Pawleys Island is a barrier island town of about 130 year-round residents in Georgetown County, South Carolina, ZIP code 29585, roughly 70 miles north of Charleston and 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach. Incorporated in 1985 under the slogan "Keep Pawleys As It Is," the island proper has no hotels, chain stores, or restaurants, only two historic inns dating to 1858 and 1937.
Quick Facts | Detail |
|---|---|
ZIP Code | 29585 |
County | Georgetown County, South Carolina |
Town Population | About 130 residents on the incorporated island (2020 Census), part of a much larger unincorporated mainland market area |
Island Size | Roughly 3 to 4 miles long, a quarter-mile wide, connected to the mainland by the North and South Causeway bridges |
Median Home Value | $513,936 across the broader Pawleys Island market, up 5.3 percent year over year (Zillow) |
School District | Georgetown County School District, Waccamaw school family |
From historic island cottages to mainland golf communities, Pawleys Island covers an unusually wide range of home types. Search current listings or contact a local agent to find the right fit.
One of America's oldest resort towns, still without a single hotel or chain restaurant on the island itself
Pawleys Island traces its resort history to the early 1700s, when rice planters from nearby river plantations began bringing their families to the shore each summer to escape the mosquitoes that carried malaria inland. George Washington himself visited the Alston family's Pawleys Island plantations in 1791 while touring the Grand Strand. Twelve residences in the island's historic district date from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
When talk of large chain hotels surfaced in the mid-1980s, island property owners incorporated the Town of Pawleys Island in 1985 and passed ordinances banning most commercial development, a policy still summed up by the town's own slogan, "Keep Pawleys As It Is." Today the island itself has no stores, hotels, or restaurants beyond two grandfathered historic inns: the Pelican Inn, built in 1858, and the Sea View Inn, built in 1937.
Everyday conveniences, restaurants, and shops sit just across the causeways on the mainland, where the broader Pawleys Island real estate market extends into golf communities, gated neighborhoods, and newer developments that share the same 29585 ZIP code but differ meaningfully in zoning, flood exposure, and ownership character from the island proper.
A 1985 town ordinance keeps the island itself free of hotels, chain stores, and restaurants, preserving its quiet, residential character.
The island's historic district holds 12 residences dating from the late 1700s to mid-1800s, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972.
President Washington visited the Alston family's Pawleys Island plantations in 1791 during his tour of the Southern states.
At just a quarter-mile wide, the island lets residents reach both the Atlantic Ocean and the tidal creek side within a short walk.
"Pawleys Island" describes two related but distinct places. The incorporated Town of Pawleys Island occupies only the narrow barrier island itself, home to about 130 year-round residents as of the 2020 Census. The much larger "greater Pawleys Island area" extends across the mainland toward the Waccamaw River and includes the golf communities, gated neighborhoods, and newer subdivisions most buyers are searching for.
Both share the 29585 ZIP code and Pawleys Island mailing address, but they differ in zoning, flood exposure, rental rules, and proximity to the ocean. An island cottage and a mainland golf-course home are fundamentally different purchases, even though both are commonly described as "Pawleys Island real estate."
Town population and incorporation history: South Carolina Encyclopedia and Town of Pawleys Island official site, 2026.
A typical day might start with a sunrise walk on the beach, move to golf or a paddle on the creek, and end with dinner at a mainland restaurant or a porch overlooking the marsh. The island's slower pace comes partly by design: without hotels, boardwalks, or chain development, Pawleys Island never built the tourist infrastructure that defines much of the Grand Strand farther north.
Many island homes have stayed in the same families for three, four, or five generations, and that continuity shows up in the community's character as much as in its architecture.
Multi-generational ownership pattern confirmed via Post and Courier and OnlyPawleys.com historical profiles, 2026.
Just across the causeways on the mainland, these long-running local businesses anchor the area's dining and shopping.
Business addresses and hours confirmed via each business's official website, August 2026.
Brookgreen Gardens hours and admission per Brookgreen Gardens official site and MyrtleBeach.com, current as of 2026.
All four schools fall under the Georgetown County School District. Buyers should confirm current attendance zoning directly with the district before purchasing, since zone lines can be redrawn.
School names, addresses, and ratings sourced from Georgetown County School District (gcsd.k12.sc.us) and Niche.com, August 2026.
The broader Pawleys Island market carries a typical home value of $513,936, up 5.3 percent over the past year, according to Zillow's Home Value Index. Because the market spans everything from historic island cottages to gated mainland golf communities, comparable sales should reflect the specific setting: an oceanfront island cottage, a creekfront mainland home, and a golf-course villa can carry very different price points even at similar square footage.
Buyers researching specific communities should also review neighborhood-level pages like Willbrook Plantation and Litchfield by the Sea, or browse the full Pawleys Island homes for sale listing feed for current inventory across the whole market.
Home value and year-over-year change: Zillow Home Value Index, updated June 30, 2026.
Taylor Keenan, ABR, The Litchfield Company, a Christie's International Real Estate affiliate, Pawleys Island, SC. Taylor was named 2020 Rookie of the Year by The Litchfield Company and has built a multi-million dollar production record representing buyers and sellers across Pawleys Island, Litchfield Beach, Murrells Inlet, and Georgetown. Reach the Taylor Keenan Team at (843) 630-1166 or through the contact page.
Both terms apply, depending on context. The incorporated Town of Pawleys Island covers only the narrow barrier island, home to about 130 residents. "Pawleys Island" is also used more broadly to describe the surrounding mainland market area, which includes many separate neighborhoods and communities.
The incorporated island itself had about 130 year-round residents as of the 2020 Census. The broader mainland market area surrounding the island has a much larger population spread across its many neighborhoods.
Island property owners incorporated the town in 1985 specifically to pass ordinances banning most commercial development, after concerns arose that chain hotels might be built on vacant island land. The only exceptions are two grandfathered historic inns, the Pelican Inn (1858) and Sea View Inn (1937).
Pawleys Island's history as a summer retreat dates to the early 1700s, when rice planters began bringing their families to the shore to escape malaria-carrying mosquitoes inland, making it one of the oldest resort communities on the East Coast.
Pawleys Island is zoned for Georgetown County School District's Waccamaw schools: Waccamaw Elementary, Waccamaw Intermediate, Waccamaw Middle, and Waccamaw High School. Buyers should verify current zoning with the district before purchasing.
Taylor Keenan and the Taylor Keenan Team provide local market knowledge and personalized representation for buyers and sellers throughout Pawleys Island, Litchfield Beach, Murrells Inlet, and Georgetown.
Sources: 1. Town of Pawleys Island official site, townofpawleysisland.com. 2. South Carolina Encyclopedia, Pawleys Island entry. 3. U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census. 4. Wikipedia, Pawleys Island, South Carolina. 5. The Post and Courier, "Welcome to Pawleys Island," 2022. 6. OnlyPawleys.com, history of Pawleys Island. 7. Zillow Home Value Index, Pawleys Island SC, updated June 30, 2026. 8. Georgetown County School District, gcsd.k12.sc.us. 9. Niche.com school ratings, 2026. 10. Brookgreen Gardens official site and MyrtleBeach.com. 11. Frank's Restaurant and Bar, franksandoutback.com. 12. Hammock Shops Village, hammockshops.com. 13. Kudzu Bakery, kudzubakery.com. 14. The Litchfield Company, thelitchfieldcompany.com.
17,346 people live in Pawleys Island, where the median age is 60.1 and the average individual income is $53,814. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density
Average individual Income
There's plenty to do around Pawleys Island, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Kudzu Litchfield, ElJay Pretzels, and Litchfield Sub N Pub.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining · $$ | 3.29 miles | 59 reviews | 4.2/5 stars | |
| Dining | 3.32 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
| Dining | 3.32 miles | 5 reviews | 4/5 stars | |
| Active | 1.43 miles | 8 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 1.96 miles | 14 reviews | 3.9/5 stars | |
| Active | 2.35 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 2.78 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 2.96 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
| Active | 3.29 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 3.3 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 3.32 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 3.32 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 3.26 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 3.28 miles | 19 reviews | 4.7/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 3.3 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 3.3 miles | 6 reviews | 4.8/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 3.32 miles | 7 reviews | 4.3/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 3.32 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 3.32 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
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Pawleys Island has 7,662 households, with an average household size of 2.26. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Pawleys Island do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 17,346 people call Pawleys Island home. The population density is 281 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Median Age
Men vs Women
Population by Age Group
0-9 Years
10-17 Years
18-24 Years
25-64 Years
65-74 Years
75+ Years
Education Level
Total Households
Average Household Size
Average individual Income
Households with Children
With Children:
Without Children:
Blue vs White Collar Workers
Blue Collar:
White Collar:
14240 Ocean Hwy Pawleys Island SC 29585
14240 Ocean Hwy Pawleys Island SC 29585
