Kiawah Island town, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Kiawah Island town is a small community located in South Carolina. The total population is 2,196. It ranks as the 186th most populous out of 475 cities and towns in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kiawah Island town is 66.0 years. This is 65% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 1.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.8% 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 Kiawah Island town is $236,607. This is 254% higher than the state median of $66,818. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 201% higher. The poverty rate stands at 2.7%. This is 81% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.2%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $1,723,200. Housing costs are 628% higher than the state median of $236,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 98.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 71.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Kiawah Island town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.1% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (98.1% vs 62.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 7.1%.

Education

86.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Kiawah Island town in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 175% higher than the state rate of 31.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 99.0%. Notably, 50.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kiawah Island town, South Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in South Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.