Kiawah Island, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Kiawah Island is a small community located in South Carolina, within Charleston County. The total population is 2,326. It ranks as the 180th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kiawah Island is 66.8 years. This is 66% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 0.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.1% 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 Kiawah Island is $213,594. This is 208% higher than the state median of $69,324. It is also 165% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.1%. This is 78% 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 1.8%. This is 62% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $2,000,000+. Housing costs are 672% higher than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 98.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 38% higher than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Kiawah Island has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.2% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (98.2% vs 61.9%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 24.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 7.4%.

Education

87.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Kiawah Island in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 172% 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 98.9%. Notably, 50.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kiawah 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.