County · South Carolina
Beaufort County, South Carolina
Beaufort County, South Carolina. Beaufort County had 204,433 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 9.3% since 2020, in line with South Carolina (+8.8%). It holds 17 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs and 10 census-designated) and 43 census tracts. GEOID 45013.
Beaufort County is one of the 2 counties of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
204,433
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 187,117 · ACS 2020-2024: 195,289
Median household income
$86,573
±$3,024 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$455,600
±$10,790 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$1,653
±$70 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
How many people live in Beaufort County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 187,117 residents in Beaufort County. The Census Bureau estimates 204,433 for July 1, 2025, up 9.3% since 2020, in line with South Carolina (+8.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 195,289 over 576 square miles of land.
| Measure | Beaufort County | South Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 195,289 | 5,296,225 | +9,194 |
| Households | 82,333±953 | 2,117,989 | +10,856 |
| Average household size | 2.28±0.03 | 2.44 | −0.25 |
| Housing units | 103,177±109 | 2,443,039 | +3,973 |
Beaufort County's population since 2000
From 120,937 in 2000 to 204,433 in 2025: up 69.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Beaufort County?
Beaufort County holds 17 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 10 census-designated places. The largest is Hilton Head Island with 38,196 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Hilton Head Island | 37,661 | $94,657 |
|---|---|---|
| Bluffton | 27,716 | $111,281 |
| Port Royal | 14,220 | $74,870 |
| Beaufort | 13,607 | $61,220 |
| Burton | 6,777 | $68,063 |
| Laurel Bay | 5,082 | $54,345 |
| Shell Point | 2,281 | $81,630 |
| SeabrookGEOID 4564690 | 1,255 | $63,149 |
| Fripp Island | 963 | $102,778 |
| DaleGEOID 4518340 | 633 | not published |
| SheldonGEOID 4565590 | 579 | not published |
| Daufuskie IslandGEOID 4518610 | 557 | $156,090 |
| LobecoGEOID 4542145 | 292 | not published |
| Harbor IslandGEOID 4532172 | 209 | $105,425 |
| Yemassee | 1,080 | $44,896 |
| Hardeeville | 7,473 | $78,365 |
| Ridgeland | 3,758 | $62,981 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Beaufort County?
The median resident of Beaufort County is 48.1 years old; 17.4% are under 18 and 28.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 67.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 15.5%. 7.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Beaufort County | South Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1±0.3 | 40.2 | +2.6 |
| Under 18 years | 17.4%±0.1 pts | 21.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 28.4%±0.1 pts | 18.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.4% | 7.4% | +1.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 67.3%±0.4 pts | 61.9% | −0.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 15.5%±0.4 pts | 24.6% | −2.0 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.2 pts | 1.7% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2%±0.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.7%±0.6 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 11.7%±0.7 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.0%±0.7 pts | 8.3% | – |
| With a disability | 13.4%±0.8 pts | 14.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.5%±0.8 pts | 9.6% | −2.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.7%±0.6 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 46.0%±1.2 pts | 32.1% | +4.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.2%±1.1 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 7.4%±0.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
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 Beaufort County earn?
Half of Beaufort County's 82,333 households earn less than $86,573 a year (±$3,024), against $69,324 in South Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $84,151 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Beaufort County | South Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $86,573±$3,024 | $69,324 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $126,267±$4,683 | $95,567 | – |
| Per capita income | $53,951±$1,837 | $39,236 | +$6,020 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.6%±1.1 pts | 14.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.9%±2.8 pts | 19.4% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.2%±0.7 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.0%±0.8 pts | 88.8% | – |
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 Beaufort County?
Owners occupy 75.9% of Beaufort County's occupied homes and renters 24.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $455,600 by its owner (±$10,790). The median renter pays $1,653 a month including utilities, and 45.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Beaufort County | South Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $455,600±$10,790 | $259,000 | +$88,730 |
| Median gross rent | $1,653±$70 | $1,180 | +$174 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.0%±3.8 pts | 42.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,030±$65 | $1,529 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.9%±1.2 pts | 71.9% | +2.6 pts |
| Housing units | 103,177±109 | 2,443,039 | +3,973 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9%±0.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 19.4%±2.1 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.4%±1.2 pts | 64.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.0%±0.8 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.7%±0.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.9%±0.3 pts | 3.6% | – |
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 Beaufort County building?
Builders took permits for 1,219 new housing units across Beaufort County in 2025 (1,144 single-family), 6.0 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Beaufort County get to work?
71.8% of Beaufort County's workers drive alone and 13.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.6%.
| Measure | Beaufort County | South Carolina | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.4%±1.0 pts | 60.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6%±0.6 pts | 4.9% | −2.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 71.8%±1.3 pts | 76.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.2%±1.0 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 2.4%±0.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.2%±1.0 pts | 11.5% | +4.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.6 min±0.9 | 25.6 min | no clear change |
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 are Beaufort County's census tracts?
Beaufort County is divided into 43 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $16,944 (Tract 4) to $156,090 (Tract 21.01).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Beaufort County compare with South Carolina's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 10th of 46 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 10th of 46 |
| Residents per square mile | 7th of 46 |
| Median household income | 3rd of 46 |
| Median home value | 2nd of 46 |
| Median gross rent | 2nd of 46 |
| Poverty rate | 45th of 46 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2nd of 46 |
| Median age | 4th of 46 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Beaufort County 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' school search.