Bluffton, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

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

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Bluffton, South Carolina had a total population of 33,157, the 15th largest town in South Carolina, with a median household income of $111,281, which is 61% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 4.3%.

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

Key Takeaways

Household income is 61% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in South Carolina.
An exceptionally low poverty rate of 4.3% — among the lowest in South Carolina.
51.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in South Carolina.
Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.2%.

Bluffton Quick Facts

Population 33,157

Median Household Income $111,281

Median Home Value $492,100

Poverty Rate 4.3%

Unemployment Rate 2.2%

Median Age 42.7 years

Homeownership Rate 83.4%

Affordability Ratio 4.4x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 51.9%

High School Graduation Rate 96.8%

Diversity Index 42/100

Population 33,157 15th of 474

Median Income $111,281 top 10%

Poverty Rate 4.3% 65% lower than national

Median Home Value $492,100 top 10%

How Bluffton 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	31,323	33,157	+5.9%
Median household income	$105,463	$111,281	+5.5%
Median home value	$444,500	$492,100	+10.7%

How Bluffton Compares

Median Household Income

Bluffton

$111,281

$69,324

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Bluffton

$492,100

$259,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 6.2%

$25K-$50K 9.2%

$50K-$100K 28.1%

$100K+ 56.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.1%

$10K-$15K

1.0%

$15K-$20K

0.9%

$20K-$25K

1.1%

$25K-$30K

1.5%

$30K-$35K

1.1%

$35K-$40K

2.0%

$40K-$45K

0.9%

$45K-$50K

3.6%

$50K-$60K

4.1%

$60K-$75K

7.4%

$75K-$100K

16.6%

$100K-$125K

14.4%

$125K-$150K

11.0%

$150K-$200K

11.1%

$200K+

20.0%

Employment

2.2% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%

60.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 83.4%

Renter 16.6%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $2,256/mo 24.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

22.7%

18-34

14.5%

35-54

27.3%

55-74

27.0%

75+

8.6%

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+)

Bluffton Rankings in South Carolina

#15 Population of 474

#28 Median Income of 417

#36 Education of 473

#21 Home Value of 414

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

Other Cities in Beaufort County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Hilton Head Island	37,911	$94,657	8.6%	$687,400
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

Cities Similar to Bluffton

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Fort Mill	30,775	$121,823	$487,500	57.6%	4.8%
Aiken	32,521	$76,746	$286,800	47.7%	17.0%
Hilton Head Island	37,911	$94,657	$687,400	56.1%	8.6%
Mauldin	27,055	$82,331	$258,500	38.7%	8.4%
Greer	41,536	$82,626	$288,700	41.4%	10.1%

Population Overview

Bluffton is a mid-sized community located in South Carolina, within Beaufort County. The total population is 33,157. It ranks as the 15th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Bluffton is 42.7 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Bluffton is $111,281. This is 61% higher than the state median of $69,324. It is also 38% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.3%. This is 69% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 55% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $492,100. Housing costs are 90% higher than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 83.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Bluffton is White (non-Hispanic), making up 74.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.5%. The Black or African American population (9.0%) is well below the state average of 24.6%.

Education

51.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Bluffton in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 62% 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 96.8%. Notably, 21.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Bluffton, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

Free data download: Get all South Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Bluffton, South Carolina?

Bluffton, South Carolina has a population of 33,157 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Bluffton, SC?

The median household income in Bluffton is $111,281, which is 38% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Bluffton, SC?

The poverty rate in Bluffton is 4.3%. This means approximately 1,421 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Bluffton, South Carolina?

Bluffton's population is 74.8% White, 9.0% Black, 10.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Bluffton, SC?

The median home value in Bluffton is $492,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x.

How educated is Bluffton, South Carolina?

51.9% of adults (25+) in Bluffton hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 21.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.