
| Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 327 | 9.6 |
Towns near Hilton Head Island
- Bluffton, SC11.3 mi · 27,716 people · home $492,100
- Port Royal, SC11.6 mi · 14,220 people · home $347,200
- Tybee Island, GA14.2 mi · 3,114 people · home $611,200
- Burton, SC16.2 mi · 6,777 people · home $247,600
- Beaufort, SC18.5 mi · 13,607 people · home $345,400
- Laurel Bay, SC18.8 mi · 5,082 people · home $231,800
- Hardeeville, SC19.1 mi · 7,473 people · home $488,900
- Wilmington Island, GA19.1 mi · 15,129 people · home $404,900
Hilton Head Island questions
Is Hilton Head Island, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hilton Head Island scores better for retirees than 92% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 82%. 39.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.8).
How much does a house cost in Hilton Head Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Hilton Head Island is valued at $687,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,657, so homes cost about 7.3 times income. Median rent is $1,479 a month.
What is the weather like in Hilton Head Island?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 40.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Hilton Head Island get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hilton Head Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 7, 2021. 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)