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Retirement Living In Hilton Head Island - South Carolina


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Area Description

Sometimes referred to as simply Hilton Head, is a Lowcountry resort town located on an island of the same name in Beaufort County, South Carolina. It is 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Savannah, Georgia, and 95 miles (153 km) southwest of Charleston. The island gets its name from Captain William Hilton. In 1663, Hilton identified a headland near the entrance to Port Royal Sound, which he named "Hilton's Head" after himself. The island features 12 miles (19 km) of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular vacation destination. In 2004, an estimated 2.25 million visitors pumped more than $1.5 billion into the local economy. The year-round population was 37,099 at the 2010 census,[4] although during the peak of summer vacation season the population can swell to 275,000. Over the past decade, the island's population growth rate was 32%.

The island has a rich history that started with seasonal occupation by native Americans thousands of years ago, and continued with European exploration and the Sea Island Cotton trade. It became an important base of operations for the Union blockade of the Southern ports during the Civil War. Once the island fell to Union troops, hundreds of ex-slaves flocked to Hilton Head, which is still home to many "native islanders", many of whom are descendants of freed slaves known as the Gullah (or Geechee) who have managed to hold onto much of their ethnic and cultural identity.

The Town of Hilton Head Island incorporated as a municipality in 1983 and is well known for its eco-friendly development. The town's Natural Resources Division enforces the Land Management Ordinance which minimizes the impact of development and governs the style of buildings and how they are situated amongst existing trees. As a result, Hilton Head Island enjoys an unusual amount of tree cover relative to the amount of development.[Approximately 70% of the island, including most of the tourist areas, is located inside gated communities. However, the town maintains several public beach access points, including one for the exclusive use of town residents, who have approved several multi-million dollar land-buying bond referendums to control commercial growth.

Includes Cities/Towns: Bluffton, Hilton Head Island.

Region Characteristics



Area Amenities

Things to Do, Recreation & Fitness


    Hilton Head Island offers an unusual number of cultural opportunities for a community its size, including Broadway-quality plays at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, the 120-member full chorus of the Hilton Head Choral Society, the highly rated Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the largest annual outdoor, tented wine tasting event on the east coast, and several other annual community festivals. It also hosts the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament, a PGA Tour tournament played on the Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines Resort.

Cultural Activities


From pottery wheels spinning in Old Town Bluffton to ballerinas pirouetting across the stage at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, there is a dizzying array of Hilton Head Island arts and culture to explore. The beauty and Gullah history of the Island has inspired a vibrant arts and cultural scene, filled with art galleries, museums, and theatrical and musical entertainment from traditional to contemporary, while painters, authors, sculptors, actors, dancers, and musicians from Hilton Head and Bluffton regularly receive regional and national acclaim for their work. Join in our Lowcountry traditions and celebrations—and create a few of your own—as you discover arts and culture in Hilton Head.

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What Will The Climate And Weather Be Like If I Retire In Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?

Hilton Head Island’s weather is ideal for those wanting to explore the outdoors and soak up the sunshine. The Hilton Head area features a balmy, subtropical climate year round.

The largest barrier island off the Atlantic coast between Long Island and the Bahamas, Hilton Head is located 40 miles north of Savannah, GA, and 90 miles south of Charleston, SC.

The Island lies on the Intracoastal Waterway and encompasses 42 square miles of semi- tropical, Lowcountry geography, including unspoiled sea marshes, creeks and lagoons, heavily wooded forests of tall pines, palmettos, magnolias and live oaks, and 12 miles of broad Atlantic beach.

Monthly Temperature Ranges

 Month  Low  Avg  High
 Jan  39 F°  50 F°  60 F°
 Feb  42 F°  53 F°  63 F°
 Mar  48 F°  59 F°  69 F°
 Apr  55 F°  66 F°  76 F°
 May  64 F°  73 F°  83 F°
 Jun  71 F°  80 F°  88 F°
 Jul  74 F°  83 F°  91 F°
 Aug  74 F°  82 F°  90 F°
 Sep  69 F°  77 F°  85 F°
 Oct  59 F°  68 F°  77 F°
 Nov  50 F°  60 F°  70 F°
 Dec  42 F°  52 F°  62 F°

Monthly Average # of Hot and Cold Days

 Month  Days Greater Than 90 F°  Days Less Than 32 F°  Days Less Than 0 F°
 Jan  0  7  0
 Feb  0  4  0
 Mar  0  1  0
 Apr  0  0  0
 May  3  0  0
 Jun  11  0  0
 Jul  18  0  0
 Aug  15  0  0
 Sep  5  0  0
 Oct  0  0  0
 Nov  0  1  0
 Dec  0  5  0

Rain & Humidity

 Month  Rainfall  Rainy Days  Humidity
 Jan  4 "  10  41 %
 Feb  3 "  8  43 %
 Mar  3 "  8  48 %
 Apr  3 "  7  55 %
 May  2 "  6  62 %
 Jun  5 "  10  71 %
 Jul  6 "  11  74 %
 Aug  7 "  12  73 %
 Sep  5 "  9  70 %
 Oct  4 "  7  61 %
 Nov  3 "  7  52 %
 Dec  3 "  8  44 %

Snow

 Month  Snowfall  Snow On Ground Days  Snowy Days
 Jan  0 "  0  0
 Feb  0 "  0  0
 Mar  0 "  0  0
 Apr  0 "  0  0
 May  0 "  0  0
 Jun  0 "  0  0
 Jul  0 "  0  0
 Aug  0 "  0  0
 Sep  0 "  0  0
 Oct  0 "  0  0
 Nov  0 "  0  0
 Dec  0 "  0  0


Natural Disaster Areas


Cost of Living for Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina cost of living for Housing, Healthcare, Transportation, Taxes, Utilities, etc.:

 Cost of Living

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Senior Housing Options


Senior Assistance in Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina offers the following assistance for seniors:

Additional Information

Visitor Information

Relocation Information


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