Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal vs Daphne-Fairhope-Foley
Which is the better fit for you?
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 227,455 | 246,989 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $83,304 | $78,775 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,125 | $42,357 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 185/sq mi | 155/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $439,500 | $316,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,573 | $1,277 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 76.1% | 77.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.9% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.1% | 33.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 10.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,626 | 2,985 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 11.5 | 12.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -24.5% | -4.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 40°F | 39°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.0" | 65.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 30 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 29.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 47.7 | 43.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, earthquake, coastal flooding.
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metro Area · Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology