What is the median household income in Kiawah Island?

The median household income in Kiawah Island, SC is $214,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

What is the weather like in Kiawah Island, SC?

Kiawah Island has an average high temperature of 58.0°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Kiawah Island, SC affordable or expensive?

Kiawah Island's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kiawah Island is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,423,900 and the median rent is $2,750 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Kiawah Island, SC?

Kiawah Island has a violent crime rate of 475.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2551.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What are the schools like in Kiawah Island, SC?

School district data for Kiawah Island is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Is Kiawah Island, SC a Good Place to Live?

Kiawah Island is a small town of 2,130 in South Carolina, with a median household income of $214,250 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Kiawah Island stands out for a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Kiawah Island is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kiawah Island 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: 113.0

Kiawah Island's overall cost of living index is 113.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kiawah Island costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric	Kiawah Island, SC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,423,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,750	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	98.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$214,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Kiawah Island's violent crime rate is 475.7 per 100,000 residents — 25% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

475.7 /100k

Property Crime

2551.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Kiawah Island, SC	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	86.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	99.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kiawah Island sees average highs of 58.0°F in January and 87.5°F in July, with 54.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kiawah Island, SC
Average High — January	58.0°F
Average High — July	87.5°F
Annual Precipitation	54.6"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Kiawah Island, SC	National Avg
Population	2,130	—
Median Age	66.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	1.0%	22.2%
65 and over	59.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Folly Beach, SC 7 mi Seabrook Island, SC 8 mi Rockville, SC 8 mi James Island, SC 11 mi Hollywood, SC 12 mi

Kiawah Island vs Other Cities

Kiawah Island, SC vs Folly Beach, SC Kiawah Island, SC vs Seabrook Island, SC Kiawah Island, SC vs Rockville, SC Kiawah Island, SC vs James Island, SC Kiawah Island, SC vs Hollywood, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kiawah Island, SC affordable or expensive?

Kiawah Island's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Kiawah Island roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,423,900 and median rent is $2,750/month.

What is the crime rate in Kiawah Island, SC?

Kiawah Island's violent crime rate is 475.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2551.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kiawah Island?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Kiawah Island, SC a good place to live?

Kiawah Island, SC has a population of 2,130, a median household income of $214,250, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. 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 Kiawah Island?

Kiawah Island averages 58.0°F in January and 87.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.6 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Kiawah Island?

The population of Kiawah Island, South Carolina is 2,130 with a median age of 66.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kiawah Island?

Key numbers for living in Kiawah Island: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $1,423,900, median household income $214,250, crime index 124 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kiawah Island side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.