What it's like to live in North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach is a small city in South Carolina with rent below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. North Myrtle Beach deals with home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How North Myrtle Beach compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Myrtle Beach
Based on North Myrtle Beach's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,526
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,520 a year
- 60% of North Myrtle Beach renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$83,380
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,690
- Homes cost 5.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 11% below US
$1,263/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,263 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $416,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $416,900 · 60% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.2% county unemployment
Unemployment in Horry County is 5.2%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Horry County (county-wide)
SafetyNear US average
305 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 3860/100k · North Myrtle Beach Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 11% above US
40% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 40% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
1 public school inside the boundary
There is 1 public school inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Moores Creek National Battlefield (56 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
North Myrtle Beach's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,263/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home).
See all the data for North Myrtle Beach →·All South Carolina cities →
Other places near North Myrtle Beach
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