Isle of Palms, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Isle of Palms is a small community located in South Carolina, within Charleston County. The total population is 4,362. It ranks as the 112th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Isle of Palms is 54.6 years. This is 36% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 13.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.6% 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 Isle of Palms is $156,979. This is 126% higher than the state median of $69,324. It is also 94% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.5%. This is 82% 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 1.3%. This is 74% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $1,581,300. Housing costs are 511% higher than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 93.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Isle of Palms has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (98.9% vs 61.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

71.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Isle of Palms in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 123% 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 99.8%. Notably, 32.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Isle of Palms, 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.