RANK #767 / 1001 NAT · #23 / 24 SC · POP 195,289
1YR FORECAST: -0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Beaufort County, South Carolina, is distinguished by its historic town of Beaufort, the second oldest city in the state, known for its preserved antebellum architecture and oak-lined streets. Situated on Port Royal Island, the county is surrounded by tidal rivers, creeks, and salt marshes, offering extensive natural beauty. It lies midway between Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina. Commute options include local public transit, the Palmetto Breeze, which offers fixed routes and on-demand services, primarily within Beaufort County. The area provides abundant outdoor recreation, including beaches at Hunting Island State Park, kayaking, fishing, and numerous parks with trails.
Life in Beaufort County attracts both young professionals and retirees, many of whom own their homes. The public school system is highly rated, with various elementary, middle, and high schools across the county. The economy is significantly driven by tourism and the strong military presence, including the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Recent economic developments focus on diversifying business sectors and attracting new companies, with efforts to expand commercial and residential spaces, and foster growth in areas like cybersecurity.
Beaufort County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.6% YoY, population +1.6%, wages +4.6%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 21.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Residential Development (3,100 units along Robert Smalls Parkway/Battery Creek)
Various Developers (e.g., Tri Pointe Homes)
|
$930M | Planned/Under Construction |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Seabrook, Yemassee, Trask East)
Dominion Energy Inc., Southern Current
|
$94M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 23/100, Beaufort County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $86,573 combined with job growth of +1.6% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Beaufort County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $455,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,653/month on average.
Beaufort County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.6% clip. Home values shifted +0.6% in the past year.
Not particularly — 1.69% of Beaufort County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.