Tybee Island, GA Properties

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Tybee Island is a small barrier-island city at the eastern edge of Chatham County, Georgia, where the Savannah River meets the Atlantic Ocean about 18 miles from downtown Savannah. Its name comes from a Euchee word for salt, and its recorded history reaches back to 1736, when Georgia's founder James Oglethorpe ordered the construction of a day-mark to guide ships into the Savannah River. That structure evolved into the Tybee Island Light Station, now Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse, with the current tower first lit in 1867. The nearby Fort Screven complex guarded the coast from the late 1890s through World War II. Today Tybee is defined by its shoreline — roughly five miles of public beach spanning North Beach, Mid-Beach, South Beach, and the Back River — and by the mix of people it draws. A permanent population of about 3,100 swells dramatically with visitors, second-home owners, and vacationers through the warmer months. The island's median age runs high, reflecting its standing as a retirement and second-home destination, but its beaches, surf culture, and casual dining also pull in young families and day-trippers from Savannah. The built environment is distinctively coastal: raised cottages, condominiums, and elevated homes designed for life near the water, with a large share operating as short-term rentals. Students attend Savannah-Chatham County schools, with a maritime-academy charter and a Catholic K-8 school on the island itself. For those considering Tybee, the appeal is straightforward — a genuine, unpretentious beach town with a working lighthouse, a marine science center, and the cultural resources of Savannah just across the causeway.

Population 3,114

County Chatham

Active Listings 188

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Tybee Island in?

Tybee Island is a city in Chatham County, Georgia, on the state's Atlantic coast. It sits about 18 miles east of Savannah, at the mouth of the Savannah River. The island is part of the Savannah metropolitan area.

How far is Tybee Island from Savannah?

Tybee Island is about 18 miles east of downtown Savannah, roughly a 20-to-30-minute drive along US Highway 80 across the salt marshes. The route passes near Fort Pulaski and the Bonaventure Cemetery area before crossing onto the island.

What schools serve Tybee Island?

Tybee Island is served by the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. The Tybee Island Maritime Academy charter school and St. Michael's Catholic School (K-8) are located on the island, while older students attend Islands High School and other district campuses on nearby Wilmington and Whitemarsh islands.

What is Tybee Island known for?

Tybee Island is best known for its five miles of public beaches and the Tybee Island Light Station, Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse, first built in 1736. The island also features the historic Fort Screven, the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, and a fishing pier.

Is Tybee Island popular for vacation and second homes?

Tybee Island has a substantial vacation and second-home market. More than 900 homes, cottages, and condos are available for short-term rental, and the island's housing stock centers on vintage raised cottages, oceanfront condominiums, and private homes along the Back River.

City Guide

About Tybee Island

Real Estate & Housing

Tybee Island's housing stock is shaped by the coast and the vacation economy. The predominant style is the vintage coastal raised cottage, many dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s, built up on pilings to shed storm surge. These sit alongside oceanfront condominiums, mid-century bungalows, newer elevated single-family homes, and private houses along the calmer Back River. A large share of the island's dwellings double as short-term rentals — more than 900 homes, cottages, and condos are available to visitors — which means buyers often weigh full-time residency against income-producing second-home use. Elevated construction and proximity to beach access are the defining features of the market.

Neighborhoods

Tybee's districts are organized around its shorelines. North Beach, running from Highway 80 to the northern tip, holds many of the island's historic raised cottages, the lighthouse, and a cluster of shops and eateries. South Beach, anchored by the fishing pier and pavilion, is the busiest stretch for sunbathing and people-watching. Mid-Beach fills the quieter middle of the island's oceanfront, while the Back River side offers deeper-water frontage, marsh views, and a calmer, more private residential feel. Because the island is only a few miles long, the different beach districts remain minutes apart, and most of the community functions as one walkable, bikeable town.

Lifestyle in Tybee Island

Tybee Island moves to a relaxed, salt-air rhythm that blends a small full-time community with a steady flow of beachgoers. Residents bike or golf-cart around town, gather at casual seafood shacks and local taverns, and spend mornings on the sand or the fishing pier. The island's older median age reflects its appeal to retirees and second-home owners, while seasonal visitors and vacationers keep the commercial districts lively through the summer. Savannah, less than half an hour west, supplies fine dining, arts, and nightlife, so the island lifestyle pairs easy beach living with a historic city's culture close at hand.

Schools & Education

Tybee Island falls within the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. On the island, the Tybee Island Maritime Academy is a K-8 charter school with a coastal and maritime focus, and St. Michael's Catholic School serves grades K-8. For older students, the district's Islands High School, located on nearby Whitemarsh Island, covers the Georgia barrier islands including Tybee, while May Howard Elementary and Coastal Middle School serve the neighboring Wilmington and Whitemarsh communities. The short causeway drive means most secondary students commute to these mainland campuses, and additional private and parochial options are available in Savannah.

Getting Around

Tybee Island is reached primarily by US Highway 80, which runs east from Savannah across the salt marsh causeway and onto the island. The drive from Savannah's Historic District takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes over about 18 miles. For longer trips, Interstate 95 and Interstate 16 connect through the Savannah area, and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport provides commercial air service. On the island itself, residents and visitors move around by car, bicycle, and golf cart, with the compact layout making most destinations reachable in a few minutes. Rush-hour and summer-weekend traffic can lengthen the causeway trip during peak season.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation on Tybee Island centers on the ocean and the marsh. Five miles of public beach support swimming, surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and surf fishing, with the South Beach pier and pavilion serving as a social hub. The Tybee Island Marine Science Center offers coastal education programs and turtle and marine-life exhibits, while the Tybee Light Station and Fort Screven museum draw history-minded visitors. Anglers and boaters work the Back River and the surrounding creeks, and nearby Fort Pulaski National Monument adds trails and Civil War-era fortifications. Savannah's riverfront, Forsyth Park, and historic squares extend the recreation and culture options a short drive west.

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