Relocation resources

Use these helpful resources to plan your move to Hilton Head Island.

Click here for information on ordering a complete relocation package.

Cost of Living

For information on the cost of living in the Lowcountry, please click here to access ACCRA—a cost of living index that allows you to compare the cost of living differences among urban areas across the country.

Hilton Head, South Carolina Education

Hilton Head Island schools have designed and implemented a public-private partnership approach to public education. Parents, teachers, school administrators and students join forces to elevate and enhance the learning process.

In addition to each school's respective parent-teacher organization, every school sponsors an individual School Improvement Council. Together with the Island School Council which helps support the arts in the public schools, these parent-driven organizations raise money for Hilton Head, South Carolina education and community awareness to augment scholastic innovations, instructional strategies, resources, facilities and overall learning conditions.

Neighborhoods

In 1956, Charles Fraser created a master plan for a resort community and  developed the Island's first resort—Sea Pines Plantation.

Fraser's innovative community plan for Hilton Head Island became the prototype of the modern resort community, and his practices became standard procedures in planned communities around the world. Fraser's concept has made Hilton Head Island one of the most special places to visit and live in harmony with nature.

Hilton Head Island and Bluffton offer a variety of neighborhoods, including gated communities with a wide range of amenities, golf, beach and marsh front developments, homes, villas, apartments and time shares. The last five years have been record-breaking for real estate sales in Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, with many new neighborhoods still being built in Bluffton.

View a listing of Home Owners Associations in the Hilton Head Island area.

Places to Worship

Looking for a place to worship?

Nearly 20 different denominations and affiliations are represented on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton. View listing of places to worship.

Hilton Head Community

For more information on the town of Hilton Head Island and the surrounding Lowcountry community, please click on the links below.

Government

Hilton Head Island employs a council- manager form of government, with six council members and one mayor. The council and the mayor serve four-year staggered terms. Hilton Head Island is situated within Beaufort County, which also employs a council-manager form of government. Beaufort County has 11 council members, each serving a four-year single district term.

Town of Hilton Head Island
One Town Center Court
Hilton Head Island, 29928.....341-4600

Beaufort County Annex
Three Town Center Coourt
Hilton Head Island, 29928.....842-4221

Beaufort County Council
PO Drawer 1228
Beaufort, 29901.....785-6100

Bluffton Town Hall
Bluffton, 29910.....706-4500

Magistrates Office.....842-4260

Auto and Real Estate Taxes.....842-4202 or 842-4206

Business Licenses.....341-4610

Clemson Extension Services.....842-4221 or 726-3470

Marriage Licenses.....470-5319

Social Security Office.....842-4221 or 524-5795

Dept. of Social Services.....842-4246

Veterans Administration.....842-4208

Neighborhood Legal Assistance.....838-5001

Voter Registration

Beaufort County Registrar's Office PO Box 1228 Beaufort, 29901.....525-7100
Hilton Head Office.....341-4625

Drivers' Licenses and Auto Tags

South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
15 Sheridan Circle
PO Box 385
Bluffton, 29910.....815-6981 or 800-442-1368
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 5pm

Postal Services

Bluffton.....757-3588
Bow Circle/Main Office.....800-275-8777
William Hilton Parkway.....800-275-8777
Harbour Town.....800-275-8777

Libraries

Bluffton Community Library
120 Palmetto Way Bluffton, 29910
757-1519

Hilton Head Island Library
11 Beach City Road
Hilton Head Island, 29926
342-9200

Emergency and Health Care Services

For all emergencies.....911
Bluffton Fire and Rescue.....757-2800
Bluffton Police Department.....706-4550
FBI (Beaufort).....525-0858

Hilton Head Regional Medical Center
Hospital Center Blvd.
Hilton Head Island.....681-6122

Hilton Head Island Fire and ResueDivision Patrol (Beaufort)
Administration....341-4710
Communications....341-4720

Sheriff's Department.....785-3618
Daytime.....689-4300

State Highway Patrol.....524-0163

Communications

Cable Service
Time Warner Cable
12 Pope Ave.
Hilton Head Island 29938
785-5175

Hargray
Calhoun & Bridge Street
Bluffton 29938
815-1600

Newspapers & Magazines
Numerous newspapers, magazines, all entertainment and activities guides, and real estate magazines are offered at Island stands.

Bluffton Today
1316 Fording Island Road
Bluffton 29910
837-5255

The Island Packet
10 Buck Island Road
Hilton Head Island 29938
706-8100

The Business Report and Journal
7 Drayton Street, Ste 300
Savannah, GA 31401
912-231-1110


Utilities

Palmetto Electric Cooperative
111 Matthews Drive
Hilton Head Island 29925.....681-5551
1 Cooperative Way
Bluffton 29910....208-5551 Telephone

Hargray
856 William Hilton Parkway
Hilton Head Island 29938.....686-5000

Recycling and Waste Removal/Pick Up

Convenience Center
26 Summit Road
Hilton Head Island 29928.....681-3731

Open Everyday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Except Holidays

What is accepted at the Convenience Center:

  • Bagged household garbage
  • Bulky items: furniture, toys, and bulky household items
  • Clear glass, brown glass and green glass
  • Aluminum and steel cans
  • Plastic # 1 & 2 (sodas, water bottles, milk jugs, detergent bottles, etc.
  • Newspapers, magazines, cardboard, white office paper, pasteboard and mixed paper
  • Tires, batteries, oil and appliances

Water and Sewer Service

Broad Creek Public Service District
3 Marinaside Drive
Hilton Head Island 29938...785-7582

Hilton Head No. 1 Public Service District
21 Oak Park Plaza
Hilton Head Island 29926...681-5525

Taxes

Income Tax: Exemptions, adjustments and deductions allowed on a federal income tax return are allowed on a state return. A person's federal taxable income is the starting point to determine tax liability.

Deductions: In the first year retirement income is received, taxpayers may claim an income tax deduction of up to $3,000 of retirement income. When taxpayers turn 65, they may take a $10,000 deduction from retirement income.
Social Security: Social Security benefits are exempt from income tax in South Carolina. If benefits were taxed at the federal level, that portion may be deducted from the South Carolina taxable income.
Property Tax: South Carolina has a personal property tax on automobiles, recreational vehicles, airplanes and boats based on an assessed value of 10.5 percent of total purchase price. The assessed value is multiplied by the appropriate millage rate of the district in which the taxpayer resides. Hilton Head Island is divided into six districts with varying mileage rates.

Real estate taxes are based on an appraised value of property by the county tax assessor. The appraised value is computed on comparable sales, condition of property, etc. The appraised value is then multiplied by 4 percent for residents and 6 percent for non-resident property owners and corporations to obtain what is known as the assessed value. The assessed value is multiplied times the mileage rate for the appropriate district.

The first $20,000 of the fair market value of a home is exempt from property taxes for citizens who are 65 or older; citizens who are totally and permanently disabled; and citizens who are legally blind, if they have been a South Carolina resident for at least one year.
Sales Tax: South Carolina has a 5 percent sales tax. Persons 85 years or older pay only 4 percent sales tax. nt. A maximum of $300 is imposed on purchases of motor vehicles, boats, and leased vehicles. There is a state-wide accomodations tax of 2 percent. Hilton Head Island imposes an additional 3 percent accommocations tax.
Estate Tax: As of 1998, estates worth $675,000 or less will be exempt from estate tax in South Carolina. The exemption wasl increased annually until it reached $1 million in 2006.