24 y/o male moving to Hilton Head, what should I expect? (Beaufort: 2013, rent) - City-Data Forum

A4RTR · 02-19-2012, 01:04 AM

Here's my story.

I've been traveling to Hilton Head with my family since I was a child. All of my extended family lives on the island (most of which I don't talk to) and my parents will be retiring in the summer of 2013 and will relocate to the area. They built a new home that currently sits unoccupied, and I'm considering moving in for the next year, in order to save up some money.

I graduated from college last May, and moved to Atlanta with my now ex-girlfriend. I have had a hard time finding entry level work in my career field (urban planning), and I figured it might be a good time for some change.

I'm a bit worried about whether I will be able to find a job in my field, considering Hilton Head is mostly a retail/service industry/hospitality town. I'd like to find a professional job, but I did bar tend in college, so I always have that to fall back on I suppose.

My biggest concern is how culturally stagnate Hilton Head is. I'm not sure what to expect in terms of meeting others who are my same age, who live on the island. I enjoy diversity and culture, which seem to be severely lacking in the area. But at the same time, I lived in a small college town for 6 years, so the big city attractions aren't totally necessary for me to be happy and content.

Anybody have any thoughts? Currently, how does the professional job market look like in the area? Are the many mid-20's residents on the island? Any tips or advice?

Thanks!

Mutiny77 · 02-19-2012, 08:28 AM

Prepare to primarily be surrounding by rich old White people and little else.

A4RTR · 02-19-2012, 02:15 PM

I am prepared for this. I'm quite certain I will be the youngest person in my neighborhood by a pretty decent margin. I'm just hoping to find a small collection of down to earth people in their mid-20s, do they exist? Dock trash and guys that drive fixed up Hondas and scions are not my crowd. My fear is this is what most people who are in their 20's are like around here. Someone please tell me I'm wrong...

WanderingImport · 02-19-2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A4RTR

I am prepared for this. I'm quite certain I will be the youngest person in my neighborhood by a pretty decent margin. I'm just hoping to find a small collection of down to earth people in their mid-20s, do they exist? Dock trash and guys that drive fixed up Hondas and scions are not my crowd. My fear is this is what most people who are in their 20's are like around here. Someone please tell me I'm wrong...

I have a friend that lives in Bluffton and unfortunately he is in the category you mentioned. I haven't really seen much different in my visits there myself. One alternative in the area is Savannah. You can rent in Hilton Head while perhaps spreading your resume across the border to Savannah. I'm not sure if anyone is hiring for your career there, but it is certainly worth a try. (Savannah AND HHI/Bluffton DEFINITELY could use more young urban planners like yourself!)

innovator82 · 02-20-2012, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A4RTR

Dock trash and guys that drive fixed up Hondas and scions are not my crowd. My fear is this is what most people who are in their 20's are like around here. Someone please tell me I'm wrong...

Well I will tell you that you are probably wrong - at least it is not what I would think of when thinking about the 20's crowd on HHI. Even though it is known for tourists and retirees, there is a "young professional" community there. I can think of at least three acquintances I have known who graduated college and relocated to HHI from other parts of SC because they wanted that type of environment. One guy is a financial planner, one a dentist, and a girl I knew became a teacher. On the HHI-Bluffton Chamber website calendar it shows a Chamber Young Professionals group that is having a social at a wine bar at the end of the month. There is also a Lowcountry Young Professionals thru the Beaufort chamber - there Facebook page looks old, but they are still listed on the chamber website. I would start with these types of groups.
http://www.hiltonheadisland.org/chamber-of-commerce/
https://events.r20.constantcontact.c...p4f1ee806&oseq=
http://www.beaufortchamber.org/pages...Professionals/

Honestly the folks I know in our age group who are living in HHI or Beaufort are much more of the young professional type. Dock trash and car clubs are not what comes to mind when I think of the 20-something set on HHI. Maybe there is hope for you if you do move there!

jd359604 · 08-18-2012, 06:16 PM

I am in the exact same situation. I'm and looking for a professional job but falling back on retail in the meantime. My parents are also moving soon and I want to be near them but hope there will be other younger people. I plan on going to some of the young professionals meetings that someone mentioned above both for a job and to meet other people to socialize with. Don't worry there will be others of us down there. We just have to go for it!

tj28 · 01-04-2013, 06:17 AM

Although you will see a lot of white, older wealthy people there is more diversity amongst the locals. My mom lives there and has friends of all ages from many countries. Some of them moved there as entrepreneurs to open businesses. A mixed cultural does exist, it's just smaller than in other cities and may take time to get to know the locals.