With 227,455 people, Hilton Head Island is a metro area. The median age is 47.7, about 9 years above the US median. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 85,840 people. That puts it in the top 3% of US metro areas for household income. 76% of homes are owner-occupied. About 43% of adults have finished a four-year degree.
At a glance
Average income
median household income $83,609, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 57%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Hilton Head Island
What changed most since 1990
Median age30.6 → 47.7(+17.1 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Population101,912 → 227,455(+123%)US over the same years: +35%
Black share32.7% → 17.9%(−14.7 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
Among the 14 metro and micro areas based in South Carolina
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)25.2%(4,715)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)23.9%(4,467)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era38.5%(7,202)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.3%(798)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1%(187)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 18,720 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
101,912
$68,567
$244,043
23.2%
57.8
2000
141,615
$81,277
$278,770
29.6%
64.4
2010
187,010
$76,122
$385,660
33.7%
68.2
2020
215,908
$82,454
$350,907
39.3%
66.7
2024
227,455
$83,609
$437,202
43.2%
65.8
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-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC has about 227,455 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
The typical household in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC earns about $83,609 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC expensive?
In Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC, the median home is worth about $437,202, and the typical rent is about $1,607 a month.
How educated are people in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
About 43.2% of adults age 25 and over in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
About 10.8% of people in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC live below the federal poverty line.
Has Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC grown since 1990?
Yes, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 125,543 residents, a change of about 123 percent over that period.
