The Town FilesSurfside Beach, South Carolina
Town in Horry County · population 4,155 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $450,100
- Household income
- $70,106
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 88°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 55.5
Surfside Beach is a town of 4,155 people in Horry County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $450,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of South Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of South Carolina towns, more seaside character than 97% of South Carolina towns.
How Surfside 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 Surfside Beach is worth $450,100, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $70,106, which is more affordable than 6% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,274 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Surfside Beach | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $450,100 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,274 | $937 |
| Median household income | $70,106 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 37.8% | — |
Who lives in Surfside Beach
| People | Surfside Beach | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.5 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 12.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Surfside Beach
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 36.8°F. About 55.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 32 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Surfside Beach since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 13, 2020 about 6.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 17, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 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 Surfside Beach itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Towns near Surfside Beach
- Garden City, SC2.1 mi · 10,235 people · home $217,400
- Socastee, SC5.7 mi · 22,213 people · home $234,200
- Murrells Inlet, SC5.8 mi · 9,740 people · home $366,000
- Forestbrook, SC7.9 mi · 6,656 people · home $335,800
- Myrtle Beach, SC8.7 mi · 35,682 people · home $388,800
- Carolina Forest, SC11.4 mi · 23,342 people · home $336,800
- Red Hill, SC11.8 mi · 15,906 people · home $249,500
- Litchfield Beach, SC12.2 mi · 8,370 people · home $459,000
Surfside Beach questions
Is Surfside Beach, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Surfside Beach scores better for retirees than 94% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 17%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.5).
How much does a house cost in Surfside Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Surfside Beach is valued at $450,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,106, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,274 a month.
What is the weather like in Surfside Beach?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 36.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.3 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Surfside Beach get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Surfside Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 13, 2020. 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)