What are the schools like in Bluffton, SC?

Bluffton is served primarily by Beaufort 01. The district operates 20 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.2:1.

What is the median household income in Bluffton?

The median household income in Bluffton, SC is $99,575 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.4%.

What is the weather like in Bluffton, SC?

Bluffton has an average high temperature of 61.4°F in January and 92.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.9 inches.

Bluffton, SC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bluffton, SC affordable or expensive?

Bluffton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bluffton is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $390,200 and the median rent is $2,050 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bluffton, SC?

Bluffton has a violent crime rate of 118.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 825.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bluffton, SC a Good Place to Live?

Bluffton is a small city of 29,375 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $99,575 and a 1.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Bluffton stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bluffton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bluffton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.7

Bluffton's overall cost of living index is 95.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bluffton costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bluffton, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$390,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,050	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$99,575	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bluffton's violent crime rate is 118.6 per 100,000 residents — 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

118.6 /100k

Property Crime

825.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bluffton is served primarily by Beaufort 01. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bluffton, SC	National Avg
School District	Beaufort 01	—
Elementary Schools	20	—
Middle Schools	6	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	46.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bluffton sees average highs of 61.4°F in January and 92.3°F in July, with 50.9 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Bluffton, SC
Average High — January	61.4°F
Average High — July	92.3°F
Annual Precipitation	50.9"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Bluffton, SC	National Avg
Population	29,375	—
Median Age	40.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	25.7%	22.2%
65 and over	20.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Daufuskie Island, SC 8 mi Hardeeville, SC 9 mi Hilton Head Island, SC 11 mi Talahi Island, GA 13 mi Whitemarsh Island, GA 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Bluffton

Bluffton, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

29910

Bluffton vs Other Cities

Bluffton, SC vs Daufuskie Island, SC Bluffton, SC vs Hardeeville, SC Bluffton, SC vs Hilton Head Island, SC Bluffton, SC vs Talahi Island, GA Bluffton, SC vs Whitemarsh Island, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bluffton, SC affordable or expensive?

Bluffton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bluffton roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $390,200 and median rent is $2,050/month.

What is the crime rate in Bluffton, SC?

Bluffton's violent crime rate is 118.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 825.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bluffton?

Public schools in Bluffton are operated by Beaufort 01. The district has 20 elementary, 6 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 46.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bluffton, SC a good place to live?

Bluffton, SC has a population of 29,375, a median household income of $99,575, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bluffton?

Bluffton averages 61.4°F in January and 92.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.9 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bluffton?

Bluffton, SC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 29910.

What is the population of Bluffton?

The population of Bluffton, South Carolina is 29,375 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bluffton?

Key numbers for living in Bluffton: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $390,200, median household income $99,575, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bluffton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.