Set in the scenic Lowcountry of Beaufort County, Bluffton is a fast-growing city located 8 miles from the sugar-sand beaches of Hilton Head Island and 24 miles from Savannah, Ga. “It’s this cool little city with everything that you would need right there,” says Maria Skrip, broker and co-owner of RE/MAX Dream. She lives in Beaufort and has sold homes in the region since 2007. “It’s the mainland of Hilton Head, so you have super easy access to the beach, but you’re just farther inland.” The area has grown increasingly popular for its natural beauty, convenient location and city amenities. Between 2010 and 2020, the population jumped from about 12,500 to over 35,000. As this trend continues, residents are mindful to preserve Bluffton’s roots and character. The city was founded in 1852, and in 1996 the Bluffton Historic District, referred to as “Old Town,” was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Bluffton residents share a deep sense of community, apparent in annual festivals and their commitment to historic preservation and the environment.
Newly build craftsman homes with long driveways can be found throughout Baynard Park.
The beaches and
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A thriving housing market with a variety of homes
Bluffton’s growth over the past decade has led to a thriving and diverse housing market. “There’s different markets in Bluffton which makes it unique,” Skrip says. “You’ve got private, gated golf communities, 55-plus communities and classic suburban communities. If you dream up a neighborhood, we can find it here.” Private neighborhoods like Hampton Hall feature multi-million dollar homes, sports facilities and restaurants. Active adult, 55-plus neighborhoods, like Sun City Hilton Head, feature a wide range of housing prices, from $300,000 to $1 million. Several communities aren’t gated and feature various single-family homes, including Lowcountry, new traditional and craftsman-style homes that list anywhere between $300,000 and $600,000. “Prices and styles are all over the board,” Skrip says. “If you look up the zip code 29910, you would be very surprised.” She emphasizes that traditional and coastal styles are prominent in Bluffton. “But if you want a Tudor, we can find you a Tudor.”
Beaufort County has a diverse workforce. The county’s top 20 employers include Atlantic Personnel Inc., Beaufort County School District, Publix, Walmart and Lowes. Only 8 miles from Hilton Head, a popular travel destination, the entire region is driven by tourism. Also among the county’s top 20 are Sea Pines Resort, Sonesta International Hotels Corporation and Marriott Resorts Hospitality Corporation.
Custom designed oasis overlook private water access in Berkeley Hall.
Larger colonial-style homes are popular in Bluffton Park.
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Beaufort County schools receive high marks from Niche
Bluffton is zoned for the Beaufort County School District, which serves nearly 21,500 students and scores an overall A-minus on Niche. According to Niche, the district is the second-most diverse district in South Carolina and is the highest-ranked overall in the Savannah area. Bluffton High is the county’s top-rated public high school, and its students can choose from over 30 extracurriculars, including robotics, yearbook and Model UN; students can also take dual enrollment classes for college credit at the University of South Carolina Beaufort or Technical College of the Low Country.
Bluffton High School strives to give students a quality education.
The University of South Carolina has a campus close to Bluffton.
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Park improvements and days on the May River
Bluffton’s Lowcountry comprises parks, golf courses and the winding waterways of the May River. According to the Trust for Public Land, about 10 percent of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. The town has improved several of its parks through the Capital Improvement Projects Program, which aims to enhance the life of Bluffton residents. One of the program’s ongoing projects includes adding upgrades to Buckwalter Place Park, like new security cameras, additional lighting and raised sidewalks. Meanwhile, residents enjoy mainstays like Martin Family Park in Old Town, a grassy field shaded by tall trees draped with Spanish moss. The park is also the venue for weekly farmers markets and other community events. Trails, like the New River Linear Trail and the Shell Art Trail, weave through Old Town and surrounding communities. The May River feeds into much of the city, accessible at spots like Oyster Factory Park. It’s a popular spot for fishing, home to largemouth bass, red drum and trout. Golf is popular in Bluffton and the entire Lowcountry area, including the Old South Golf Links and the May River Golf Course.
Belfair residents enjoy playing the renowned golf course.
The May River runs along the southern edge of Bluffton.
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Mayfest, seafood festival and Gullah nights
Bluffton has a lively art and cultural scene concentrated in the historic district of Old Town Bluffton. “Old Town is just really beautiful,” Skrip says. “It has this adorable little downtown area with galleries and boutiques.” May River Theatre in Old Town stages year-round productions, and many area artists belong to the nonprofit Society of Bluffton Artists, which hosts a monthly exhibit of local artwork and offers art classes. Annual community events include Bluffton Mayfest, a spring celebration held each May, and the Historic Bluffton Historic Arts & Seafood Festival, a 10-day festival each fall with a judged art show and plenty of food, music and entertainment. The Gullah people are local African American descendants of enslaved people and an important cultural community in Bluffton; their history is celebrated and shared at Gullah Nights, held on the third Friday of each month at the Bluffton Boundary Cultural Arts Center.
The Society of Bluffton Artists hosts a monthly gallery.
Enjoy a show at the May River Theater in Bluffton.
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Navigating Bluffton
Most Bluffton residents drive to get around town and commute to work. Savannah is a 26-mile drive on Highway 46, which can take 30 minutes to an hour during rush hours. U.S. Route 278 is one of the major highways in Bluffton, leading 8 miles east to Hilton Head Island or west towards Interstate 95. The Bluffton Breeze, a public, fixed-route shuttle system, makes 60 stops throughout the city. Area hospitals include Bluffton Medical Campus, and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is about 31 miles away. Hilton Head Island Airport, about 11 miles away, services three airlines: Delta, American Airlines and United.
Shopping along Business 278 and dining in Old Town
Several commercial areas sit along U.S. Route 278, featuring big box stores like Kroger, Walmart, Publix and Aldi. Surrounding most of these stores are popular chain restaurants, like Wendy’s and IHOP, and several local favorites, like La Mexicana and Island Bagel and Deli. For fresh, locally sourced produce, the Bluffton Farmers Market has been an area staple since 2008, open every Thursday in Old Town. Other city markets include Root and Bloom Market, a natural farmers market held Wednesday in Martin Family Park. For specialty shopping and popular local dining, there’s an abundance of options in Old Town, like May River Grill, a seafood restaurant serving freshly caught fish since 2007.
Shop for the essentials at Publix near Cypress Ridge.
Island Bagel in Bluffton is a town favorite for unique sandwiches.
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Crime and weather concerns in Bluffton
Wildfires and extreme winds are the main environmental concerns for homeowners in Bluffton. According to Risk Factor, Bluffton has an extreme wind factor due to the likelihood and presence of hurricanes and severe storms. No hurricane shelters are available in Bluffton due to the region’s low-lying land, and nearby marshes and rivers that make it prone to flooding. Bluffton residents use the South Carolina Emergency Management Division Hurricane Guide to prepare for storms, which lays out personal plans and links additional agencies and emergency shelters. Due to the subtropical climate, temperatures in Bluffton can easily reach the 90s or higher during summer.
The most recent annual reports from the Bluffton Police Department are from 2020 and 2022. In 2022, there were nearly 53,000 calls for service compared to 2020’s 89,755. Most calls for service involve traffic collisions and citations or speeding citations. There was one call for homicide in 2022 and zero calls for homicide in 2020. The Bluffton Police Department is active with the community and hosts various programs and events. The Explorer Program has officers introduce grade-school students to careers in law enforcement, and Cops as Coaches provides officers to coach youth sports programs.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
