55+ Communities Hilton Head Market or Charleston & Summerville SC?

Choosing a 55+ Community in South Carolina: Two Regions Compared

If you’re exploring retirement relocation to South Carolina, which many do, two of the most frequently considered options for 55+ communities of SC  (active-adult) living are:

• The (Bluffton / Okatie area) via Sun City “Hilton Head” (Del Webb)
• The Summerville / Charleston area via Del Webb (Nexton, Cane Bay) and Four Seasons (Cane Bay)

These have become focal points of retirees because they offer: warm weather, coastal lifestyle, access to amenities suitable for the 55+ demographic, and newer home-communities aimed at retirees. But as with any move, the devil is in the details. So, being an active adult communities expert in SC I help sellers and buyers with which communities offer what and why all year long and want to be of assistance to those considering our lovely state of SC. Many of my buyer clients are leaving the cold weather behind and choosing South Carolina as their retirement destination, oftentimes without being “married” to one particular town or area. Generically speaking if you want more seasons, with some cooler temps in the winter, and maybe a few flurries of snow then Del Webb in Greenville would be your choice or one of the other 55+ neighborhoods in the upstate. There are a couple of Del Webb communities in Myrtle Beach as well, but for purposes of this article this is comparing the one in the Hilton Head market and Charleston, which are the two most popular where most of my clients are looking and comparing. My buyers will usually visit one, then take a drive to the other communities in a weekend so they can get an idea of the feel.

Sun City “Hilton Head” Del Webb in Bluffton

Overview & lifestyle

• Sun City Hilton Head (in the Bluffton / Okatie area) is a very large active-adult community developed by Del Webb, and the oldest still offering new construction options to buyers who want to build from the ground up. I am happy to help you navigate the new construction process, as I do not suggest going directly through the builder’s reps onsite without representation.
• Note: Although the marketing uses “Hilton Head” in the name, the location is not on Hilton Head Island itself. The community is in Bluffton / Okatie, Beaufort/Jasper counties.
• Three 18-hole golf courses, 6 swimming pools (indoor + outdoor), dog parks, bocce, tennis/pickleball courts, etc. All the same amenities as the other 55+ communities have, the only difference being Sun City has golf.

Summerville SC Del Webb Nexton, Cane Bay

Overview & lifestyle

• The Summerville, SC region is part of the greater Charleston SC metropolitan area, which brings the benefits of proximity to the city, a major airport, and premium healthcare institutions. The three favorite 55+ communities in market (the two Del Webbs & Four Seasons) are in close proximity to Trident Medical Center and Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital. With the best hospital in SC (MUSC) having many satellite branches throughout the region, and the main hospital in Charleston SC. There is a new Del Webb coming to the Daniel Island/Mt Pleasant side of Charleston in 2026 called Point Hope.

• The area offers multiple 55+ or active adult options:
  • Del Webb at Cane Bay – laid-out community in Summerville (built 2007–2017, resale homes)
  • Del Webb Charleston at Nexton – newer community in the master-planned Nexton development; offers modern amenities and still offering new construction contract build options.
  • Four Seasons at The Lakes of Cane Bay – a 55+ community by K. Hovnanian in the Lakes of Cane Bay section, offering the same type and quality of amenities as the Del Webb communities of SC. Also offering remaining new construction options. Amenities in these communities include: indoor & outdoor resort-style pools, pickleball/tennis courts, walking/biking trails, clubhouse with social spaces, lakes for fishing/kayaking (especially Four Seasons).
• The region’s draw includes easy access to major hospital systems, proximity to Charleston International Airport, and a more “urban-adjacent” setting compared to a purely resort/golf-cart vibe.
• If you find yourself needing the best healthcare and you live in the Hilton Head market, you will be sent to MUSC because the Bluffton Hilton Head area just does not have a good quality hospital system, and the level of expert care. The best cardiology program and the only transplant hospital in South Carolina is at MUSC, along with many other of the modalities.

Direct Comparisons: Region by Region

Here’s a comparative breakdown of key factors:

Questions to consider

1. How important is golf to you?
   • If you plan to play golf frequently and want on-site golf courses, the Sun City community likely wins. That’s really the only thing that makes it different.
   • If you play occasionally, more casually, or not at all, you may not want care for a golf-centric community. If you’re an occasional golfer, the Charleston SC golf communities are everywhere, most of which are open to the public so there are many options. So you have plenty of golf to choose from in the Charleston market, it just wouldn’t be in your neighborhood.
2. How critical is the proximity to major healthcare / specialist care?
   • If you anticipate needing more advanced medical care (or want to plan ahead for that reality), being near a major hospital/academic medical center, as in the Charleston SC region, is without question the winner.
   • If you are very healthy and comfortable with local/regional care only, the more remote location may be fine.
3. How often do you travel or need airport access?
   • Frequent flyers will appreciate a shorter drive to a major airport and easier logistics. If you plan to travel often I’d consider one of the Summerville SC 55+ communities, and even more so if you don’t play golf.
   • If you travel seldom (or are more home-base focused), the more remote location may not matter as much.
4. What kind of home/age/price are you looking for?
   • Are you looking specifically for brand-new, customizable homes or want to buy resale and possibly capture value?
   • How much are you comfortable spending on HOA/maintenance/golf-fees etc? The HOA dues are all around $300 per month regardless of which community you choose.
5. What kind of culture / community feel do you prefer?
   • Do you prefer a community that is large, mature, and fully built out? You’ll have more mature trees, maybe more established social clubs etc. However, Del Webb Hilton Head has more stringent rules which can be annoying because the association issues fines which can be restrictive and seem unnecessary.
6. How important is being near a city/suburb?
   • If you want to walk to the beach, island restaurants, coastal lifestyle every day, you’ll want to check actual commute to the beach. Both choices will require a 45 mins drive to a beach so no real winner there.
   • If you’ll accept a more inland but still coastal vibe and want city amenities nearby, Summerville gives that because downtown Charleston SC is only 3o mins drive, and Summerville offers closer options for great dining and activities, whereas living in Del Webb Sun City would require you having to drive into Hilton Head and traffic every time you want to “venture out” for something to do.

My summary guidance

If golf is your highest priority, and you are healthy and comfortable with somewhat greater distance from major hospitals/airport, go with Sun City Hilton Head. If quality healthcare access, and airport/travel convenience are your highest priorities (and golf is less dominant), the Summerville/Charleston area is the more pragmatic choice. Choosing between these two regions (Sun City Hilton Head vs Summerville/Charleston) really comes down to which trade-offs you’re comfortable making. There’s no wrong answer—both regions offer excellent amenities for active adult retirement. But by clarifying what matters most to you (golf vs healthcare access, resort vs city convenience, home age vs cost), you’ll be able to narrow significantly.

If you want better dining and entertainment options close to you, then one of the Summerville, or Mt Pleasant 55+ communities should be your choice, as the Hilton Head area does not even come close to the 5 star dining variety the Charleston area has in abundance.

In many cases, I’d lean toward recommending the Summerville area for retirees who are thinking about aging-in-place and want convenience combined with lifestyle, unless the golf-focus is overriding.

To put it frankly, the ONLY reason to choose Del Webb Sun City in Bluffton is for golf, period. That’s it, (because it’s not in Hilton Head). What I find with my clients is the reason people choose Hilton Head is because they are more familiar with the name, they oftentimes have been visiting Hilton Head Island since they were kids, and have fond memories, and thus they have a warm feeling towards it. Hilton Head is definitely more famous than is Summerville SC, but when you think about it Del Webb Sun City is NOT in Hilton Head it is 40 mins drive west, and that’s if the traffic isn’t bad. Which is the same concept as Summerville, which is 40 mins north of downtown Charleston SC.