Beaufort County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Beaufort County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Beaufort County Around averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in South Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Beaufort County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $88,120 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $54,161 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 15.3% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 15.1% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Beaufort County is about 27% higher than in South Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Beaufort County (5.1%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 15% of adults in Beaufort County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Beaufort County, South Carolina grew by 60.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $88,120 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Beaufort County
| Metric | Beaufort County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.520 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,946 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,059 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.3% | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Beaufort County, it is 0.520, lower than South Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 13% more than women's income in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $241,045 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Beaufort County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 18% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $544 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Beaufort County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.4% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.2% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 2,234 people are unemployed in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Beaufort County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Beaufort County, South Carolina has fallen from 7.7% to 2.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.2% in 2012.
Beaufort County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Beaufort County, SC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 195,246 residents against a local median of 38,792. The measure that sets Beaufort County, SC apart most is unemployment: 2.4%, 59% below the local median of 5.8%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $88,120 against a local median of $65,115, 35% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Beaufort County, SC is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 5.3% on unemployment, so Beaufort County, SC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Beaufort County, SC has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County, SC | 195,246 | $88,120 #2/6 | 5.1%/yr #3/6 | 2.4% #1/6 | 0.520 #1/6 |
| Jasper County, SC | 32,186 | $65,115 | 6.8%/yr | 4.5% | 0.543 |
| Colleton County, SC | 38,792 | $51,815 | 5.5%/yr | 9.8% | 0.555 |
| Chatham County, GA | 300,892 | $71,349 | 4.7%/yr | 5.8% | 0.545 |
| Hampton County, SC | 18,254 | $44,538 | 3.9%/yr | 9.4% | 0.549 |
| Effingham County, GA | 69,143 | $89,617 | 4.5%/yr | 5.4% | 0.530 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Beaufort County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than South Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Beaufort County, South Carolina?
Beaufort County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $88,120, about 27% higher than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
How fast is household income rising in Beaufort County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Beaufort County, South Carolina rose 61%, from $54,774 to $88,120. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Carolina as a whole: +61% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Beaufort County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Beaufort County, South Carolina was $85,354, up 4% from $81,694 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Beaufort County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Beaufort County, South Carolina was $71,353. By 2024 it had risen 23% to $88,120.
How many people earn six figures in Beaufort County, South Carolina?
Yes. 15% of adults in Beaufort County, South Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 7), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in South Carolina. 15% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 9% in South Carolina.
How strong is the job market in Beaufort County, South Carolina?
Unemployment in Beaufort County, South Carolina is only 2.4%, well below the South Carolina rate of 4.8%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Beaufort County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Beaufort County is 0.520. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Beaufort County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Beaufort County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 18% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $544 since 2009.
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