A scenic barrier island in South Carolina's Lowcountry
There are over 300 barrier islands and spits along America's east coast, but Hilton Head Island's 3.1 million annual visitors would argue there's none quite like it. It comprises hundreds of locally-owned restaurants, a network of bike trails and several championship golf courses. The Island's sugar-sand beaches, grassy marshlands and narrow sounds add to its striking environmental appeal. And here, residents are stewards of ecological preservation. "We don't want the wildlife to stop coming," says local broker Maria Skrip, co-owner of RE/MAX Dream. "We want the sea turtles to keep migrating and the trees to keep growing. We want to keep it natural." Under strict town ordinances, no building can break the tree line, and commercial signs must have neutral colors to blend in with the environment. Although millions visit Hilton Head yearly, only 40,000 residents permanently live on the Island. Most homes are second homes or vacation rentals, popular with retirees and families with children.
Hilton Head island is known for its white sandy beaches.
Local restaurants in Hilton Head offer live music.
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Waterfront mansions and inland villas in gated communities
Hilton Head Island's median home value sits at $589,000, according to Niche. "Costs range from $300,000 all the way up to $7 million and $8 million," Skrip says. "I saw one the other day for $12 million." Values largely depend on size and proximity to the water. "If you can dream it up, you can pretty much find it on the Island," Skrip says. "We have one-bed, one-bath condos all the way up to oceanfront mansions." Most communities in Hilton Head sit behind security-operated gates and feature a variety of housing styles. Buyers will find traditional Lowcountry homes in neighborhoods like Palmetto Dunes and established ranch styles in communities like Sea Pines . Villas, an all-encompassing term for local condos and townhomes, are available in most communities. With few exceptions, like Hilton Head Plantation, gated communities allow short-term rentals, so their owners don't stick around throughout the year.
As local businesses and corporations grow in the area, the city has launched its Northpoint Housing Initiative to keep up with housing demands; in 2024, about 170 homes will be built to give nurses, teachers and food-service industry workers affordable housing near their jobs. Hilton Head's north end is also home to historic neighborhoods like Squire Pope , initially established in the 1860s by the community of formerly enslaved West African people.
Hospitality and tourism are the major industries on the Island. According to the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Island's hotels are some of the largest employers, and at the top of the list are Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, Sea Pines Resort LLC, Marriott Resorts Hospitality Corporation and Montage Hotels and Resorts LLC. "The biggest employers are anything to do with tourism and real estate, plus there's a huge restaurant industry," Skrip says. "Anything to do with bike rentals or kayak rentals. We even have a parasailing company now."
Wexford boasts large mansions that with private docks.
New smaller homes are also popular in the Indigo Run neighborhood.
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Beach parks and developing community parks
Hilton Head features nearly 30 public parks. Much of the city's shoreline is accessible behind the gates of private communities, but seven city-owned beach parks are open to the public. Coligny Beach Park is arguably the city's most popular. It offers showers, changing rooms and restrooms, and it's close to Coligny Plaza, a hub of shopping and dining on the Island. Folly Field Beach Park and Driessen Beach Park also feature beach access. Community parks include Chaplin Community Park and Jarvis Creek Park, which have sports facilities and playgrounds. Each gated community features amenities available to its residents and guests, ranging from golf courses to pickleball courts. This includes the Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines and the Van Der Meer Tennis Center in Shipyard .
People here prioritize conservation, especially for endangered species like Loggerhead Sea turtles, the state reptile. Locals volunteer at organizations like Turtle Trackers, learning to lead beach cleanups and teach others how to protect turtles by filling up beach holes and turning off lights at night so hatchlings can better see their route to the ocean. City officials have recently announced plans to build two new parks, Patterson Family Park and Taylor Family Park, in early 2025. Both will shed light on the local Gullah-Geechee community's history of farming and fishing and will include corn mazes and stationary oyster boats for kids.
Large oak trees provide plenty of shade on the boardwalk at Coligny Beach Park.
Point Comfort Plantation is a small private park for community residence.
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Gullah Celebrations and preservation
Annual events on the Island include seafood, golf and cultural festivals, and the popular Gullah Celebration held every February when locals gather at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina building for West African-inspired food, crafts and gospel performances. Hundreds of jazz and theatre performances are hosted by the Hilton Head Island's Office of Cultural Affairs throughout the year, and residents can check out 22 different public art displays scattered on the Island. The city's office of cultural affairs regularly hosts local art fairs, musical concerts and annual festivals like the Gullah Celebration, which recognizes the Island's West African heritage.
The community's culture remains vibrant, with soul-food spots like Ruby Lee's South, historic places of worship like First African Baptist Church, and local gift shops like Binya Boutique, which sells Gullah-centered art scattered in each neighborhood. Through its Gullah-Geechee Land and Cultural Preservation Task Force, the city tackles issues related to these historically disenfranchised communities, such as heirs' property, land use and quality education.
Shop for Gullah made artesian gifts at Binya in Hilton Head.
The First African Baptist Church is located on the north side of Hilton Head Island.
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Shelter Cove shopping and dining
Several shopping centers and restaurants line William Hilton Parkway near Long Cove . Shelter Cove Towne Centre features locally owned boutiques, restaurants and a Kroger grocery store. Coligny Plaza is a popular tourist spot, but locals frequent the area's restaurants and cafes. The Sandbar and Frosty Frog Café are a couple of the many busy spots in Coligny Plaza. Most gated communities feature restaurants available to its residents, like The Dunes House in Palmetto Dunes. The Sea Pines community features its own shopping center, with restaurants, gift shops, and a small market for fresh produce. Big box stores, like Walmart and Kroger, are available on the Island.
Shelter Cove in Hilton Head Island gives residents unlimited shopping and dining.
Shop for the essentials at the Shelter Cove Kroger in Hilton Head Island.
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High-rated school district offering tech skills to students
Hilton Head Island is zoned for the Beaufort County School District, which scores an overall A-minus on Niche and serves over 21,000 students. Niche ranks the district as the best overall in the Savannah area. The district's School Choice program allows parents to learn about dual-language, technology, and visual arts programs at all district schools and then pick the school that best suits their child. The district's MedTech7 program allows students to learn medical and cybersecurity skills. Hilton Head High, one of the city's largest schools, won the 2023 Riley Award for School Improvement Council (SIC) Excellence; after residents voted yes to a multi-million-dollar bond referendum in November of 2023, the city plans to rebuild the 40-year-old school in spring 2024.
Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center is a public, magnet school.
Heritage Academy search students from all around the community.
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Crime and environment on the Island
Hilton Head Island has no police department; the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office serves the community. The Sheriff's Office 2023 annual report reflects all of Beaufort County. In 2023, there were 2,133 reported crimes against persons, 2,900 crimes against property and 856 crimes against society. Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue has seven stations located across the Island. It also offers several programs and services to the community, including first aid and CPR training.
Heavy rain and hurricanes are a reality of living in the Lowcountry; the most recent example is Tropical Storm Idalia, which hit several states in the southeastern region in August 2023. Hilton Head Island participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, giving all residents access to home federal flood insurance, which requires specific housing construction in areas with the risk of periodic flooding. Locals can also check out the city's online guide to emergency preparedness, which illustrates what to do before, during and after a tropical storm, and sign up for free city text and email alerts sent during emergency situations.
Bikeable city with plans to enhance Main Street
Offering 60 miles of paved public pathways, Hilton Head Island is a highly walkable and bikeable city, with routes connecting to shopping areas, highways and all along the area's coastline. E-bike rentals and bike repair stations are available at Chaplin, Coligny and Folly Field Beach Park. U.S. Highway 278 is the only route off the Island and often gets busy throughout the summer. In January of 2024, the city began a massive Main Street enhancement project to repair potholes, replace road markings and update street signage; the project is set to finish around the beginning of March 2024, and city officials may partner with local stakeholders in the future to update landscaping and sidewalks as well. Hilton Head Island Airport sits on the Island's northern tip and services American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta. The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is about 3 miles away. Hilton Head Hospital is in the northern part of the Island.
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