Bluffton, South Carolina Income Statistics
Bluffton Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Bluffton Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Bluffton | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $100,726 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $60,945 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.7% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 16.7% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Bluffton is about 45% higher than in South Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Bluffton (5.1%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 17% of adults in Bluffton 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 Bluffton, South Carolina grew by 82.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $100,726 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Bluffton
| Metric | Bluffton | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.508 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,322 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $58,760 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.6% | 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 Bluffton, it is 0.508, 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 21% more than women's income in Bluffton, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $439,670 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bluffton, South Carolina has widened from about 17% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2013, and was narrowest at 10% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,067 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Bluffton | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.0% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 342 people are unemployed in Bluffton, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Bluffton is 25 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Bluffton, South Carolina has fallen from 8.9% to 2.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.5% in 2012 and fell as low as 2.2% in 2022.
Bluffton, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Bluffton, SC compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluffton, SC | 29,398 | $100,726 #1/2 | 5.1%/yr #1/2 | 2.3% #1/2 | 0.508 #1/2 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 35,733 | $95,574 | 3.9%/yr | 3.2% | 0.511 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Bluffton, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it notably better than South Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Bluffton, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Bluffton, South Carolina?
Bluffton 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 $100,726, about 45% higher than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
Are incomes growing in Bluffton, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Bluffton, South Carolina rose 83%, from $55,129 to $100,726. Over the same years, income here outpaced South Carolina as a whole: +83% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Bluffton in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Bluffton, South Carolina was $98,407, up 4% from $94,847 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Bluffton in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Bluffton, South Carolina was $82,745. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $100,726.
Do many residents of Bluffton, South Carolina earn over $100,000?
Yes. 17% of adults in Bluffton, South Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in South Carolina. 17% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 9% in South Carolina.
Is it hard to find a job in Bluffton, South Carolina?
Unemployment in Bluffton, South Carolina is only 2.3%, 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 Bluffton, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Bluffton is 0.508. 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 Bluffton, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Bluffton, South Carolina has widened from about 17% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2013, and was narrowest at 10% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,067 since 2009.
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