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Living in
Murrells Inlet.
Murrells Inlet is an unincorporated community in Georgetown County, SC. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Murrells Inlet
Murrells Inlet is a community of 10,087 people in South Carolina. The median household income is $77,438, median rent runs about $1,751 per month, and median home values are around $366,000. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.
Murrells Inlet at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
60.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Foreign-Born
4.5%
Broadband Internet
95.9%
of households
Population Growth
+10.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.5% foreign-born, most often from Cuba
Who lives in Murrells Inlet: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Murrells Inlet, the largest foreign-born group is from Cuba (36.1%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
11.4%
of residents
65 and Older
38.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
14.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.0%
of households
Married Couples
61.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 48% above SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Murrells Inlet
In Murrells Inlet, rent runs 48% above the SC average, and home values are 41% above the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
77.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,376
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
86.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Vacant Homes
20.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $400,069 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above SC average
Unemployment in Murrells Inlet
Unemployment in Georgetown County, which includes Murrells Inlet, is 1 percentage points higher than the SC average.
Unemployment rate
Murrells Inlet: Georgetown County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Georgetown County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Murrells Inlet Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.6 min avg
How Murrells Inlet residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Murrells Inlet, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
Small hub1.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 73 mi
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Medium hub3.1M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, which covers Murrells Inlet, runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
257.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
985
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Georgetown County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Georgetown County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Georgetown County, which includes Murrells Inlet, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $32,500 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $164,000 |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 5 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 2 | Tropical Storm | None reported |
| 2020 | 5 | Tornado | $305,000 |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,000 |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Georgetown County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Horry County, SC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 25 miles from Murrells Inlet) is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
54
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Horry County, SC (25 mi away)
Climate87°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Murrells Inlet has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
53.8"
Hot Days/Year
39
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
32
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
103
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 37°F | 3.69" |
| Feb | 59°F | 39°F | 3.42" |
| Mar | 66°F | 44°F | 4.05" |
| Apr | 74°F | 52°F | 3.51" |
| May | 80°F | 61°F | 3.78" |
| Jun | 86°F | 68°F | 4.94" |
| Jul | 88°F | 72°F | 6.01" |
| Aug | 87°F | 71°F | 6.14" |
| Sep | 83°F | 66°F | 7.05" |
| Oct | 76°F | 56°F | 5.09" |
| Nov | 66°F | 45°F | 3.03" |
| Dec | 59°F | 39°F | 4.61" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Murrells Inlet
Murrells Inlet has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education42.1% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in Murrells Inlet
Public Schools
0
none inside city limits; students attend nearby district schools
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, 66 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Murrells Inlet
Murrells Inlet has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Charles Pinckney National Historic Site (66 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
66 mi awayFort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
73 mi awayMoores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
82 mi awayCongaree National Park
National Park
99 mi awayCities Near Murrells Inlet
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Murrells Inlet?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Murrells Inlet FAQ
Is Murrells Inlet, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Murrells Inlet's median rent is $1,751/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $77,438/year. Median home value is $366,000.
Is Murrells Inlet, South Carolina safe?⌄
Murrells Inlet is policed by the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 258 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 985 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina?⌄
Georgetown County, which includes Murrells Inlet, has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Murrells Inlet is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,751/month and median household income is $77,438/year. The median home value is $366,000. About 78% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Murrells Inlet is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from