CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

32.11° N · 80.86° W · GEOID 4518610

Daufuskie Island

Beaufort County, South Carolina · part of the Hilton Head Island, SC metro

Limited data population under 5,000, core figures borrowed from county or metro: median_gross_rent, median_home_value

South CarolinaDaufuskie Island, SCDaufuskie IslandDaufuskie Island

The short answer

Daufuskie Island is home to 619 people. Median household income is $156,090 a year and median rent is $1,653 a month, 12.7% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $455,600, about 2.9x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$1,653
21% above the median place
Median household income
$156,090
94% above the median place
Median home value
$455,600
43% above the median place
Unemployment
2.6%
46% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Daufuskie Island

  • 99% of homes are owner-occupied, more than in 99% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 101 South Carolina places.
  • Households average 1.73 people, smaller than in 99% of places its size. It is the lowest of 101 South Carolina places.
  • Only 0% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 98% of places its size. It is the lowest of 99 South Carolina places.
  • 80% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, a larger share than in 98% of places its size. It is the highest of 101 South Carolina places.
  • 45% of homes stand vacant, more than in 97% of places its size. It is the 2nd-highest of 85 South Carolina places.

Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 97 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

01

Moving to Daufuskie Island

Beaufort County gains about 9.9 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in13,613
Moved out12,048
Net+1,565

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within South Carolina, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within South CarolinaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$146K
Leavers$81K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Beaufort County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
22.6% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 22.6% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Beaufort County report $145,600 a year in income on average; those leaving, $81,300, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$66,100 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,653 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,030 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $455,600.
Getting to work
24 minutes each way on average; 13.2% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
North Star, DE matches it on character. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
22.6%
above the median place (median 2.0%)
Moved here in the past year1
22.6%
294% above the median place
Income of households moving in7
$145,633
106% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureDaufuskie IslandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year122.6%294% above
Moved from another state122.6%above (median 2.0%)
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure9.9above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$145,633106% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$81,33916% above
02

What it costs to live here

Renters paying 30%+ is 0.0%, below the median place (median 50.6%).

Daufuskie Island12.7%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$66,120
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
12.7%
38% below the median place
Home price to income
2.9x
23% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
13%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$139,900
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Daufuskie Island, $1,653 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Daufuskie Island.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Daufuskie Island? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
0.0%
below the median place (median 50.6%)
Homeownership1
98.6%
48% above the median place
Vacant homes1
44.9%
above the median place (median 7.1%)
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureDaufuskie IslandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1County figure$1,65321% above
Rent to income112.7%38% below
Property tax rate10.5%47% below
Home price to income12.9x23% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure98.03% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,01024% above
HUD area median income4County figure$113,0005% above
Property tax paid (median)1County figure$2,17433% below
Median home value1County figure$455,60043% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure4.1%29% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure73.9%43% above
Homeownership198.6%48% above
Renters paying 30%+10.0%below (median 50.6%)
Owner costs with a mortgage1County figure$2,0308% above
Vacant homes144.9%above (median 7.1%)
Median year built120051% above
03

Work and pay

Income per person is $86,556, 116% above the median place.

Income per person1
$86,556
116% above the median place
Median household income1
$156,090
94% above the median place
Unemployment1
2.6%
46% below the median place
All 9 work and pay measures
MeasureDaufuskie IslandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$156,09094% above
Income per person1$86,556116% above
Unemployment1County figure2.6%46% below
Average annual pay6County figure$57,23213% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure4.5%22% above
Jobs6County figure72,25752% below
Poverty rate1County figure9.6%11% below
Mean commute1County figure24 min5% below
Works from home1County figure13.2%6% above
04

Who lives here

Household size is 1.7, 31% below the median place.

Household size1
1.7
31% below the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
79.6%
148% above the median place
Median age1
59.5
53% above the median place
All 8 people measures
MeasureDaufuskie IslandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population16196646th largest
Median age159.553% above
Bachelor's or higher179.6%148% above
High school or higher198.8%7% above
Household size11.731% below
Born abroad1County figure7.7%12% below
No health insurance1County figure8.5%33% above
Homes with broadband198.9%7% above
05

Life in Daufuskie Island

78 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 5 of them National Historic Landmarks.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars28.0 +35%
Shops41.0 +35%
Arts, recreation and fitness7.4 +80%
Doctors' offices and clinics24.2 +20%
Child care centers1.1 −52%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Child care centers per 10k8
1.1
52% below the median place
Restaurants and bars per 10k8
28.0
35% above the median place
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8
7.4
80% above the median place
All 9 schools and local life measures
MeasureDaufuskie IslandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools10County figure35289% above
Public school students10County figure22,968369% above
Students per teacher10County figure11.625% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure28.035% above
Shops per 10k8County figure41.035% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure7.480% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure24.220% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure1.152% below
National Register listings9County figure78above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Hurricane risk is 99.5, 41% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Daufuskie Island. Larger places are fetched first.

Hurricane risk12
99.5
41% above the median place
Average temperature11
67°F
21% above the median place
January average low11
40°F
58% above the median place
All 9 weather and risk measures
MeasureDaufuskie IslandAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high11County figure91°F5% above
January average low11County figure40°F58% above
Average temperature11County figure67°F21% above
Annual precipitation11County figure48.7 in11% above
Natural hazard risk12County figure97.15% above
Hurricane risk12County figure99.541% above
Tornado risk12County figure82.01% above
Wildfire risk12County figure90.347% above
Heat wave risk12County figure87.92% below
08

Daufuskie Island in 2030: where the trends point

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median household income$156,090 (2024)$197,500$167,000 to $234,000+4.0%
Median home value$576,400 (2024)$774,000$562,000 to $1,066,000+5.0%

The median home would be worth 3.9 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.7 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Daufuskie Island

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
North Star, DE$1,479$150,733Compare
Elkins Park, PA$1,606$129,852Compare
Catalina Foothills, AZ$1,412$115,304Compare
Pinehurst, NC$1,664$109,802Compare
Pinehurst, NCCatalina Foothills, AZElkins Park, PANorth Star, DEDaufuskie Island, SCDaufuskie IslandNorth StarElkins ParkCatalina FoothillsPinehurstDaufuskie IslandNorth StarElkins ParkCatalina FoothillsPinehurst

Common questions

Is Daufuskie Island a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. 99% of homes are owner-occupied, more than in 99% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the highest of 101 South Carolina places. Households average 1.73 people, smaller than in 99% of places its size. It is the lowest of 101 South Carolina places. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Daufuskie Island expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 12.7% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $455,600.

What salary do you need to live in Daufuskie Island?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $66,120 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Daufuskie Island?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are North Star, DE, Elkins Park, PA, Catalina Foothills, AZ and Pinehurst, NC.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  10. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  11. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  12. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Daufuskie Island with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Daufuskie Island itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/daufuskie-island-south-carolina

Citytistics. “Daufuskie Island, South Carolina.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/daufuskie-island-south-carolina/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.