Beaufort is a somewhat small coastal city (i.e. on the ocean, a bay, or inlet) located in the state of South Carolina. With a population of 13,722 people and ten associated neighborhoods, Beaufort is the 36th largest community in South Carolina.

Beaufort real estate is some of the most expensive in South Carolina, although Beaufort house values don't compare to the most expensive real estate in the U.S.

There are many members of the armed forces living in Beaufort. You will notice when you visit or live here that some of the people you meet or see around town are employed by the armed services - even if they are not always in uniform.

Beaufort, while not large, also appears to be attractive to some younger, educated professionals, who help shape the character of the city.

Beaufort is also nautical, which means that parts of it are somewhat historic and touch the ocean or tidal bodies of water, such as inlets and bays. Such areas are often places that visitors and locals go for waterfront activities or taking in the scenery.

The education level of Beaufort citizens is very high relative to the national average among all cities (21.84%): 35.01% of adults in Beaufort have a bachelor's degree or even advanced degree.

The per capita income in Beaufort in 2022 was $36,267, which is upper middle income relative to South Carolina and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $145,068 for a family of four. However, Beaufort contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

Beaufort is an extremely ethnically-diverse city. The people who call Beaufort home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Beaufort residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Beaufort include English, Irish, German, Italian, and French.

The most common language spoken in Beaufort is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and Langs. of India.