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Beaufort, SC

Downtown businesses clustered along Bay Street, adjacent to the Henry Chambers Waterfront Park
Downtown businesses clustered along Bay Street, adjacent to the Henry Chambers Waterfront Park
BeaufortTiger on Wikimedia
Homes in the Old Point neighborhood
Homes in the Old Point neighborhood
BeaufortTiger on Wikimedia
Beaufort leans conservative and has a Democratic representative in Congress
13,336
Beaufort Population7
$
41,402
Median Income6
18.7
%
Unemployment Rate17
 

City Score

  • Air Quality

    97
    • Unhealthy air quality
      0 days per year
    • Unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups
      0 days per year
    • High PM2.5 pollution14
      29 days per year
    • High ozone14
      61 days per year

  • Internet Connectivity

    70
    • Access to 25+ mbps wired broadband23
      91.5 %
    • Access to 100+ mbps broadband23
      90.2 %
    • Average download speed23
      82 mpbs
    • Households with broadband24
      79.9 %

  • Travel Connectivity

    64
    • Airports
      2
    • Train stations
      3

  • Taxes

    62
    • City income tax
      0.0 % (for median earners)
    • City income tax
      0.0 % (for high earners)
    • State income tax16
      4.2 % (for median earners)
    • State income tax16
      5.8 % (for high earners)
    • City sales tax19
      1.0 %
    • State sales tax19
      6.0 %
    • Property tax21
      0.6 %
    • Vehicle tax21
      2.4 %

  • Climate

    59
    • Sunny days3
      64 days
    • Rainy days10
      108 days
    • Hot days10
      79 days
    • Cold days10
      54 days
    • Average humidity10
      67 %
    • Average wind speed10
      6 mph
    • Annual snowfall10
      2 inches
    • Temperature in January10
      45 °F
    • Temperature in July10
      82 °F
    • Wildfire risk22
      High
    • Hurricane risk22
      High
    • Tornado risk22
      Medium
    • Earthquake risk22
      Medium
    • Flood risk22
      Low

  • Attractions

    58
    • Restaurants8
      650.1 per 100,000 residents
    • Bars8
      14.2 per 100,000 households
    • Performing arts centers8
      8.5 per 100,000 households
    • Museums8
      9.9 per 100,000 households
    • Music venues18
      45
    • Historical sites
      1
    • Golf courses20
      23
    • Wineries
      0
    • Casinos
      0

  • Home Pricing

    56
    • Median home value5
      $231,189
    • Median home value (sq ft)11
      $143
    • Median rent price12
      $1,115

  • Outdoor Activities

    51
    • Beaches9
      24
    • Parks15
      7
    • Ski resorts
      0

  • Diversity

    44
    • White or Middle Eastern7
      64.7 %
    • Black7
      27.7 %
    • Asian7
      1.9 %
    • Hispanic7
      5.7 %

  • Education

    42
    • Public schools rated 8+4
      1
    • Public schools rated 8+ (%)4
      5.9 %
    • High schools in top 25%13
      2
    • High schools in top 25% (%)13
      40.0 %
    • Top rated public high school13
      Beaufort High
    • Top rated public high school (national rank)13
      3,981

  • Safety

    36
    • Property crimes1
      4,356.6 per 100,000 residents
    • Violent crimes1
      607.4 per 100,000 residents

  • Local Transportation

    34
    • Walkability score
      0
    • Bikeability score
      0
    • Transit score
      0
    • Commute via public transit17
      0.3 %
    • Commute via walking17
      1.4 %
    • Commutes via driving solo17
      78.1 %
    • Commute time (avg)17
      15.3 minutes

  • Economy

    32
    • Income6
      $26,636
    • Income (full-time)6
      $41,402
    • Income ($100,000 or more)6
      10.3 %
    • Income ($25,000 and less)6
      18.2 %
    • Income growth (1-year)6
      59.1 %
    • Income growth (10-year)6
      16.7 %
    • Employment rate17
      81.3 %
    • Employment rate (full-time)6
      41.1 %
    • Employment rate growth (1-year)17
      -6.1 %
    • Employment rate growth (10-year)17
      6.3 %
    • Population growth (1-year)7
      -0.6 %
    • Population growth (10-year)7
      6.8 %

  • Healthcare

    24
    • Hospitals (<50 miles)2
      11
    • Hospital rating (avg)2
      2.43 / 5
    • 5-star hospitals
      0
    • 5-star hospitals (%)
      0 %
    • 5-star hospital (nearest)
      48.4 miles from city center
 

Population

The population of Beaufort that is 55 years and older grew by 22.4% since 2010, which is the city's fastest growing segment.

Age

34.9
Median Age7
6.8
%
Population Growth Since 20107

Proportion of Population by Age Group vs. United States average7

 

Race and Ethnicity

Beaufort residents are mostly white and the city is slowly becoming less diverse as the white community has grown by 4.2% since 2010, while the Black community, 2nd largest in the city, has grown by 1.1%

Race

63.7
%
South Carolina Population, White7
61.1
%
United States population, White7

Population Distribution by Race/Ethnicity7

 

Climate

Beaufort is at a low risk for natural disasters. The most common disasters are volcanoes, volcanoes, and volcanoes.

Weather

30
%
Chance of Rain10
64
%
Chance of Sunshine3

Average Temperature37

 

Housing

The average home value in Beaufort increased by 11% since 2010 which is 31% lower than the national average and 15% lower than the state average

Rent

$
1,115
Monthly Average12
46
%
Renters38

Average Home Value5

 

Taxes

Beaufort is an average tax location with sales tax near the national average and property tax 49% lower than the national average, but income tax 20% higher than the national average.

Other

0.57
%
Property Tax21
7.0
%
Sales Tax19
2.4
%
Vehicle Tax21

Effective Income Tax Rate at Various Income Levels (Married, Filing Jointly)39

 

Employment

Beaufort has a very low employment rate of 81% which is 13% lower than the national average. The largest employers are Beaufort Memorial Hospital and Joseph Shanklin Elementary

Income

18.2
%
<$25,0006
10.3
%
$100,000+6

Distribution by Industry17

 

Politics

Beaufort leans conservative and has a Democratic representative in Congress

2016 Presidential Election Results40

Representatives

Mayor26 Billy Keyserling
Democratic
House of Representative26 Joe Cunningham
Democratic
 

Healthcare

The nearest 5-star hospital, Roper Hospital, is 48.4 miles from the center of Beaufort, the nearest Veterans Affairs medical center, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, is 48.8 miles away, and the nearest top-rated hospital for cancer care, MUSC Health-University Medical Center, is 48.7 miles away

Medicare-Rated Hospitals (<50 Miles)2

Is Marijuana Legal?

Medical27 No
Decriminalized27 No
 

Safety

In South Carolina, 45.0% of adults live in a household with at least one gun, which is a marginal decrease from 2000 when 49.2% of adults lived in households with guns

Gun Laws

No
Universal Background Checks28
No
Permit to Purchase Law28

Property Crimes and Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents

 

Fun Facts

  • Also known as the "Succession House". Recognized as the meeting place for the first draft of the Articles of Secession leading to the start of the Civil War
  • One of the oldest active churches in the United States
  • The historic home of an enslaved man who daringly rescued his family from the Confederate Army by commandeering the CSS Planter and sailing her to freedom
 

Top Destinations

  • While a beaufort is a type of gruyere cheese found in the French Alps, Beaufort was actually settled by the English and named after the Duke of Beaufort30
  • Beaufort County is made up of 65 islands. The largest is Helena Island at 64 square miles and a population less than 9,00031
  • South Carolina has about a half-million acres of salt marsh, more than any other state on the east coast, and Beaufort County accounts for more of it than any other county32
  • Frogmore Stew is a traditional dish served in Beaufort. It's made of potatoes, corn, sausage, shrimp, but no frogs33
 

Recognition

#11 2019 Best Cities for Families by MarketWatch29
 

Sources

1 2018 Offenses Known to Law Enforcement | FBI
2 Medicare-certified hospitals | Medicare.gov
3 Sunshine - Average Percent of Possible
4 School Rankings & Reviews for Public and Private Schools | Great Schools
5 Zillow Housing Data
6 2018 Earnings in the Past 12 Months | ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles | United States Census
7 2018 Demographic And Housing Estimates | ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles | United States Census
8 2017 County Business Patterns | United States Census
9 Beaches | Yelp
10 Comparative Climatic Data | National Centers for Environmental Information
11 United States Home Prices & Home Values
12 Rent Research | Zumper
13 Best High Schools in the US | U.S. News & World Report's
14 AirData | United States Environmental Protection Agency
15 Parks | Yelp
16 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2020 | Tax Foundation
17 2018 Economic Characteristics | ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles | United States Census
18 Music Venues | Yelp
19 2020 State and Local Sales Tax Rates | Tax Foundation
20 Golf Courses | Yelp
21 2020 Property and Vehicle Taxes by State | WalletHub
22 Natural Center for Disaster Preparedness | Columbia University
23 Internet Service Providers: Availability & Coverage | Broadband Now
24 2018 Social Characteristics | ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles | United States Census
25 Zippia, The Career Expert
26 Who represents me | Ballotpedia
27 State Policy | Marijuana Policy Project
28 State-Level Estimates of Household Firearm Ownership | The RAND Corporation
29 2019 Best Cities for Families | MarketWatch
30 History | Travel Beaufort
31 Historic District | City of Beaufort
32 Dynamics of the Salt Marsh | Department of Natural Resources | South Carolina
33 Just What is Frogmore Stew | Office of Tourism | South Carolina
34 2010 Demographic And Housing Estimates | ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles | United States Census
35 Elevations and Distances | U.S. Geological Survey Publications Repository
36 Normal Precipitation, Inches
37 Normal Daily Minimum Temperature, °F
38 2018 Selected Housing Characteristics | ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles | United States Census
39 Federal Income Tax Calculator | smartasset
40 2016 Presidential Election Results | Politico
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