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COUNTY

Beaufort County

South Carolina · 204,433 residents (2025 est.) · 576 sq mi
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Part of the Hilton Head Island metro area
The short version

Beaufort County is a county of 195,289 people in South Carolina. The median age is 48.1, about 9 years above the US median. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 74,352 people. Few US counties rank higher on income. About 46% of adults have finished a four-year degree. 76% of homes are owner-occupied.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
46% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
195,289
+61%since 2000
from 120,937 in 2000
204,433 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
339 / sq mi
+32%since 2009
from 257 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
48.1
+34%since 2000
from 35.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
576 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
76K108K141K174K206K19902000201020202024Beaufort County
2024195K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.6%(9,020)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.4%(8,605)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.3%(10,279)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.2%(12,100)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.7%(12,995)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.4%(20,231)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 449.9%(19,301)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.1%(19,778)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.1%(27,547)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7416.3%(31,748)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.5%(18,643)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(5,042)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$86,573
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,992 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$53,951
+113%since 2000
from $25,377 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
57.3%
+22.0 ptssince 2009
from 35.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
+2%since 2010
from 0.471 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$455,600
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $168,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,653
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $690 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.9%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 73.2% in 2000
24.1% rent
Vacancy rate
20.2%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 27.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.28 people
−6%since 2009
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
25.1%
−11.2 ptssince 2009
from 36.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.3
−2%since 2009
from 5.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
58
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic67.4%(81,477)
Black23.7%(28,654)
Hispanic / Latino6.8%(8,208)
Asian0.8%(938)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic67.3%(131,453)
Black15.5%(30,270)
Hispanic / Latino12.4%(24,168)
Asian1.1%(2,149)
Other3.7%(7,249)
Diversity Score
63
+2%since 2009
from 62 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
37
−11%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.8%(11,330)
Central American2.2%(4,211)
Puerto Rican2%(3,841)
South American1.3%(2,600)
Honduran0.9%(1,779)
Salvadoran0.5%(1,039)
Colombian0.5%(935)
Guatemalan0.4%(793)
Venezuelan0.3%(527)
Cuban0.2%(441)
Nicaraguan0.2%(417)
Argentine0.2%(385)
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data
Uruguayan0.2%(319)
Dominican0.1%(286)
Spaniard0.1%(280)
Bolivian0.1%(201)
Costa Rican0.1%(108)
Peruvian0.1%(99)
Chilean0%(67)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.3%(603)
Filipino0.3%(540)
Chinese0.2%(338)
Japanese0.1%(246)
Asian Indian0.1%(115)
Korean0.1%(102)
Thai0%(92)
Hmong0%(83)
Nepalese0%(45)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(15)
Samoan0%(11)
Ancestry
German13.2%(25,869)
English13.2%(25,856)
Irish12.2%(23,921)
Italian6.2%(12,204)
American5.9%(11,581)
Polish2.7%(5,211)
French2.6%(5,032)
Scottish2.5%(4,852)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(2,416)
Dutch1.2%(2,359)
Swedish1.1%(2,184)
Norwegian0.9%(1,764)
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.8%(1,607)
West Indian0.7%(1,336)
Welsh0.6%(1,250)
Jamaican0.5%(1,061)
Arab0.5%(1,019)
Hungarian0.5%(944)
Greek0.4%(798)
Slovak0.4%(798)
Ukrainian0.4%(746)
Czech0.4%(719)
Canadian0.3%(677)
British0.3%(674)
Portuguese0.3%(561)
Lebanese0.3%(502)
Danish0.3%(500)
Finnish0.2%(461)
Lithuanian0.2%(418)
Austrian0.2%(392)
Swiss0.2%(355)
Brazilian0.1%(189)
Croatian0.1%(189)
Iranian0.1%(159)
Romanian0.1%(135)
Armenian0.1%(128)
Ethiopian0.1%(111)
Slovene0.1%(101)
Moroccan0%(84)
Syrian0%(77)
Turkish0%(61)
Haitian0%(60)
Belgian0%(54)
Bulgarian0%(50)
Serbian0%(44)
Egyptian0%(38)
Guyanese0%(17)
Latvian0%(15)
Iraqi0%(14)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
46.0%
+12.8 ptssince 2000
from 33.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.7%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 87.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
19.2%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+52%since 2000
from 15.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.8%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 73.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.2%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.2%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.4%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 61.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
70.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 70.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
10.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.2%
+8.7 ptssince 2009
from 31.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
7.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 11.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.5%
−8.6 ptssince 2013
from 17.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.0%
+11.8 ptssince 2017
from 82.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.2%
+1.8 ptssince 2020
from 95.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
85.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 85.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
88.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 88.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 9.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.5%(25,102)
Married59%(48,557)
Widowed3%(2,441)
Divorced7.6%(6,246)
Women 15+
Never married20.3%(17,234)
Married59.5%(50,569)
Widowed9%(7,672)
Divorced11.2%(9,564)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
8.5%
−8.6 ptssince 2013
from 17.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
47.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 48.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
21.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 20.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
30.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 29.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
13.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 13.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 3.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
71.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 71.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
42.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 41.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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)26%(4,390)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)23.5%(3,956)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era37.7%(6,360)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.1%(697)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.1%(187)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 16,866 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
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Beaufort County to nearby counties

BEAUFORT COUNTY VS
Jasper County
Income$65,613−24%
Home value$325,500−29%
Population38,533−81%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BEAUFORT COUNTY VS
Colleton County
Income$51,114−41%
Home value$162,500−64%
Population39,382−81%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BEAUFORT COUNTY VS
Chatham County
Income$71,097−18%
Home value$302,700−34%
Population311,855+53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BEAUFORT COUNTY VS
Effingham County
Income$88,438+2%
Home value$276,000−39%
Population74,397−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Beaufort County, South Carolina?

Beaufort County, South Carolina has about 195,289 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Beaufort County, South Carolina?

The typical household in Beaufort County, South Carolina earns about $86,573 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Beaufort County, South Carolina expensive?

In Beaufort County, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $455,600, and the typical rent is about $1,653 a month.

How educated are people in Beaufort County, South Carolina?

About 46.0% of adults age 25 and over in Beaufort County, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Beaufort County, South Carolina?

About 9.6% of people in Beaufort County, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Beaufort County, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Beaufort County, South Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 108,864 residents, a change of about 126 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Beaufort County, South Carolina: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy