Beaufort, SC · standard
ZIP Code 29902
Beaufort County, South Carolina - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,779
- 307/sq mi High-density area
- $69,752
- Median income Near-median income area
- $349,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 38.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Beaufort pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 46th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 26%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 307
- people per sq mi
- 64%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 29902 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 29902 (Beaufort, SC) rose +7.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 323.0 in 2023 to 345.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 29902 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Beaufort, Beaufort County, South Carolina, home to 14,779 residents across 48.2 square miles, a density of 307 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 29902 reports a modest median household income of $69,752 (9% above the average South Carolina ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,526. The poverty rate is 12.8%, with unemployment at 2.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $349,100 (54% above the average South Carolina ZIP), while 64.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,513.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 38.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.8, and the average commute is 18 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Beaufort County, so 29902 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 29902
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Beaufort, SC
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 29902.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
98 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
83 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
76 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
61 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
58 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 29902, Beaufort, SC · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
14,779
Population
48.2
Area (sq mi)
307
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 29902?
31.8
Median Age
52.2%
Male
47.8%
Female
5.8%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$69,752
Median Household Income
+9% vs state ZIP avg
$38,526
Per Capita Income
12.8%
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Unemployment Rate
18.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 29902 ranks among South Carolina ZIPs
Beaufort, SC household income vs. every South Carolina ZIP code
Median household income among 384 reporting South Carolina ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$69,752 Top 33% higher than 67% of 384 South Carolina ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more South Carolina ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
7,357housing units
7,357
Total Housing Units
6,370
Occupied Units
987
Vacant Units
2.40
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$349,100
Median Home Value
+54% vs state ZIP avg
$1,513
Median Rent
1984
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+7.0%
YoY Change (2024)
345
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+245%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 29902 have increased 7.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +245% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.4% | 201 |
| 2021 | +13.6% | 228 |
| 2022 | +21.1% | 276 |
| 2023 | +16.9% | 323 |
| 2024 | +7.0% | 345 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 572 business establishments in ZIP 29902, employing approximately 6,323 people with a combined annual payroll of $327,652,000.
572
Businesses
6,323
Employees
$327.7M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 98 | 17.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 83 | 14.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 76 | 13.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 61 | 10.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 58 | 10.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 49 | 8.6% |
| Construction | 42 | 7.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 41 | 7.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 25 | 4.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 11 | 1.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 9 | 1.6% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 0.9% |
| Information | 5 | 0.9% |
| Educational services | 5 | 0.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 29902 vs 29935 →
ZIP 29902 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29926
Hilton Head Island (29926)
23,742 residents
- 29906
Beaufort (29906)
21,765 residents
- 29902
Beaufort (29902)
14,779 residents
- 29907
Beaufort (29907)
12,570 residents
- 29920 9,481
Saint Helena Island (29920)
9,481 residents
- 29935 3,685
Port Royal (29935)
3,685 residents
- 29905 3,054
Parris Island (29905)
3,054 residents
- 29904 659
Beaufort (29904)
659 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 29902 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 29902 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 29926
Hilton Head Island (29926)
$97,948 median income
- 29907
Beaufort (29907)
$97,446 median income
- 29920
Saint Helena Island (29920)
$77,744 median income
- 29935
Port Royal (29935)
$76,544 median income
- 29902
Beaufort (29902)
$69,752 median income
- 29906
Beaufort (29906)
$68,174 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 29902 ranks #5 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 29902, both outside SC so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (14,779 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Beaufort County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 29902 in?
ZIP code 29902 (Beaufort) is located in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Beaufort County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/beaufort-sc.
What is the population of ZIP code 29902?
ZIP code 29902 in Beaufort, SC has a population of 14,779 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 29902?
The median household income in ZIP 29902 is $69,752, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 29902?
The median home value in ZIP 29902 is $349,100, which is 26% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 29902?
The largest racial group in ZIP 29902 is White at 64.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 29902?
ZIP code 29902 has 572 business establishments employing approximately 6,323 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 29902?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 29902 are: Retail trade (98), Professional, scientific, and technical services (83), Health care and social assistance (76). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 29902?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 29902 increased by 7.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 245%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 29902?
In ZIP code 29902, 64.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 29902?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 29902 is 18.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 29902?
In ZIP code 29902, approximately 64.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 29902?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 29902 is 12.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 29902's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 29902 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Beaufort, SC ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.