Metro area profile · South Carolina
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 242,966
- +12.0% since 2020
- Households
- 95,451
- Median household income
- $83,304
- +28.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $439,500
- Jobs located here
- 79,620
- Highest market score
- 86
- Child care and preschools, #9 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 242,966 people live in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area, in 95,451 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area grew 12.0%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area is $83,304 a year, 3% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 28.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (87).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area are for child care centers and preschools (86), funeral homes (84) and laundromats (83). The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area ranks #9 of 387 scored metro areas for child care centers and preschools.
The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area takes in 2 counties: Beaufort County and Jasper County. For its number of households, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for property management companies (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for primary care and pediatric clinics (32% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child care and preschools | 86 | #9 of 387 | 40 | 4.2 | $1.3M | 127 | 23 |
| Funeral homes | 84 | #21 of 377 | 19 | 2.0 | $913K | 134 | 7 |
| Laundromats | 83 | #10 of 364 | 12 | 1.3 | $16.3M | 130 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 81 | #25 of 387 | 118 | 12.4 | $3.3M | 109 | 167 |
| Insurance agencies | 79 | #39 of 387 | 103 | 10.8 | $2.2M | 175 | 91 |
| Auto repair and car care | 75 | #29 of 387 | 271 | 28.4 | $313K | 117 | 112 |
| Auto repair shops | 75 | #32 of 387 | 161 | 16.9 | $527K | 119 | 71 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 73 | #22 of 387 | 32 | 3.4 | $2.6M | 127 | 21 |
| Pizza | 73 | #47 of 387 | 77 | 8.1 | $5.1M | 100 | 167 |
| Convenience stores | 73 | #48 of 387 | 86 | 9.0 | $7M | 89 | 8 |
| Gas stations | 67 | #84 of 387 | 90 | 9.4 | $3M | 124 | 87 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 66 | #73 of 387 | 101 | 10.6 | $3.9M | 105 | 50 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 65 | #86 of 387 | 47 | 4.9 | $2.4M | 137 | 156 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 64 | #86 of 387 | 92 | 9.6 | $4.3M | 103 | 55 |
| Electricians | 63 | #82 of 383 | 26 | 2.7 | $11.5M | 96 | 70 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 63 | #109 of 381 | 25 | 2.6 | $3.4M | 110 | 19 |
| Chiropractors | 62 | #100 of 386 | 49 | 5.1 | $2.3M | 98 | 21 |
| Car washes and detailing | 59 | #127 of 387 | 31 | 3.2 | $2.7M | 109 | 17 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 59 | #132 of 386 | 44 | 4.6 | $2.1M | 84 | 22 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 57 | #113 of 290 | 6 | 0.6 | $14.1M | 103 | 8 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 57 | #153 of 387 | 214 | 22.4 | $2.8M | 83 | 58 |
| Tire shops | 56 | #167 of 386 | 38 | 4.0 | $2.2M | 89 | 13 |
| Dry cleaners | 55 | #116 of 272 | 10 | 1.0 | $19.5M | 125 | 17 |
| Veterinarians | 55 | #161 of 384 | 39 | 4.1 | $2.4M | 89 | 33 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 54 | #170 of 387 | 72 | 7.5 | $4.1M | 87 | 103 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 53 | #168 of 387 | 761 | 79.7 | $151K | 99 | 349 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 53 | #168 of 385 | 67 | 7.0 | $2.3M | 78 | 181 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #176 of 387 | 126 | 13.2 | $747K | 85 | 65 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 48 | #108 of 197 | 6 | 0.6 | $19.1M | 78 | 10 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 48 | #210 of 387 | 149 | 15.6 | $550K | 83 | 57 |
| Home repair trades | 48 | #211 of 387 | 161 | 16.9 | $1.9M | 76 | 202 |
| Hair salons | 47 | #217 of 387 | 227 | 23.8 | $408K | 95 | 87 |
| Nail salons | 47 | #223 of 387 | 66 | 6.9 | $1.4M | 84 | 25 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 47 | #238 of 386 | 49 | 5.1 | $2.3M | 75 | 14 |
| Grocery stores | 46 | #229 of 387 | 72 | 7.5 | $8.4M | 90 | 50 |
| Gyms | 45 | #247 of 387 | 80 | 8.4 | $1M | 79 | 36 |
| Home inspectors | 44 | #156 of 243 | 10 | 1.0 | Index only | 59 | 8 |
| Pet stores | 44 | #246 of 382 | 31 | 3.2 | $3M | 67 | 10 |
| Barbershops | 44 | #258 of 387 | 56 | 5.9 | $1.7M | 88 | 10 |
| Roofing and gutters | 43 | #258 of 381 | 63 | 6.6 | $4.7M | 56 | 29 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 41 | #256 of 387 | 1,238 | 129.7 | $318K | 86 | 545 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 41 | #259 of 387 | 146 | 15.3 | $1M | 62 | 313 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 41 | #291 of 387 | 509 | 53.3 | $182K | 86 | 152 |
| Pest control | 40 | #249 of 345 | 31 | 3.2 | $4.9M | 48 | 28 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 40 | #265 of 373 | 49 | 5.1 | Index only | 81 | 36 |
| House cleaning | 40 | #273 of 375 | 48 | 5.0 | $3.2M | 50 | 104 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 40 | #277 of 387 | 132 | 13.8 | $868K | 88 | 97 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 39 | #278 of 387 | 300 | 31.4 | $651K | 74 | 170 |
| Spas and skin care | 39 | #305 of 387 | 153 | 16.0 | $606K | 69 | 25 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 38 | #283 of 387 | 241 | 25.2 | $810K | 64 | 150 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 36 | #303 of 347 | 37 | 3.9 | $2.2M | 55 | 36 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 36 | #305 of 387 | 785 | 82.2 | $501K | 75 | 328 |
| Physical therapy | 34 | #319 of 386 | 74 | 7.8 | $1.5M | 64 | 51 |
| Property management | 33 | #329 of 374 | 68 | 7.1 | Index only | 41 | 91 |
| Real estate | 32 | #363 of 387 | 703 | 73.7 | Index only | 51 | 576 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 32 | #363 of 387 | 576 | 60.3 | Index only | 49 | 373 |
Household spending in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $84.9M | $889 | 93 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $266M | $2,787 | 107 |
| Food away from home | $393.1M | $4,118 | 101 |
| Groceries | $604.8M | $6,336 | 100 |
| Personal care products and services | $92.7M | $971 | 97 |
| Child care and other personal services | $51M | $534 | 92 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $81.9M | $858 | 87 |
| Medical and dental services | $114.6M | $1,201 | 93 |
| Pets | $94.1M | $986 | 108 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $195.2M | $2,045 | 100 |
| Vehicle insurance | $226.5M | $2,373 | 121 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $298.7M | $3,130 | 104 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $152.3M | $1,596 | 113 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.5B | $16,141 | 97 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 242,966+12.0% since 2020
- Households
- 95,451
- Median age
- 47.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 1,231 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 185
- Median household income
- $83,304+28.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $120,028
- Median home value
- $439,500
- Jobs located here
- 79,620
- Daytime population
- 225,611Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area 2
- Beaufort County, SC195,289 people
- Jasper County, SC32,166 people
Other markets based in South Carolina 12
- Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metro area961,939 people
- Columbia, SC metro area849,181 people
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area834,267 people
- Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area383,016 people
- Spartanburg, SC metro area374,737 people
- Florence, SC metro area199,675 people
- Sumter, SC metro area104,725 people
- Greenwood, SC area93,909 people
- Orangeburg, SC area83,253 people
- Seneca, SC area80,469 people
- Murrells Inlet, SC area64,811 people
- Gaffney, SC area56,647 people
Questions
How fast is the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area at 242,966 people in 2025, up 12.0% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 95,451 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 28.2%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area spend?
Households in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area spend about $1.5B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $604.8M on groceries and $393.1M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 121, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (87).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area, child care centers and preschools (86), funeral homes (84) and laundromats (83) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For child care centers and preschools, that ranks #9 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area is $83,304, 3% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 12.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $439,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for property management companies (2.4 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for primary care and pediatric clinics (32% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in South Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.