Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, one of dozens of barrier islands (64 major ones and hundreds of smaller ones) just off the southern South Carolina coast that make up the Sea Islands.  It is much more rural and casual, and with less traffic, than its pricey neighbor Hilton Head, and this mellow island living is what attracts many seniors. New residents are also attracted to the deep cultural heritage of the area and note that Beaufort's entire downtown has been designated as an historic district by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Union troops occupied the town during the Civil War but did not destroy it, and so today nearly 150 graceful, restored Colonial, French-origin and antebellum homes, most erected by wealthy merchants and plantation owners, dot the city's wonderful, stately historic section.  There are also historic churches, cemeteries and B&Bs.  The oldest standing structure, the Thomas Hepworth House, dates from 1717.

Shopping is not unknown here, but Beaufort's shopping cannot compete with the outlet stores and malls in Hilton Head, Charleston or Savannah.  There are strip malls and shopping centers but no major mall (which makes for a good excuse to travel to delightful Charleston or Savannah).   Still, the downtown is thriving and is filled with small boutiques, art galleries, antique shops and book stores as well as restaurants (some quite excellent) and cafes.   

Festivals make their mark here and include the Water Festival, a two week party in the middle of July; the Shrimp Festival in October; and Kaleidoscope: Film, Food, and Fine Arts in February.  These events are good ways to get out and meet others in the community; thanks to infusions of new blood over the years, Beaufort is generally a welcoming place, more so than some other Southern destinations where deep-rooted family ties can make newcomers feel like outsiders.  This is also a military town; the 8,000-acre Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island, charged with training all new Marines, and the Marine Corps Air Station, an air base, are located nearby.  Beaufort is also the site of the Penn Center (formerly Penn Normal School), established by Quaker missionaries as the first school for freed slaves.

Beaufort has nearly 30 churches and synagogues covering nearly all denominations.

Technically, this area has a four season climate, but summers are hot and very sticky (high temperatures hover in the high 80s and low 90s with 6 to 7 inches of rain per month), rather long and need to be spent with air conditioning.  Humidity can reach 90% in the mornings but then drop into the 60% to 70% range during the day.  Winter temperatures dip into the 50s during the day and into the high 30s at night; there is virtually no snow fall.  The sun shines 60% to 70% of the time, and gardens grow from May to November.  Autumns are quite lovely.

Beaufort is not without its drawbacks.  The biggest may be its location as it has been a target of hurricanes in years past.  Of course, its location is precisely what bring many retirees here in the first place.  And if Al Gore is correct, the entire region could be under water in a couple of decades thanks to global warming.  This area is known as the Lowcountry, and it is indeed that.   Growth is also an issue, and there are signs of urban sprawl and traffic congestion (although not on the same scale as in some nearby tourist spots).  More people are discovering Beaufort, for good or bad.   Crime rates are also above the national average; the area is a little hard to reach, and there is no public transportation system.   All this needs to be weighed against the tranquility and easy lifestyle retirees find in this idyllic waterfront hamlet.  Many will weigh the pros and cons and continue to choose Beaufort.

Beaufort, South Carolina Real Estate

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