The Town FilesIsle of Palms, South Carolina
City in Charleston County · population 4,347 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,581,300
- Household income
- $156,979
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 54.6
Isle of Palms is a city of 4,347 people in Charleston County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $1,581,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more upscale than 99% of South Carolina towns, more seaside character than 99% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 96% of South Carolina towns.
How Isle of Palms 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 Isle of Palms is worth $1,581,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 10.1 times the median household income of $156,979, which is more affordable than 1% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $2,893 a month. 93.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Isle of Palms | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,581,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $2,893 | $937 |
| Median household income | $156,979 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 10.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.9% | — |
Who lives in Isle of Palms
| People | Isle of Palms | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.6 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 71.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.5% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 35.2% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Isle of Palms
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 36.5°F. About 51.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 18 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Isle of Palms since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 11, 1960 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Charleston County since 1996
Charleston County has been included in 27 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 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 |
| November 21, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4677: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Charleston County
Charleston County had 278,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,271 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Isle of Palms itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Isle of Palms
4 public schools with 3,511 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas C. Cario Middle | 6-8 | 1,130 | 18.2 |
| Jennie Moore Elementary | PK-5 | 999 | 16.1 |
| Laurel Hill Primary | PK-2 | 736 | 16.7 |
| Charles Pinckney Elementary | 3-5 | 646 | 17.5 |
Towns near Isle of Palms
- Mount Pleasant, SC6.6 mi · 90,801 people · home $748,500
- James Island, SC11.7 mi · 11,621 people · home $508,600
- Charleston, SC12.9 mi · 150,227 people · home $509,700
- Hanahan, SC16.9 mi · 20,325 people · home $374,800
- North Charleston, SC19.8 mi · 114,852 people · home $302,200
- Goose Creek, SC19.9 mi · 45,946 people · home $306,000
- Ladson, SC25.0 mi · 15,550 people · home $234,900
- Hollywood, SC26.4 mi · 5,339 people · home $460,100
Isle of Palms questions
Is Isle of Palms, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Isle of Palms scores better for retirees than 96% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 91%. 34.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.6).
How much does a house cost in Isle of Palms?
The median owner-occupied home in Isle of Palms is valued at $1,581,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $156,979, so homes cost about 10.1 times income. Median rent is $2,893 a month.
What is the weather like in Isle of Palms?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 36.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Isle of Palms get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Isle of Palms since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 11, 1960. 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)