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Living in
Beaufort.
About
Life in Beaufort
Living in Beaufort means embracing a slower pace anchored by military presence—Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station shape the local economy and culture in tangible ways—but the real draw for residents is the combination of manageable cost of living, genuine community character, and reasonable job market without big-city chaos. The median home value sits around $345,400 with median household income near $61,220, making it more affordable than comparable historic coastal towns, though you're paying for proximity to that maritime charm and the kind of walkable historic downtown most people only visit. The job market stays steady partly because of government and military employment anchoring the region, plus tourism dollars that support retail and hospitality without overwhelming the place—unemployment hovers near 4.2%, and your commute to most jobs averages under 19 minutes.
Beaufort at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.5%
Foreign-Born
3.9%
Broadband Internet
88.1%
of households
Population Growth
+15.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.9% foreign-born, most often from Colombia
Who lives in Beaufort: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Beaufort, the largest foreign-born group is from Colombia (29.8%), and 5.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.9%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.6%
of households
Married Couples
40.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.21
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for SC
Rent, home values, and income in Beaufort
In Beaufort, home values are 33% above the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,839
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
15.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $412,433 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for SC
Unemployment in Beaufort
Unemployment in Beaufort County, which includes Beaufort, is close to the SC average.
Unemployment rate
Beaufort: Beaufort County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Beaufort County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Beaufort Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.3 min avg
How Beaufort residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Beaufort, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Hilton Head Airport (HHH)
Regional airport · few flights118k passengers boarded in 2025
- 49 mi
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Medium hub3.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 10% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Beaufort runs 10% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
296.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,038.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Beaufort Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Beaufort County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Beaufort County, which includes Beaufort, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $93,750 |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $202,500 |
| 2023 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $119,000 |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2020 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $60,250 |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $31,750 |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.7M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Beaufort County, county-wide
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Chatham County, GA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 39 miles from Beaufort) is typically good — 214 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
214
per year
Moderate Days
151
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Chatham County, GA (39 mi away)
Climate90°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Beaufort has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
73
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
17
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 40°F | 2.90" |
| Feb | 64°F | 43°F | 2.91" |
| Mar | 70°F | 49°F | 3.11" |
| Apr | 77°F | 56°F | 3.06" |
| May | 84°F | 64°F | 2.50" |
| Jun | 89°F | 71°F | 4.99" |
| Jul | 92°F | 75°F | 5.57" |
| Aug | 90°F | 74°F | 6.50" |
| Sep | 86°F | 70°F | 4.03" |
| Oct | 78°F | 59°F | 3.77" |
| Nov | 69°F | 48°F | 2.51" |
| Dec | 63°F | 43°F | 3.17" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Beaufort
Beaufort has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Beaufort County Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Nh Beaufort
Acute Care - Department of Defense · 5.1 mi away · Beaufort
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Beaufort
Beaufort's student/teacher ratio is 11.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 39.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Beaufort
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Public · 2-year · 1,679 students · in-state tuition $6,300 · 16% graduate · median earnings $39,721 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Beaufort
Beaufort has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Reconstruction Era National Historical Park (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awayFort Pulaski National Monument
National Monument
32 mi awayFort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
54 mi awayCharles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awayCongaree National Park
National Park
92 mi awayFort Frederica National Monument
National Monument
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Beaufort
Beaufort County Library
311 Scott Street, Beaufort
Cities Near Beaufort
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Beaufort?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Beaufort FAQ
Is Beaufort, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Beaufort's median rent is $1,212/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,220/year. Median home value is $345,400.
Is Beaufort, South Carolina safe?⌄
Beaufort's violent crime rate was 296 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2038 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Beaufort, South Carolina?⌄
Beaufort County, which includes Beaufort, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Beaufort, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Beaufort is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,212/month and median household income is $61,220/year. The median home value is $345,400. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Beaufort, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Beaufort is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from