Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Income Statistics
Hilton Head Island 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
Hilton Head Island Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Hilton Head Island | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $95,574 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,364 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 21.2% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 21.6% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Hilton Head Island is about 38% higher than in South Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Hilton Head Island (3.9%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 21% of adults in Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island, South Carolina grew by 40.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $95,574 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Hilton Head Island
| Metric | Hilton Head Island | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.511 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,433 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $58,038 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 7.0% | 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 Hilton Head Island, it is 0.511, 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 8% more than women's income in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 8% wage gap accumulates to roughly $153,825 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has narrowed from about 15% to 7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,392 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Hilton Head Island | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 20.1% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 503 people are unemployed in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Hilton Head Island is 16 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has fallen from 6.6% to 3.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.0% in 2012 and fell as low as 2.5% in 2023.
Hilton Head Island, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Hilton Head Island, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 35,733 | $95,574 #2/2 | 3.9%/yr #2/2 | 3.2% #2/2 | 0.511 #2/2 |
| Bluffton, SC | 29,398 | $100,726 | 5.1%/yr | 2.3% | 0.508 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?
Hilton Head Island 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 $95,574, about 38% higher than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
How has median household income changed in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina rose 40%, from $68,039 to $95,574. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Carolina as a whole: +40% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Hilton Head Island in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina was $98,978, up 7% from $92,933 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Hilton Head Island in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina was $84,998. By 2024 it had risen 12% to $95,574.
Is Hilton Head Island, South Carolina a high-income area?
Yes. 21% of adults in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 5), against 11% (about 1 in 9) in South Carolina. 22% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 9% in South Carolina.
Is unemployment high in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?
Unemployment in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is only 3.2%, 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 Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Hilton Head Island is 0.511. 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 Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has narrowed from about 15% to 7% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,392 since 2009.
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