11 Pros and Cons of Living in Bluffton, SC

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Bluffton is located in Beaufort County, South Carolina.

It is considered by many to be the best city to live in South Carolina.

The population of this city is approximately 23,150 as of 2020.

It is a beautiful and picturesque town with breathtaking scenery, a laid-back approach, and friendly residents. 

The city offers its residents many high-quality amenities, a rich culture, a vibrant nightlife, and many family-friendly attractions and events throughout the year.  

Before making the move to Bluffton, South Carolina, you may want to consider some of the advantages and disadvantages of living in this town. 

Pros of Living in Bluffton, South Carolina

1. A town rich in culture and spirit

Bluffton is a town rich in both culture and history.

The town has a variety of galleries and art available for purchase, from lovely little hand-made souvenirs to fine art for the collector.

Whether you are someone that buys art or makes it, you will find an array of art including pottery, photography, woodcarvings, as well as acrylics, oils, and mixed media.

Furthermore, if you are interested in improving your art skills, the town of Bluffton hosts several workshops throughout the year that help budding artists sharpen their skills and creativity.

There are a host of other options available, such as small boutiques, a farmers’ market, as well as over 36 different festivals and events occurring in this town, throughout the year.

The town is ideal for a small family or those ready to retire. 

2. Climate

Another great attraction to the town of Bluffton is the year-round weather.

The climate can be described as subtropical and humid.

Bluffton has warm summers and short cold winters.

You can expect the temperature range in this region to be between 42°F to 90°F. 

When visiting the town, you may want to opt for April through May and September through October.

These times are the best times for summer activities.

The weather is not too hot and not too cold either.

It is ideal.

The warmest month in Bluffton is in July with an average temperature of around 87°F and the coldest month is in January with an average temperature of around 78°F.

This town gets around 45 inches of rain each year. 

For those candidates who would like to escape the extreme cold of some of the more northern cities, Bluffton is a great place to call home with warm to moderate weather year-round.

The winters do not get too cold and there is usually no snowfall.

And, while the winters do get somewhat chilly, it is nothing compared to cities like Washington and New York.

3. Low cost of living

Bluffton has a relatively low cost of living in comparison to many other bigger cities in the rest of the US.

The average price for a home in Bluffton, SC is around $463,177.

This only includes middle-tier homes.

This price is slightly higher than the national average, which sits at an average of $374,900 for a mid-tier home. 

Housing prices are usually the main factor that drives up the cost of living.

However, in Bluffton, South Carolina, the higher prices for homes are mitigated by lower transportation and utility prices which are below the national average.

The cost of living in Bluffton, South Carolina is 2% lower than the national average.

Utilities in Bluffton are 7% higher than the national average and the cost of groceries is 17% higher than the national average. 

4. Low crime rate

Safety is a very big concern for many Americans and probably one of the first factors that are considered before making the move to another city.

The well-being of Americans and their families is a high priority when choosing a place to live. 

Bluffton is one of the lowest crime rates in the US.

In fact, the crime rate in Bluffton is 65% lower than the national average.

The town itself has a rating of “A+” when it comes to overall safety.

On average, there are around 250 crimes reported each year with a total of around 90 violent crimes reported per 100,000 residents and roughly 722 property crime incidents reported each year. 

Of the crimes reported, common assault accounts for the majority of violent crimes being reported each year and theft accounts for the majority of property crimes reported. 

This means that most residents in this town feel relatively safe. 

5. Low poverty rate

The average household income in Bluffton, South Carolina is $102,318 per year.

The poverty rate in the town is around 4.24%.

That is well below the national poverty rate of 11.4%.

Currently, the population of this town is around 23,000 residents. 

The town is currently seeing a growth rate of just under 6% per year.

As of April 2022, the unemployment rate in Bluffton, South Carolina was 2.3%.

The town of Bluffton is considered to be wealthy in relation to the rest of the state and the US in general.

It is relatively easy to find a semi-skilled job in this town. 

6. Great people

Bluffton, South Carolina is a great place to raise a family.

The town is very family-friendly with a few public schools, good transportation systems, and really friendly people.

If you are familiar with southern hospitality, you will have a good idea of what it’s like to live in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Residents of the town are generally very friendly and inviting.

Bluffton, in general, is a very peaceful town, making it an ideal location for families and children.

In addition, due to the high quality of life in this town, many people from all over the US choose to relocate to Bluffton, South Carolina. 

Con’s of living in Bluffton, South Carolina

1. It’s a very small town

With a population of under 30,000 residents, Bluffton, South Carolina is considered to be a very small town.

And, as such, may not appeal to people who love the business of the bigger, more metropolitan cities like Boston, New York, Washington, Chicago, or Los Angeles. 

In fact, many younger people may find that Bluffton, South Carolina, is downright boring with little to nothing to do.

It is, however, ideal for retirees and young families.

In fact, most of the town is geared around families with young children and outdoor enthusiasts.

And, while the town does feature many great pubs and restaurants, these may not quite be as appealing to the younger generations who prefer the variety some bigger cities have to offer. 

2. Traffic

With so many beautiful outdoor activities for residents, it is no wonder that Bluffton is a major tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the state.

And, while traffic may not be much of a problem throughout the year, it can get pretty bad around the holiday season.

The infrastructure of the city is not exactly set up to accommodate a large influx of visitors.

This means that roads are quite congested during certain times of the year, making the usual 20-minute drive turn into a two-hour rush hour nightmare.

Visitors flock by the millions to this small town during the peak time of the holiday season.

This can lead to a lot of frustration for local residents who have to change their schedule during these times of the year in order to be on time for work and other commitments. 

3. Heatwave

As previously mentioned, Bluffton does have great year-round weather with slightly cooler winters.

However, it is not uncommon for there to be several heat waves during the summertime. 

For people who are not used to this kind of heat, it may be quite challenging to get used to the extreme heat during the summertime.

The hottest time of the year, and the time when heatwaves are most present, are during July and August.

Most residents simply opt to stay indoors to avoid heat exhaustion during this time of the year. 

It isn’t uncommon for the weather to soar to 90°F during this time.

And the heat is amplified by the high humidity.

These conditions can be extremely dangerous, forcing families indoors for most of this time of the year. 

4. You need a car

The infrastructure of the city is set up in such a way that there is nothing closely situated to the residential areas.

And, public transport in this town may be relatively good, but not ideal.

You will need to own a vehicle to get around.

This means that money will need to be forked out for additional costs such as insurance and gas. 

These expenses can really eat into your budget.

But, if you want to get to the beaches, the festivals, and other activities, you will need to invest in a vehicle to get around.

In addition, you may notice that most cities have sidewalks for pedestrians to walk on.

However, Bluffton does not have too many sidewalks for pedestrians.

This may pose a safety risk, especially during the vacation season when traffic is packed. 

5. The destruction of Hurricanes

While this is a beautiful town to live in, prospective residents need to keep in mind that hurricanes hit the shoreline of this town every year, from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.

Hurricanes pose a very big threat to this region during the summer and fall months. 

Hurricane season starts from the 1st of June and stretches through November.

These hurricanes often cause widespread destruction and more often than not, residents are left to pick up the pieces.

During this period, residents of Bluffton, South Carolina are on high alert each year.

However, the town has key strategies in place to mitigate the after-effects of severe hurricanes. 

The last big hurricane to hit South Carolina was hurricane Irma in 2017.

This hurricane caused nearly $1.3 million in damage. 

Pros and Cons of Living in Bluffton, SC – Summary Table