What it's like to live in Port Royal
Port Royal is a small city in South Carolina with crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Port Royal deals with rent well above the national average, hot summers, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Port Royal compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Port Royal
Based on Port Royal's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,452
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $69,040 a year
- 44% of Port Royal renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$69,440
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,720
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 22% above US
$1,726/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,726 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $347,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $347,200 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Beaufort County is 4.2%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Beaufort County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 57% below US
141 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1333/100k · Port Royal Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 45% below US
14 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 14.4 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 42°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Reconstruction Era National Historical Park (4 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Port Royal's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and hot summers. A year of median rent ($1,726/mo) equals 28% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and people who want short commutes.
See all the data for Port Royal →·All South Carolina cities →
Other places near Port Royal
All South Carolina guides →Moving to Hilton Head Island →
12 mi away · pop. 37,911
Rent $1,479/mo · Income $94,657
Compare with Port Royal →Moving to Bluffton →
17 mi away · pop. 33,157
Rent $2,256/mo · Income $111,281
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