Neighborhood guide

Sullivan's Island

Live oaks, screened porches and Station numbers. A small barrier island with no chain stores, deep shade and houses built for long summers.

  • $3.3MSample median sale
  • 58Sample days on market
Sullivan's Island, Charleston

The shape of the place

Sullivan's Island is three and a half miles of barrier island across the harbor from downtown, reached by the Ben Sawyer bridge. The island has no traffic lights, no chain stores and a strict building code, which is exactly why people move here.

Addresses are organised by Station numbers, a holdover from the old trolley stops, and locals still give directions that way. Beach access paths run between the houses at most stations.

What you will find for sale

  • Raised island houses, most built or rebuilt since 1990
  • A protected group of pre-1950 cottages, many with additions
  • Lot sizes from a quarter acre to over an acre on the Creek side
  • Very few rentals, and short term letting is tightly restricted

The honest balance

Every area trades something. These are the trades in Sullivan's Island.

Suits you if

  • Households who want the beach daily
  • Multi generation summer houses
  • Buyers comfortable with island logistics

Worth checking

  • Insurance and wind mitigation costs
  • Bridge traffic on summer weekends
  • Strict short term rental rules

Walk to

  • Station beach paths
  • Middle Street restaurants
  • The lighthouse end
  • Fort Moultrie

Listings in Sullivan's Island

View signature homes
  • The Middle Street Cottage, 2210 Middle StreetUnder contract

    The Middle Street Cottage

    2210 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island

    $3,450,000

    • 5 bed
    • 4 bath
    • 3,980 sq ft

    An island house built for a crowd, with an outdoor shower, a wide screened porch and deep shade.

Other guides

All six guides

Thinking about Sullivan's Island?

We will walk the block with you, price the insurance and tell you which streets we would avoid.

Sample figures shown across this site. 4.9 average from 187 closed clients.

Charming Southern porch with American flag and rocking chairs, hidden behind lush palm trees.

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