The Town FilesLaurel Bay, South Carolina
Community in Beaufort County · population 5,082 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,800
- Household income
- $54,345
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 23.0
Laurel Bay is a community of 5,082 people in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $231,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of South Carolina towns, more of a college town than 94% of South Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of South Carolina towns.
How Laurel Bay 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 Laurel Bay is worth $231,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $54,345, which is more affordable than 25% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,454 a month. 22.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel Bay | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,800 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,454 | $937 |
| Median household income | $54,345 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 22.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Laurel Bay
| People | Laurel Bay | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.0 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 4.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 36.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Laurel Bay
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
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel Bay since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 7, 2021 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 27, 2011.
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 Laurel Bay itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Laurel Bay
- Burton, SC3.6 mi · 6,777 people · home $247,600
- Beaufort, SC3.7 mi · 13,607 people · home $345,400
- Ridgeland, SC7.9 mi · 3,758 people · home $228,400
- Port Royal, SC8.8 mi · 14,220 people · home $347,200
- Hardeeville, SC18.7 mi · 7,473 people · home $488,900
- Hilton Head Island, SC18.8 mi · 37,661 people · home $687,400
- Bluffton, SC18.9 mi · 27,716 people · home $492,100
- Rincon, GA28.6 mi · 10,934 people · home $251,600
Laurel Bay questions
Is Laurel Bay, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel Bay scores better for retirees than 9% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 1%. 4.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.0).
How much does a house cost in Laurel Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurel Bay is valued at $231,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,345, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,454 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel Bay?
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 Laurel Bay get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 7, 2021. 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)