Hilton Head Island is home to 37,911 people in South Carolina. The median age is 59.8, about 21 years above the US median. This is an unusually credentialed place: 56% of adults have a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $687,400, having more than doubled since 2000. Few US cities rank higher on income. 79% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $94,657, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 59.8
US median: 38.9
More educated
56% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 35%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Hilton Head Island
What changed most since 1990
Median age40.3 → 59.8(+19.5 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Homes owned by their occupants64.7% → 78.7%(+14.0 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Population23,694 → 37,911(+60%)US over the same years: +35%
Hilton Head Island's population equals 19% of Beaufort County's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 35% of the county's. Its number of households without a car equals 33% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)11.5%(287)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15.1%(378)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era49.6%(1,239)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War8.7%(217)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II5.1%(128)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,499 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Hilton Head Island, decade by decade
Hilton Head Island population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
23,694
$103,191
$481,934
42.5%
25.3
2000
33,862
$110,097
$510,246
45.9%
44.5
2010
37,099
$97,289
$720,436
50.7%
50.6
2020
37,661
$104,443
$591,475
53.9%
47.4
2024
37,911
$94,657
$687,400
56.1%
53.2
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
How many people live in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has about 37,911 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?
The typical household in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina earns about $94,657 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Hilton Head Island, South Carolina expensive?
In Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $687,400, and the typical rent is about $1,479 a month.
How educated are people in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?
About 56.1% of adults age 25 and over in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?
About 8.6% of people in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Hilton Head Island, South Carolina grown since 1990?
Yes, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 14,217 residents, a change of about 60 percent over that period.
