MCRD is close to three local communities, Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Bluffton. Beaufort is the closest city to the Parris Island, with about 13,000 people; Hilton Head has about 38,000 (with a summer population of up to 275,000), Bluffton also about 13,000, and Port Royal, about 10,000. Other nearby small communities include Burton and Laurel Bay, all in Beaufort County, which has a population of about 162,000 people.

It is about 10 miles from Beaufort to Parris Island; this takes about 19 minutes to commute; Hilton Head is about 33 miles and 45 minutes away; Bluffton is about 28 miles and 42 minutes away. Many Marine families live in Laurel Bay, about 13 miles and 24 minutes away.

Local Housing Rental Prices: The average apartment rent in the Beaufort County area ranges from $700 to $1200 per month, with a median of about $900 per month.

Local Housing Purchase Prices: The average price for a house in Beaufort County is about $380,000, compared to $218,000 for South Carolina.

Short Description of the Area: Beaufort County is in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, near the Atlantic Coast and near sea level. This is one of the longest settled areas of the original Thirteen Colonies, dating back to the early 1700s, and was one of the early Patriot sites of the American Revolution. The area is generally flat, with islands, wetland, and estuary waters. Tourism and natural scenic beauty increases the summer population considerably. The local permanent resident population includes a mix of people descended from British, Spanish, French, African, and Native groups; one of the more famous local cultures are the Gullah descendants of African and Native people.

Climate and Weather: The area has a warm, humid climate. Winter are mild, with temperatures ranging from the low 60s to high 30s; summers are warm and humid, with temperatures in the low 90s to low 70s. The area is generally humid, especially in summer, but this is moderated to an extent by being on the sea coast. Ocean storms do come ashore from time to time, including major Atlantic tropical depressions and, occasionally, hurricanes.