Beaufort County, South Carolina Demographics 2026

Name: Beaufort County, South Carolina Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Beaufort County, South Carolina has a population of 195,289, the 10th most populous county in South Carolina. The median household income is $86,573 and the median home value is $455,600. The poverty rate is 9.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Beaufort County Quick Facts

Population 195,289

Median Household Income $86,573

Median Home Value $455,600

Poverty Rate 9.6%

Unemployment Rate 2.6%

Median Age 48.1 years

Homeownership Rate 75.9%

Affordability Ratio 5.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 46.0%

High School Graduation 94.7%

Cities/Places 17

Population 195,289 10th of 46

Median Income $86,573 25% higher than state

Poverty Rate 9.6%

Unemployment 2.6%

How Beaufort County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	192,123	195,289	+1.6%
Median household income	$84,819	$86,573	+2.1%
Median home value	$407,600	$455,600	+11.8%

Median Household Income

Beaufort

$86,573

$69,324

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Beaufort

$455,600

$259,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 10.8%

$25K-$50K 15.1%

$50K-$100K 30.6%

$100K+ 43.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.6%

$10K-$15K

2.3%

$15K-$20K

2.2%

$20K-$25K

2.7%

$25K-$30K

2.6%

$30K-$35K

2.9%

$35K-$40K

3.1%

$40K-$45K

2.7%

$45K-$50K

3.8%

$50K-$60K

6.2%

$60K-$75K

10.6%

$75K-$100K

13.8%

$100K-$125K

10.6%

$125K-$150K

8.1%

$150K-$200K

9.7%

$200K+

15.2%

Employment

2.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

56.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.9%

Renter 24.1%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,653/mo 22.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.4%

18-34

20.1%

35-54

20.0%

55-74

30.4%

75+

12.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 55 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Beaufort County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hilton Head Island	37,911	$94,657	8.6%	$687,400
Bluffton	33,157	$111,281	4.3%	$492,100
Port Royal	15,579	$74,870	8.4%	$347,200
Beaufort	13,747	$61,220	12.5%	$345,400
Hardeeville	10,871	$78,365	11.8%	$488,900
Burton	6,912	$68,063	12.1%	$247,600
Laurel Bay	5,882	$54,345	17.5%	$231,800
Ridgeland	3,764	$62,981	26.8%	$228,400
Shell Point	1,439	$81,630	3.1%	$293,300
Yemassee	1,178	$44,896	27.3%	$161,600
Seabrook	799	$63,149	21.3%	N/A
Fripp Island	752	$102,778	0.5%	$671,300
Daufuskie Island	619	$156,090	7.6%	$576,400
Sheldon	610	N/A	2.3%	$45,000
Dale	411	N/A	55.7%	N/A
Harbor Island	303	$105,425	9.2%	$366,100
Lobeco	109	N/A	64.2%	N/A

Explore South Carolina Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Beaufort County is located in South Carolina with a total population of 195,289. It is the 10th most populous county out of 46 in South Carolina. The county encompasses 17 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Beaufort County is 48.1 years. This is 20% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 12.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Beaufort County is $86,573. This is 25% higher than the state median of $69,324. It is also 7% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.6%. This is 32% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $455,600. Housing costs are 76% higher than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 75.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Beaufort County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 15.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.4% vs 7.4%).

Education

46.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Beaufort County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 43% higher than the state rate of 32.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.7%. Notably, 19.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Beaufort County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against South Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Beaufort County, South Carolina?

Beaufort County has a population of 195,289, making it the 10th most populous county in South Carolina.

What is the median income in Beaufort County?

The median household income in Beaufort County is $86,573 with a poverty rate of 9.6%.

How many cities are in Beaufort County, South Carolina?

Beaufort County contains 17 Census-designated places.