Named the best small town in the South by Southern Living
Beaufort was named the best small town in the South by Southern Living in 2022 and one of the Best Small Towns in America by CNN in 2023. Located on Port Royal Island in South Carolina's Lowcountry, Beaufort is known for its walkable downtown, water views and history as the second-oldest city in South Carolina. The city's population of just under 14,000 tend to get to know each other by boating together, attending city-wide events or making trips to the grocery store. "We chose to live here because it's a true small town. When you go to the grocery store, you're probably going to see someone you know," says Beaufort resident Maria Skrip, broker and co-owner of RE/MAX Dream. Skrip has lived in Beaufort with her husband since 2002. "It's small enough that you have a sense of community but large enough that you have everything you need, with plenty of shopping and restaurants." Many of Beaufort's newest residents are retirees or United States Marines and their families.
The city's location along the Intracoastal Waterway and beaches make Beaufort a popular vacation spot, with over two million annual visitors. "I can be sitting with my butt in the sand within 17 minutes," Skrip says. "And it's definitely a boating town. If you've got a boat, you don't even have to go to the beach. At low tide, you have your own little beach with the sandbars that pop up."
Welcome to historic Beaufort, South Carolina.
Beaufort sets along the Broad River.
Dock your boat at the marina located in Historic Beaufort.
Bay Street in Beaufort provides unlimited shopping and dining.
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Historic, 18th-century homes line downtown streets
Houses in downtown Beaufort are historic, dating back to the mid-18th century. The Old Point neighborhood in downtown features several older homes, and many are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Styles of these historic homes range from Neoclassical to Federal and Greek Revival. These tend to list between $1 million and $3.5 million. The Pigeon Point and Mossy Oaks neighborhoods offer bungalows, Lowcountry cottages and ranch-style homes that list up to $665,000. West of Battery Creek, suburban neighborhoods are common, where prices start at $350,000 for a four-bedroom. The median home value in Beaufort is $312,000, according to Niche.
Beaufort has a large military presence, home to the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort (Merritt Field). "The military is such a huge part of our community," Skrip says. "A lot of them come back to live here after serving." Beaufort is also home to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island and the Naval Hospital at Beaufort. Hospitality and tourism are also major industries in Beaufort. Mariott Resorts Hospitality Corporation and Sonesta International Hotels Corporation are among Beaufort County's top 20 employers.
Bungalows in Beaufort feature deep front porches.
Historic homes along Bay Street in Beaufort have been thoughtfully renovated.
You can find large homes with plenty of bedrooms within Harbor Island.
A manufactured home on a large lot with lush greenery in Seabrook.
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Fresh-caught shrimp and the Beaufort Water Festival
Locally caught shrimp is the backbone of Beaufort's cuisine, featured in the region's Lowcountry dishes, like shrimp and grits and Frogmore stew (also called Lowcountry boil). Local restaurants downtown are popular with tourists, while residents can find less crowded spots along Sea Island Parkway, just across the Beaufort Memorial Bridge. Palmetto trees and 19th-century storefronts line Bay Street downtown, home to many of Beaufort's boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. "Its walkability is what makes downtown so special," Skrip says. "You can walk to get ice cream at Kilwins after dinner, then enjoy the swings and look at the water." Beaufort is known for supporting its local artists, and the Pat Conroy Literary Center supports Beaufort's writers with author events and workshops. The University of South Carolina Beaufort's Center for the Arts hosts local and national musicians and theater companies.
Annual festivals celebrate Beaufort's maritime heritage, including the 10-day Beaufort Water Festival and the two-day Beaufort Shrimp Festival. "The Beaufort Water Festival is a 10-day water festival that's all about music," Skrip says. "It features ten days of different genres of music." The Water Festival occurs at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and is arguably the city's most popular event. It usually takes place in July, featuring live music, an opening ceremony with the Marine Corps band, an arts and crafts market and talent shows. The Beaufort Shrimp Festival also occurs at Waterfront Park, featuring fresh-caught shrimp used in various shrimp dishes. It has bands, arts and crafts markets and a coastal education fair.
Beaufort residents can enjoy waterfront dining along the Broad River.
Historic Beaufort sits along the Broad River.
Beaufort residents can choose from unlimited dining options along Sea Island Parkway.
The Shrimp Festival and Market is an annual market in Beaufort.
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Waterfront Park is the heart of downtown Beaufort
According to The Trust for Public Land, about 34% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of one of its 13 parks. Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park is the beating heart of Beaufort's downtown area. "When people think of Beaufort, they think of Waterfront Park," Skrip says. It sprawls across seven acres and overlooks the Beaufort River, offering a path along the water and several benches. The City's Parks Division maintains every park in Beaufort except for Waterfront Park, which The Greenery manages. "But people don't realize that there are parks all over the place," Skrip says. "We've got passive parks, with areas good for picnics, or docks where people fish or throw the crab trap. Plus, we have areas like the Cypress Wetlands in Port Royal, which has an elevated platform and a lot of wildlife where you'll probably see a gator or two."
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park is located in Beaufort.
Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park features swings with waterfront views.
Crystal Lake Park is a scenic experience.
Burton Wells Park features a large body of water.
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Coosa Elementary School is the county's highest-rated elementary school on Niche
Beaufort is zoned for Beaufort County Public Schools, which scores an overall A-minus on Niche and serves over 21,000 students. According to Niche, the district is the second-most diverse district in South Carolina and is the highest-ranked overall in the Savannah area. Niche ranks Coosa Elementary School as the best elementary school in Beaufort County, giving the school an overall A. Private school options include Beaufort Academy, which Niche gives an overall A-minus. The University of South Carolina Beaufort offers over 50 undergraduate academic programs and two graduate degrees. The University has three campuses, one in the heart of Beaufort.
Coosa Elementary school is located in Beaufort, SC.
The University of South Carolina has a campus in Beaufort.
Beaufort Christian School
Beaufort Middle School
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Several homes are in a Special Flood Hazard Area
Over 1,200 homes in Beaufort are in a Special Flood Hazard Area, and homeowners here must purchase flood insurance and get special permits for new construction projects. The Old Point area has the greatest flood risk. Flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms can be particularly damaging. According to Risk Factor, over 600 properties were impacted by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and over 100 properties were affected by Hurricane Irma in 2018. Risk Factor also states that Beaufort has an extreme wind factor, where over 6,000 properties are at extreme risk of severe winds. To address the flooding, Beaufort completed a drainage study in 2022 that recommended the installation of new stormwater pump stations and drainage pipes, called the Point Drainage Project. These improvements will require massive construction in some of downtown's most crowded areas over the next few years.
Navigating Route 21 and reaching I-95
Route 21 runs through the heart of Beaufort, connecting to Charleston Highway, about 19 miles northwest and Interstate 95, 24 miles away. Palmetto Breeze Transit operates buses that shuttle across five counties in the Lowcountry, including Beaufort County. Beaufort Executive Airport is a public general aviation airport with no commercial flights, and the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport is a 46-mile trip outside the city. Hilton Head Island Airport is about 35 miles away and includes Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines flights. Beaufort Memorial Hospital is about 2 miles south of downtown, and Lady's Island Medical Center is about 2 miles across the Woods Memorial Bridge. The 10-mile paved Spanish Moss Trail begins just south of the Mossy Oaks area and follows an old rail line north past the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort; there are plans to connect to downtown Beaufort and expand the trail south to Port Royal.
Crime in Beaufort
According to the City of Beaufort Police Department's 2023 annual report, over 53,500 calls for service were made and over 550 criminal citations were issued. There were 553 property crimes cited in 2023, up from 469 in 2022. There were 57 violent crimes committed in 2023, up from 49 in 2022. The police department established a new K9 unit in 2023, including two first Sergeant canines. The department hosts several events and initiatives to engage with the community, including coffee with a cop and movie in the park.
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