Your life in Beaufort County, South Carolina

What stands out

What stands out about Beaufort County: natural-hazard risk is in the top 2% of American counties (98 of 100), life expectancy is in the top 4% of American counties (81.3 years), and the median home price is in the top 5% of American counties ($558K). Within South Carolina it ranks 3rd of 46 counties for natural-hazard risk.

Where you are

You live in Beaufort County, South Carolina. 189,071 people live here with you. The population grew 1.4% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +2,420).

South Carolina has a two-bracket income tax with a top rate of 5.21% for 2026, does not tax Social Security, and exempts up to $10,000 of retirement income per person. Owner-occupied homes are assessed at 4% instead of 6%, which keeps property taxes among the lowest in the country. Charleston, Greenville and the coastal counties have drawn heavy in-migration; hurricane exposure runs the length of the coast.

Money

The typical household here brings in $81,260 a year, higher than 88% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $54,768. Unemployment runs 3.1%, lower than 60% of American counties. 11% of workers work from home.

South Carolina takes 4.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,268 a year.

Home

The median home costs $558K, pricier than 95% of American counties, about 4.0 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,404 a month. Property tax is 0.51% of home value, roughly $1,928 a year on that median home, lower than 87% of American counties. 76% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.3 per 1,000 residents, lower than 80% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 10 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 81.3 years, longer than 96% of American counties. There are 521 active physicians in the county, about 27.6 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 11.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.90 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 55% of American counties. 94% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 15 points. 67% of eligible voters turned out. Under South Carolina law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 67°F, highs near 76 and lows near 58, warmer than 88% of American counties. About 40 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 98 out of 100, riskier than 98% of American counties; the county has had 24 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 226 Mbps down, faster than 62% of American counties. There are 4 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.5 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 2 breweries, 7 museums, 1 National Park Service site.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• South Carolina tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.