The Town FilesFripp Island, South Carolina
Community in Beaufort County · population 963 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $671,300
- Household income
- $102,778
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 65.1
Fripp Island is a community of 963 people in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $671,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of South Carolina towns, quieter than 99% of South Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of South Carolina towns.
How Fripp 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 Fripp Island is worth $671,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 6.5 times the median household income of $102,778, which is more affordable than 5% of South Carolina towns. 98.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fripp Island | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $671,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | — | $937 |
| Median household income | $102,778 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 98.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 60.9% | — |
Who lives in Fripp Island
| People | Fripp Island | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 65.1 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 50.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 0.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.2% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.5% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 21.8% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 30.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 87.8% |
Weather in Fripp Island
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 40.1°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 17 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fripp Island since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 3, 1998 about 3.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 19, 2024.
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 Fripp Island itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Fripp Island
1 public school with 326 students, about 7.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Helena Elementary | PK-5 | 326 | 7.8 |
Towns near Fripp Island
- Port Royal, SC12.7 mi · 14,220 people · home $347,200
- Edisto Beach, SC15.9 mi · 1,033 people · home $719,200
- Shell Point, SC16.0 mi · 2,281 people · home $293,300
- Burton, SC16.4 mi · 6,777 people · home $247,600
- Beaufort, SC16.7 mi · 13,607 people · home $345,400
- Hilton Head Island, SC17.3 mi · 37,661 people · home $687,400
- Laurel Bay, SC19.9 mi · 5,082 people · home $231,800
- Dale, SC20.4 mi · 633 people · home —
Fripp Island questions
Is Fripp Island, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fripp Island scores better for retirees than 99% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 99%. 50.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 65.1).
How much does a house cost in Fripp Island?
The median owner-occupied home in Fripp Island is valued at $671,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,778, so homes cost about 6.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Fripp Island?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 40.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Fripp Island get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fripp Island since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 3, 1998. 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)