Isle of Palms, SC vs Kiawah Island, SC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Oct 2026
Report card
| Category | Isle of PalmsIsle of Palms, SC | Kiawah IslandKiawah Island, SC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Great | Elite | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Very Safe | Moderate | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 935 property crimes per 100,000 people, Isle of Palms, SC, and Kiawah Island, SC, show notable differences across several metrics in 2023 Census figures. Kiawah Island reported 1,633 property crimes per 100,000 people, a 75% higher rate, and 370 violent crimes per 100,000 people versus Isle of Palms' 228, a 62% higher rate. The average commute in Kiawah Island is 33.2 minutes, 6 minutes longer than Isle of Palms' 27.2 minutes. Median rent in Isle of Palms is $3,236, nearly three times the $1,126 in Kiawah Island, placing Isle of Palms in the 98th percentile and Kiawah Island in the 43rd percentile for this metric.
Population figures also diverge, with Isle of Palms home to 4,350 residents, 98% larger than Kiawah Island's 2,196. Population density is 981 people per square mile in Isle of Palms, five times higher than Kiawah Island's 197, placing Isle of Palms in the 27th percentile and Kiawah Island in the 9th percentile. Average household size is 2.2 in Isle of Palms, 13% larger than Kiawah Island's 1.9, with Isle of Palms in the 17th percentile and Kiawah Island in the 3rd percentile. The cost of living index stands at 336 for Isle of Palms and 611 for Kiawah Island, the latter 82% higher and in the 100th percentile.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Kiawah Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 33698th pctl | 611100th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Isle of Palms, SC 336; Kiawah Island, SC 611; Kiawah Island is 82% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $1,192,20097th pctl | $1,723,20098th pctl | Median home value: Isle of Palms, SC $1,192,200; Kiawah Island, SC $1,723,200; Kiawah Island is 45% higher. |
| Median rent | $3,23698th pctl | $1,12643rd pctl | Median rent: Isle of Palms, SC $3,236; Kiawah Island, SC $1,126; Isle of Palms is 2.9 times higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $148,02994th pctl | $236,60799th pctl | Median household income: Isle of Palms, SC $148,029; Kiawah Island, SC $236,607; Kiawah Island is 60% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $231,62398th pctl | $334,78799th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Isle of Palms, SC $231,623; Kiawah Island, SC $334,787; Kiawah Island is 45% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $340,48698th pctl | $492,13799th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Isle of Palms, SC $340,486; Kiawah Island, SC $492,137; Kiawah Island is 45% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Kiawah Island needs about
$136,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 336 vs 611). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Kiawah Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.3%34th pctl | 3.3%34th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.6%67th pctl | +1.6%67th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $119,41597th pctl | $212,353100th pctl | Per-capita income: Isle of Palms, SC $119,415; Kiawah Island, SC $212,353; Kiawah Island is 78% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 1.8%2nd pctl | 2.7%4th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 27.2 min75th pctl | 33.2 min94th pctl | Average commute: Isle of Palms, SC 27.2 min; Kiawah Island, SC 33.2 min; Kiawah Island is 6 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 26.5%93rd pctl | 48.9%100th pctl | Work from home: Isle of Palms, SC 26.5%; Kiawah Island, SC 48.9%; Kiawah Island is 22.4 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Strong | Economic opportunity: Isle of Palms, SC A; Kiawah Island, SC A+; Kiawah Island is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Kiawah Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 22851st pctl | 37074th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Isle of Palms, SC 228; Kiawah Island, SC 370; Kiawah Island is 62% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 93530th pctl | 1,63363rd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Isle of Palms, SC 935; Kiawah Island, SC 1,633; Kiawah Island is 75% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Fair | Crime & safety: Isle of Palms, SC A-; Kiawah Island, SC C; Isle of Palms is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Kiawah Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort, broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in South Carolina, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See South Carolina →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Kiawah Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 632 mi78th pctl | 652 mi79th pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 697 mi90th pctl | 710 mi91st pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 6 mi7th pctl | 5 mi6th pctl | Distance to coastline: Isle of Palms, SC 6 mi; Kiawah Island, SC 5 mi; Isle of Palms is 29% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Kiawah Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,35017th pctl | 2,19610th pctl | Population: Isle of Palms, SC 4,350; Kiawah Island, SC 2,196; Isle of Palms is 98% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 98127th pctl | 1979th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Isle of Palms, SC 981; Kiawah Island, SC 197; Isle of Palms is 5.0 times higher. |
| Median age | 54.296th pctl | 6699th pctl | Median age: Isle of Palms, SC 54.2; Kiawah Island, SC 66; Kiawah Island is 11.8 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.7%94th pctl | 86.5%99th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Isle of Palms, SC 69.7%; Kiawah Island, SC 86.5%; Kiawah Island is 16.8 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.217th pctl | 1.93rd pctl | Average household size: Isle of Palms, SC 2.2; Kiawah Island, SC 1.9; Isle of Palms is 13% larger. |
More about Isle of Palms's residents · Kiawah Island's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Isle of PalmsIsle of Palms, SC | Kiawah IslandKiawah Island, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+6 | R+6 |
| 2024 presidential | R +13.0 pts | R +13.0 pts |
Full politics data: Isle of Palms · Kiawah Island
Moving between Isle of Palms and Kiawah Island
- Median rent: $3,236 in Isle of Palms, $1,126 in Kiawah Island
- Median home value: $1,192,200 in Isle of Palms, $1,723,200 in Kiawah Island
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 336 in Isle of Palms, 611 in Kiawah Island
- Median household income: $148,029 in Isle of Palms, $236,607 in Kiawah Island
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $340,486 in Isle of Palms, $492,137 in Kiawah Island
- Unemployment: 3.3% in Isle of Palms, 3.3% in Kiawah Island
- Average commute: 27.2 min in Isle of Palms, 33.2 min in Kiawah Island
- Violent crime per 100k: 228 in Isle of Palms, 370 in Kiawah Island
Weigh these by what matters to you
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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