The Town FilesDaufuskie Island, South Carolina
Community in Beaufort County · population 557 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $576,400
- Household income
- $156,090
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 59.5
Daufuskie Island is a community of 557 people in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $576,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks quieter than 100% of South Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 100% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 99% of South Carolina towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in South Carolina
- #2 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in South Carolina
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in South Carolina
- #5 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in South Carolina
- #15 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in South Carolina
- #16 in 25 Small Towns in South Carolina With the Mildest Winters
How Daufuskie Island ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Daufuskie Island is worth $576,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $156,090, which is more affordable than 41% of South Carolina towns. 98.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Daufuskie Island | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $576,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | — | $937 |
| Median household income | $156,090 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 98.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 40.0% | — |
Who lives in Daufuskie Island
| People | Daufuskie Island | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.5 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.4% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 4.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 79.6% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 30.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 19.6% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Daufuskie Island
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 40.0°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 22 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Daufuskie Island since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 23, 2017 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Beaufort County since 1996
Beaufort County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Beaufort County
Beaufort County had 71,044 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,768 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Daufuskie Island itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Daufuskie Island
- Tybee Island, GA6.9 mi · 3,114 people · home $611,200
- Bluffton, SC8.3 mi · 27,716 people · home $492,100
- Talahi Island, GA8.8 mi · 1,247 people · home $522,200
- Hilton Head Island, SC8.9 mi · 37,661 people · home $687,400
- Wilmington Island, GA10.3 mi · 15,129 people · home $404,900
- Whitemarsh Island, GA10.7 mi · 6,983 people · home $399,700
- Thunderbolt, GA12.4 mi · 2,556 people · home $334,600
- Dutch Island, GA12.7 mi · 1,238 people · home $568,100
Daufuskie Island questions
Is Daufuskie Island, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Daufuskie Island scores better for retirees than 99% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 100%. 29.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.5).
How much does a house cost in Daufuskie Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Daufuskie Island is valued at $576,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $156,090, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Daufuskie Island?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 40.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Daufuskie Island get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Daufuskie Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 23, 2017. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)