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METRO AREA

Hilton Head Island Metro

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC · 2 counties · 242,966 residents (2025 est.) · 1,231.156 sq mi
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The short version

Hilton Head Island has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $83,609. The metro area has grown rapidly, with population up 61% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $437,202. With a median age of 47.7, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
227,455
+61%since 2000
from 141,615 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
185 / sq mi
+61%since 2000
from 115 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
47.7
+34%since 2000
from 35.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:242,966 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
89K127K165K202K240K1990201020202024Hilton Head Island
2024227K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$83,609
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,617 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$51,125
+115%since 2000
from $23,739 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.1%
+21.9 ptssince 2009
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.475
+1%since 2010
from 0.470 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$437,202
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $153,031 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,607
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $661 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.1%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 73.9% in 2000
23.9% rent
Vacancy rate
18.9%
−7.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.0%
−10.6 ptssince 2009
from 35.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 44.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.2
+52%since 2000
from 3.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
68
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hilton Head Island on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic63.4%(89,851)
Black27.9%(39,506)
Hispanic / Latino6.6%(9,398)
Asian0.7%(1,027)
Other0%
Diversity Score62.8%(88,928)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.3%(146,314)
Black17.9%(40,826)
Hispanic / Latino13.1%(29,829)
Asian1%(2,354)
Other3.6%(8,132)
Diversity Score66.9%(152,227)
Segregation Score38.7%(88,031)
Diversity Score
67
+7%since 2000
from 63 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
39
−8%since 2020
from 42 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.2%
+13.5 ptssince 2000
from 29.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.2%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.6%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.3 min
+42%since 2000
from 17.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 74.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.7%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.6%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.8%
−5.4 ptssince 2011
from 61.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.3%
−24.1 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
50.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.5%
−37.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 12.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.3%
−72.4 ptssince 2013
from 81.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.9%
+13.5 ptssince 2017
from 79.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
87.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 87.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 9.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Hilton Head IslandCENTRAL38,196BlufftonCENTRAL36,807Port RoyalCENTRAL16,648BeaufortCENTRAL15,775
What's inside

2 component counties

Beaufort CountyCENTRAL204,433Jasper County38,533
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Hilton Head Island

Bellingham
Pop 236,392
Appleton
Pop 249,876
Lebanon
Pop 224,500
Gainesville
Pop 226,568
Places similar to Hilton Head Island
Head to head

Compare Hilton Head Island side by side

HILTON HEAD ISLAND VS
Bellingham
Income$81,784−2%
Home value$585,800+34%
Population236,392−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HILTON HEAD ISLAND VS
Appleton
Income$85,875+3%
Home value$268,786−39%
Population249,876+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HILTON HEAD ISLAND VS
Lebanon
Income$83,244same
Home value$307,461−30%
Population224,500−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HILTON HEAD ISLAND VS
Gainesville
Income$80,901−3%
Home value$350,400−20%
Population226,568−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →