Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Hilton Head Island is a mid-sized community located in South Carolina, within Beaufort County. The total population is 37,911. It ranks as the 14th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hilton Head Island is 59.8 years. This is 49% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 11.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 19.5% 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 Hilton Head Island is $94,657. This is 37% higher than the state median of $69,324. It is also 17% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.6%. This is 39% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.0%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $687,400. Housing costs are 165% higher than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 78.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hilton Head Island is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.3%. The Black or African American population (7.2%) is well below the state average of 24.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.3% vs 7.4%).

Education

56.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Hilton Head Island in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 75% 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 93.6%. Notably, 24.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hilton Head Island, 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.