The Town FilesMyrtle Beach, South Carolina
City in Horry County · population 35,682 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $388,800
- Household income
- $60,394
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 87°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 47.3
Myrtle Beach is a city of 35,682 people in Horry County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $388,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of South Carolina towns, more seaside character than 93% of South Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of South Carolina towns.
How Myrtle Beach ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Myrtle Beach is worth $388,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $60,394, which is more affordable than 6% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,261 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Myrtle Beach | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $388,800 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,261 | $937 |
| Median household income | $60,394 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.3% | — |
Who lives in Myrtle Beach
| People | Myrtle Beach | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.8% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in Myrtle Beach
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 53.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Myrtle Beach since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 6, 2001 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 17, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 70 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 20, 2018.
Severe weather in Horry County since 1996
Horry County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 7, 2025 | Fire | FM-5554: Covington Drive Fire |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Horry County
Horry County had 144,489 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,046 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Myrtle Beach itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Myrtle Beach
28 public schools with 24,580 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Forest High | 9-12 | 3,181 | 19.5 |
| Socastee High | 9-12 | 1,712 | 17.6 |
| Myrtle Beach High | 9-12 | 1,595 | 17.9 |
| River Oaks Elementary | PK-5 | 1,415 | 16.5 |
| Carolina Forest Elementary | PK-5 | 1,306 | 16.3 |
| Ten Oaks Middle | 6-8 | 1,270 | 16.7 |
| Myrtle Beach Middle | 6-8 | 1,132 | 16.9 |
| Ocean Bay Elementary | PK-5 | 1,109 | 17.1 |
| Myrtle Beach Elementary | 3-5 | 1,038 | 15.5 |
| St. James Middle | 6-8 | 907 | 16.2 |
| St. James Elementary | PK-4 | 901 | 16.1 |
| Lakewood Elementary | PK-5 | 883 | 14.7 |
Towns near Myrtle Beach
- Carolina Forest, SC4.2 mi · 23,342 people · home $336,800
- Forestbrook, SC4.8 mi · 6,656 people · home $335,800
- Socastee, SC7.2 mi · 22,213 people · home $234,200
- Surfside Beach, SC8.7 mi · 4,155 people · home $450,100
- Red Hill, SC8.8 mi · 15,906 people · home $249,500
- Garden City, SC10.7 mi · 10,235 people · home $217,400
- Conway, SC12.7 mi · 24,849 people · home $260,900
- North Myrtle Beach, SC12.9 mi · 18,790 people · home $416,900
Myrtle Beach questions
Is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Myrtle Beach scores better for retirees than 57% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 30%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in Myrtle Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Myrtle Beach is valued at $388,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,394, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,261 a month.
What is the weather like in Myrtle Beach?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Myrtle Beach get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Myrtle Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 6, 2001. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)