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Hilton Head Retirement Community Profiles

Hamton Lake offers fabulous resort-style amenities.

If beautiful Hilton Head, South Carolina is the place you want to retire, then one of these communities might just be the perfect fit for you.

Hilton Head has been under development for many years, so most newer communities are actually just off the island. In fact, only one of the communities below is located right on the island, but all of them are within a stone’s throw of Hilton Head and each offer their own unique set of advantages and amenities.

Depending on the size of the community, the list of amenities, and the budget you need to fall into, it should be no problem to quickly determine which communities are best for you and start scheduling to visit them!

Sun City Hilton Head

With 8,200 homes and a total of 54 holes of golf, Sun City Hilton Head is the largest retirement community in the Hilton Head area by a huge margin. And it has the amenities to match with a 45 acre Village Center that offers just about everything you could possibly imagine. Homes here sell for anywhere from the mid $100s to just over $1 million.

Hilton Head Plantation

This 4,278 home community was started in 1973 and is located at the northern end of the island. In addition to the standard amenities, residents here also have access to a two mile stretch of beaches, a marina, a fishing lagoon, and access to four golf courses. Homes in Hilton Head Plantation range in price from the high $100s all the way to up over $3 million.

Hilton Head Lakes

The lifestyle at Hilton Head Lakes is all about embracing nature. This 1,800 home community is located on over 450 acres of nature preserves and also includes a 155 acre lake with a boat ramp. Construction here started in 2008 and homes sell for between the high $100s and low $600s.

Hampton Lake

Started in 2009, the 900 homes of Hampton Lake represent the ultimate resort-style retirement community. Amenities are the name of the game here with a Lakeside Village that would be the envy of many five-star resorts. Single family and attached homes here typically cost anywhere from the low $300s up to $1 million.

The Haven

With only 500 single family homes and plenty of space, The Haven offers its residents the ability to spread out and relax. Amenities are still great here though with an 8,500 square foot clubhouse, a fabulous zero-entry pool, and a dog park. The homes here are all fairly comparable, ranging from the mid $200s to the high $300s.

Baynard Park

This gated community was started in 2006 and contains only 309 single family homes. Amenities here include a clubhouse and state-of-the-art fitness center, a zero-entry pool, and a community park. Homes at Baynard Park typically cost between $200,000 and $400,000.

Alston Park

Alston Park is a great options for smaller budgets in the Hilton Head area with homes here typically costing somewhere between the high $100s and high $200s. There are plenty of great amenities available like a community clubhouse, resort-style pool, and miles of trails. And with only 133 homes, this is a very small and quiet community.

Abbey Glen

Started in 2006, Abbey Glen is the smallest of the Hilton Head retirement communities with only 112 homes. Amenities are all practically brand new including the clubhouse, fitness center, and outdoor pool. Homes here generally sell for between $200,000 and $300,000.

Where to Eat, Stay, and Play on Hilton Head

Hilton Head

With its proud reputation as one of the most fantastic vacation destinations along the east coast in the Carolinas, Hilton Head Island is absolutely packed with amazing places to eat, luxurious hotels to stay at, and fun and relaxing ways to pass the time.

No matter what type of lifestyle you are looking for, you can find the right types of restaurants, hotels, and attractions to keep you busy on Hilton Head Island. Let’s jump in and check out some of the most popular options!

Hilton Head Restaurants

If you are looking for high-end dining in Hilton Head, there is no shortage of outstanding options to choose from. One of the most popular restaurants on the island is Vine, where the specialties include everything from Chilean Sea Bass and Pork Shank to crispy French duck and outstanding scallops.

Another very popular restaurant is Sunset Grille, which is located just to the north of 278 as you enter the island. Sitting with an amazing view of the water, the popular dish here is the shrimp and grits, but the pork wontons and cajun fried oysters are also outstanding.

If you enjoy small plate dining, there is a place called WiseGuys that does Tapas as well as anyone. They also serve flights of wine that allow you to really experience a taste of everything.

On the more casual side, The Sea Shack is a killer place to grab some deep fried seafood dinners, and A Lowcountry Backyard serves up some of the best southern comfort food on the island in an awesome outdoor setting.

Hilton Head Hotels

Since Hilton Head is such an extremely popular vacation destination, it’s obviously going to have some pretty fantastic resort-style hotels to choose from.

One of the biggest and best of those options is Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. Here you will find all of the fantastic attention to detail that Disney is known for. It’s just like being in Disney World, except you can’t ride Space Mountain.

If you are looking to stay near the iconic Harbour Town, The Inn at Harbour Town in Sea Pines Resort is as close as it gets. This first-class hotel has every amenity you could ever want and it’s close to everything you could possibly want to do in Hilton Head.

One of the most visually stunning hotels on the island is Sonesta Resort. The way this property is configured along the water makes it feel more like a resort on a Caribbean island than an island in South Carolina.

Hilton Head Attractions

The beautiful beach at Coligny Beach Park.

So what is the most popular thing to do on Hilton Head Island? Relax!

One of the best places to kick back, relax, and lounge on the beach is Coligny Beach Park. This beautiful stretch of beach also has a boardwalk and some shops nearby.

If you are more the type to relax by being active, you’ll want to explore the island’s many bicycle trails. You can literally get from anywhere on the island to anywhere on the island by bike, so you won’t get bored quickly riding around here.

For those who prefer to relax by experiencing the arts or nature, Hilton Head offers the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Sea Pines Forest Preserve, and the Coastal Discovery Museum.

And if you’d rather relax out on the water, there are also plenty of options for deep-sea fishing charters, dolphin and whale watching cruises, and many exciting waterspouts activities.

As you can see, Hilton Head really does offer something for just about everyone. From fine dining and bicycling to jet skis and great seafood, you can have a taste of whatever lifestyle you want here on the island!

Spotlight on Hilton Head

Hilton Head, Places

With its perfect combination of beachfront living, first-class golf courses, and outstanding restaurants, Hilton Head is at the top of nearly everyone’s list of the best places to retire in The Carolinas…or the rest of the country for that matter.

The historic Harbour Town Lighthouse is the iconic symbol that represents Hilton Head, but there is a whole lot more to this area than just a lighthouse. Residents of Hilton Head also have access to excellent shopping options, tons of biking trails and nature preserves, and the option to participate in just about any water sport you can imagine.

Where is Hilton Head?

Hilton Head is a small island community located along the southern coast of South Carolina. It is approximately two hours south of Charleston, South Carolina, and about 45 minutes northeast of Savannah, Georgia.

Hilton Head has its own airport right on the island, and you can get to and from just about anywhere you’d like to fly by connecting through Charlotte, North Carolina.

The closest interstate highway is I-95, which is about 45 minutes west of the island.

History of Hilton Head

Hilton Head received it’s name from Captain William Hilton all the way back in 1663. Ever since then, the area has been seen as an extremely valuable piece of land.

In 1956, the James F. Byrnes bridge was constructed to make Hilton Head more accessible, and shortly after Charles E. Fraser started developing Sea Pines Resort. Many other developments would quickly follow.

The PGA Tour began hosting regular events at Sea Pines Resort in 1969.

Hilton Head Demographics

The 2010 census recorded a population of 37,099 people living in Hilton Head. Current estimates show that number to have grown to just over 40,000 people.

Of that population, 27.3% are between the ages of 45 and 64, and 24.1% are 65 or older. So more than half of the population is over the age of 45.

The median income for a family in Hilton Head is just over $71,000.

Hilton Head Climate

The average highs in Hilton Head typically range from the high 80s during the summer months to the low 60s during the winter months. The average lows in the winter generally stay above the freezing point.

The island averages a little over 4 inches of precipitation each month with August representing the most precipitation for the year.

Hilton Head Resources

Because Hilton Head is such a popular vacation destination, there is a plethora of information available to help you quickly get acclimated to the area. Here are some of the best places to start your research: