Town · South Carolina
Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal, town, in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Port Royal had 16,648 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 15.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 14,220 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 15,579 (±32). GEOID 4558030.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,648
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 14,220 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,579 ±32
Median household income
$74,870
±$11,108 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$347,200
±$41,674 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$1,726
±$143 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is Port Royal and what county is it in?
Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina. It covers 17.0 square miles of land, 836 residents per square mile in 2020.
Port Royal is in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Port Royal, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 16,648 people lived in Port Royal on July 1, 2025, up 15.0% since 2020, faster than South Carolina (+8.8%). The 2020 Census counted 14,220 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 15,579 (±32).
| Measure | Port Royal | Beaufort County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 15,579 ±32 | 195,289 | +2,809 |
| Households | 4,676 ±360 | 82,333 | +808 |
| Average household size | 2.50 ±0.19 | 2.28 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,111 ±411 | 103,177 | +862 |
Port Royal's population since 2000
From 3,950 in 2000 to 16,648 in 2025: up 321.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Port Royal as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Port Royal?
The median resident of Port Royal is 25.1 years old; 18.3% are under 18 and 8.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 56.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 21.4%. 5.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Port Royal | Beaufort County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.1 ±1.7 | 48.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.3% ±2.6 pts | 17.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 8.9% ±2.3 pts | 28.4% | – |
| Male | 57.1% ±2.6 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 21.4% ±4.0 pts | 12.4% | +8.9 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 56.8% ±5.8 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 13.6% ±4.8 pts | 15.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.1% ±1.2 pts | 1.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.8% ±2.0 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.2% ±1.7 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 14.9% ±3.4 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.6% ±3.3 pts | 11.0% | – |
| With a disability | 12.0% ±3.4 pts | 13.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.3% ±3.2 pts | 8.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.3% ±3.2 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 38.4% ±6.1 pts | 46.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.0% ±5.2 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 74.4% ±4.0 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 20.0% ±3.9 pts | 7.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Port Royal earn?
Half of Port Royal's 4,676 households earn less than $74,870 a year (±$11,108), against $86,573 in Beaufort County and $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $61,285 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $13,585 after inflation. 8.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Port Royal | Beaufort County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $74,870 ±$11,108 | $86,573 | +$13,585 |
| Mean household income | $90,103 ±$8,361 | $126,267 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,031 ±$3,209 | $53,951 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.4% ±4.2 pts | 9.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.0% ±10.1 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.4% ±3.9 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.5% ±2.2 pts | 97.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.6% ±2.5 pts | 94.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Port Royal?
Owners occupy 38.1% of Port Royal's occupied homes and renters 61.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $347,200 by its owner (±$41,674). The median renter pays $1,726 a month including utilities, and 42.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Port Royal | Beaufort County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $347,200 ±$41,674 | $455,600 | +$60,079 |
| Median gross rent | $1,726 ±$143 | $1,653 | +$225 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.1% ±9.3 pts | 45.0% | −15.9 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,834 ±$185 | $2,030 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 38.1% ±6.8 pts | 75.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 61.9% ±6.8 pts | 24.1% | – |
| Housing units | 5,111 ±411 | 103,177 | +862 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.6% ±3.9 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.6% ±2.4 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 44.0% ±6.1 pts | 64.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.4% ±2.1 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.3% ±1.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 42.3% ±5.5 pts | 16.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.3% ±3.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.7% ±2.8 pts | 4.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Port Royal building?
Builders took permits for 20 new housing units in Port Royal in 2025 (20 in single-family houses), 1.2 per 1,000 residents against 8.2 across South Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Port Royal work and get to work?
59.7% of Port Royal's workers drive alone and 11.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 14.4 minutes.
| Measure | Port Royal | Beaufort County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 73.5% ±3.4 pts | 56.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.0% ±1.1 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 59.7% ±4.7 pts | 71.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.1% ±3.3 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 10.5% ±3.2 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.7% ±4.0 pts | 13.2% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 14.4 min ±2.0 | 23.6 min | −4.6 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Port Royal?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Port Royal, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $64,653 (Tract 10) to $82,031 (Tract 8).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 10Beaufort County | 4,988 | $64,653 |
| Tract 8Beaufort County | 5,352 | $82,031 |
| Tract 5.03Beaufort County | 6,480 | $80,154 |
| Tract 5.02Beaufort County | 7,529 | $66,515 |
| Tract 22.02Beaufort County | 4,684 | $130,152 |
| Tract 7Beaufort County | 6,185 | $64,808 |
| Tract 9.03Beaufort County | 2,663 | $105,972 |
| Tract 5.01Beaufort County | 6,658 | $73,182 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Port Royal) · Census block assignment files
How does Port Royal compare with other places in South Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Port Royal is the 2,244th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 31st-most populous of 271 in South Carolina.
Port Royal ranks 60th of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 31st | 271 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 25th | 149 |
| Residents per square mile | 155th | 261 |
| Median household income | 60th | 248 |
| Per capita income | 100th | 259 |
| Median home value | 36th | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 10th | 235 |
| Poverty rate | 191st | 214 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49th | 226 |
| Median age | 252nd | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 248th | 258 |
| Work from home | 63rd | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 258th | 261 |
Port Royal's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, sortable · Compare Port Royal with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Port Royal?
10 of the 57 figures for Port Royal on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Port Royal are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Port Royal.