Isle of Palms, SC vs Sullivan's Island, SC
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Isle of PalmsIsle of Palms, SC | Sullivan's IslandSullivan's Island, SC | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Great | Elite | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Very Safe | Very Safe | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Great | Great | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 2.2 people per household, Isle of Palms, SC and Sullivan's Island, SC show notable differences across several metrics in 2023 Census figures. Sullivan's Island has a larger average household size of 2.6, which is 19% higher. The population of Isle of Palms is 4,350, about twice that of Sullivan's Island at 2,127. Violent crime per 100,000 people stands at 228 in Isle of Palms, placing it in the 51st percentile, while Sullivan's Island reports zero violent crimes, in the 1st percentile. Property crime per 100,000 people is 935 in Isle of Palms, 31% higher than Sullivan's Island's 714, with percentiles of 30 and 18 respectively.
Work-from-home rates differ sharply: 26.5% of Isle of Palms workers work from home, in the 93rd percentile, compared to 11.1% in Sullivan's Island, in the 53rd percentile. The poverty rate is 1.8% in Isle of Palms, in the 2nd percentile, versus 8.3% in Sullivan's Island, in the 32nd percentile, a 6.5 percentage point difference. Average commute times are 27.2 minutes in Isle of Palms and 25.6 minutes in Sullivan's Island, with Isle of Palms 2 minutes longer. Median home values are $1,192,200 in Isle of Palms and $2,000,001 in Sullivan's Island, the latter 68% higher, both in the 97th and 99th percentiles. The cost of living index is 336 for Isle of Palms and 408 for Sullivan's Island, with Sullivan's Island 21% higher.
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 | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 33698th pctl | 40899th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Isle of Palms, SC 336; Sullivan's Island, SC 408; Sullivan's Island is 21% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $1,192,20097th pctl | $2,000,00199th pctl | Median home value: Isle of Palms, SC $1,192,200; Sullivan's Island, SC $2,000,001; Sullivan's Island is 68% higher. |
| Median rent | $3,23698th pctl | $2,40296th pctl | Median rent: Isle of Palms, SC $3,236; Sullivan's Island, SC $2,402; Isle of Palms is 35% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $148,02994th pctl | $179,61497th pctl | Median household income: Isle of Palms, SC $148,029; Sullivan's Island, SC $179,614; Sullivan's Island is 21% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $231,62398th pctl | $320,90599th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Isle of Palms, SC $231,623; Sullivan's Island, SC $320,905; Sullivan's Island is 39% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $340,48698th pctl | $471,73099th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Isle of Palms, SC $340,486; Sullivan's Island, SC $471,730; Sullivan's Island is 39% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Sullivan's Island needs about
$91,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 336 vs 408). 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 | Sullivan's 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 | $120,59298th pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 1.8%2nd pctl | 8.3%32nd pctl | Poverty rate: Isle of Palms, SC 1.8%; Sullivan's Island, SC 8.3%; Sullivan's Island is 6.5 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 27.2 min75th pctl | 25.6 min65th pctl | Average commute: Isle of Palms, SC 27.2 min; Sullivan's Island, SC 25.6 min; Isle of Palms is 2 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 26.5%93rd pctl | 11.1%53rd pctl | Work from home: Isle of Palms, SC 26.5%; Sullivan's Island, SC 11.1%; Isle of Palms is 15.4 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Strong | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 22851st pctl | 01st pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Isle of Palms, SC 228; Sullivan's Island, SC 0; Isle of Palms is higher (Sullivan's Island: 0). |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 93530th pctl | 71418th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Isle of Palms, SC 935; Sullivan's Island, SC 714; Isle of Palms is 31% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Very Safe | Very Safe | About the same |
| 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 | Sullivan's 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 | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 632 mi78th pctl | 636 mi79th pctl | About the same |
| Target proximity | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 697 mi90th pctl | 699 mi91st pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 6 mi7th pctl | 5 mi5th pctl | Distance to coastline: Isle of Palms, SC 6 mi; Sullivan's Island, SC 5 mi; Isle of Palms is 38% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Isle of Palms, SC | Sullivan's Island, SC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,35017th pctl | 2,1279th pctl | Population: Isle of Palms, SC 4,350; Sullivan's Island, SC 2,127; Isle of Palms is 2.0 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 98127th pctl | 85122nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Isle of Palms, SC 981; Sullivan's Island, SC 851; Isle of Palms is 15% higher. |
| Median age | 54.296th pctl | 52.995th pctl | Median age: Isle of Palms, SC 54.2; Sullivan's Island, SC 52.9; Isle of Palms is 1.3 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.7%94th pctl | 87.2%99th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Isle of Palms, SC 69.7%; Sullivan's Island, SC 87.2%; Sullivan's Island is 17.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.217th pctl | 2.668th pctl | Average household size: Isle of Palms, SC 2.2; Sullivan's Island, SC 2.6; Sullivan's Island is 19% larger. |
More about Isle of Palms's residents · Sullivan's 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 | Sullivan's IslandSullivan's Island, SC |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+6 | R+6 |
| 2024 presidential | R +13.0 pts | R +13.0 pts |
Full politics data: Isle of Palms · Sullivan's Island
Moving between Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island
- Median rent: $3,236 in Isle of Palms, $2,402 in Sullivan's Island
- Median home value: $1,192,200 in Isle of Palms, $2,000,001 in Sullivan's Island
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 336 in Isle of Palms, 408 in Sullivan's Island
- Median household income: $148,029 in Isle of Palms, $179,614 in Sullivan's Island
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $340,486 in Isle of Palms, $471,730 in Sullivan's Island
- Unemployment: 3.3% in Isle of Palms, 3.3% in Sullivan's Island
- Average commute: 27.2 min in Isle of Palms, 25.6 min in Sullivan's Island
- Violent crime per 100k: 228 in Isle of Palms, 0 in Sullivan's Island
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More places like Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island
- 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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