Isle of Palms Real Estate Prices 2024

Single Family Homes Median Price is $2.0M. Range: $1M - $10M

Condos Average Price: $1.1M. Range: $300k - $3M

Pros of Living on Isle of Palms

• Isle of Palms is your address.
• Live like you’re on vacation
• There is a genuine community feel in some areas of IOP

Cons of Living on Isle of Palms

• Summer beach traffic
• Winter can feel empty around vacation homes

Isle of Palms Residents Say.....

Here are ten comments from a Reddit thread written by people who live on Isle of Palms. Both good and bad.

1. “Living on Isle of Palms is like living in a beach paradise. Seriously, waking up to those ocean views never gets old.”
2. “The beach here is awesome. Soft sand, clear water—perfect for surfing, chilling, or just catching some rays.”
3. “It’s a bit pricey, though. Renting or buying a place here can cost a pretty penny. But hey, you’re paying for that beachfront life.”
4. “The community is tight-knit. Everyone knows everyone, which can be cool or a bit too cozy, depending on your vibe.”
5. “During tourist season, things can get pretty busy. Lots of visitors flock here, which adds energy but also traffic.”
6. “There aren’t a ton of shops or restaurants right on the island, but that’s part of the charm. You get used to driving into Mount Pleasant or Charleston for more options.”
7. “Hurricane season can be nerve-wracking. Living so close to the water means keeping an eye on the weather reports.”
8. “If you love outdoor stuff, though, this place is heaven. Boating, fishing, biking—you name it, you can do it here.”
9. “Nightlife isn’t really a thing on Isle of Palms. It’s more about bonfires on the beach with friends or chilling at home.”
10. “Overall, if you’re all about that beach lifestyle and don’t mind the tourist hustle in the summer, Isle of Palms is hard to beat.”

Where Is Isle Of Palms SC?

Isle of Palms is a 6-mile-long barrier island that is separated from Mount Pleasant by the Intra Coastal Waterway with the Atlantic Ocean on the other side. It is 30 minutes from Downtown Charleston. The population of Isle of Palms is 4,500.

What is Isle of Palms Like?

Ah, Isle of Palms, it brings back the memories. I lived here when I moved to Charleston. I don’t think I’ve ever written so many letters to my friends back home, just so they’d see that my address was Ocean Boulevard, Isle of Palms. I lived on IOP for 4 years and never had a key for my house, it was that safe.

The island is as beautiful as it sounds. It doesn’t need much of a sales pitch from me, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets on the beach, it’s a narrow island so you’re never far from the beach and there are also some houses on the back side overlooking the intra-coastal which have some stunning views too.

It has a small commercial district with beach bars and restaurants but it’s not tacky like some of our other beach towns further to the north. It’s tasteful.

If I had one issue with Isle of Palms, it is that there are a lot of vacation rentals, so it can feel quiet during the winter when they are empty. Many full-timers love the winter though, they get their island back. On the more northern side of the island, it’s nearly all full-time residents and it’s a great community back there.

There are still some small beach houses, but gradually they are being demolished for the larger, newer houses. There are several condo communities too so you can have the lock it and leave no maintenance beach life. As you’d expect, beach living doesn’t come cheap, but if you can afford it, it’s a fabulous place to live.

Wild Dunes on the very north end of the island is a gated community that has a lot of vacation homes, but there are a good number of full-time residents there too who enjoy all the golf, tennis, and other amenities that they have.

Who Lives on Isle of Palms?

Rich people have their primary and vacation homes here. Retirees love Wild Dunes and its active lifestyle. There are also families raising their kids on the island too, they live here full time and there’s a strong community. Some people buy a beach house, rent it out during peak season, and use it for their family vacations.

Isle of Palms Restaurants & Bars

For a small island, there are plenty of options. Wild Dunes and the marina have restaurants. The small strip at the beach has breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The Boathouse at the bridge to Sullivan’s Island has been there for as long as I’ve been living here. The Windjammer is a legendary music venue.

Isle of Palms Shopping

There’s one supermarket and a few small shops. Stock up before you get to the island.

Parks & Recreation

Walk, run, and surf on the beach. Boat from the marina. Play baseball or soccer at the rec center. Plenty of outdoor activities on IOP.

How Far is Isle of Palms From

Airport: 35 minutes. Downtown: 30 minutes

My Top Neighborhoods on Isle of Palms

I’ve numbered some areas on a Google Map below. I’ll use though to reference the different areas of IOP

1. Southern Isle of Palms

On the beachfront Ocean Boulevard, you have the big beach houses. If you have millions for a beach house, Ocean Boulevard is a nice address to have. One street back in Carolina, there are some smaller houses. I like Charleston Blvd. It’s a windy little road with some cool houses. Houses on the back side have Intracoastal Waterway views.

I lived in this area for 3 years, and I loved the close access to Sullivan’s Island, which is also the way to get downtown. 

2. Downtown Isle of Palms

The small downtown area has several condos, priced reasonably too. They’re usually not full-time residences, but more a place to rent out and use when you want a beach break yourself.

3. Rec Center

The avenues around the rec center have a lot of full-time island residents, so this is a good place to look if you want to live year round within a community. There are more normal smaller houses around here. Although, there are still big houses on the beach and the Waterway Boulevard on the back.

4. Palm Boulevard Beachfront

This is where the massive beachfront houses are. They rent for a small fortune per week in the summer. If you have a few million to buy a statement beach house, look here.

5. Wild Dunes

Wild Dunes is a resort community. It has condos, as well as houses. It’s mostly vacationers, but people live here full-time or have second homes here too. It’s an active lifestyle there with golf, tennis and boating. The IOP marina is outside the gates of Wild Dunes and accessible. It’s a good ten-minute drive from Wild Dunes to the center of IOP and doesn’t go one mile over the speed limit!

6. Forest Trail

Lots of full time residents on Forest Trail. I have many friends who live here. The marina close by is a favorite for both boating and socializing.

Similar Areas to Isle of Palms

Folly Beach is a bit more eclectic than Isle of Palms.

Sullivan's Island. My favorite beach town in the area. It's very expensive, but if you have the money, this is where I would live.