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Living in
North Myrtle Beach.
About
Life in North Myrtle Beach
This is fundamentally a retirement and second-home community along South Carolina's coast, which shapes everything about daily life here. The median age sits at 62.5 years, and nearly 44% of residents are 65 or older, so the rhythm of the town reflects that reality—you'll notice quieter weekdays, earlier dinner hours, and a generally slower pace than you might find inland. Housing costs have climbed significantly with the region's popularity—median home values around $416,900 and median rent near $1,263 a month—so it's not the bargain it once was, though it's still reasonable for coastal property.
North Myrtle Beach at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
61.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Foreign-Born
5.3%
Broadband Internet
93.7%
of households
Population Growth
+13.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in North Myrtle Beach: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Myrtle Beach, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (20.5%), and 3.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
10.8%
of residents
65 and Older
41.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
10.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.0%
of households
Married Couples
52.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.99
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 7% above SC average
Rent, home values, and income in North Myrtle Beach
In North Myrtle Beach, rent runs 7% above the SC average, and home values are 61% above the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,453
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
63.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $394,416 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above SC average
Unemployment in North Myrtle Beach
Unemployment in Horry County, which includes North Myrtle Beach, is 0.7 percentage points higher than the SC average.
Unemployment rate
North Myrtle Beach: Horry County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Horry County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What North Myrtle Beach Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22 min avg
How North Myrtle Beach residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Myrtle Beach, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
Small hub1.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 101 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 7% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in North Myrtle Beach runs 7% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
305.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,860.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
North Myrtle Beach Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Horry County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Horry County, which includes North Myrtle Beach, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $16,000 |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $57,000 |
| 2023 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.2M |
| 2022 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $83,000 |
| 2021 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,500 |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $435,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $731,000 |
| 2018 | 22 | Rip Current | $226,250 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Horry County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Horry County, which includes North Myrtle Beach, 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
Horry County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Myrtle Beach has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.5"
Hot Days/Year
21
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
34
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
122
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 37°F | 3.01" |
| Feb | 58°F | 40°F | 3.18" |
| Mar | 65°F | 45°F | 3.59" |
| Apr | 72°F | 53°F | 2.77" |
| May | 79°F | 62°F | 2.96" |
| Jun | 85°F | 70°F | 4.07" |
| Jul | 88°F | 74°F | 5.40" |
| Aug | 87°F | 73°F | 6.25" |
| Sep | 83°F | 68°F | 6.65" |
| Oct | 76°F | 56°F | 4.20" |
| Nov | 66°F | 46°F | 3.29" |
| Dec | 59°F | 40°F | 3.10" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Myrtle Beach
Uninsured
8.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Myrtle Beach's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Myrtle Beach
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.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 39.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near North Myrtle Beach (within 15 miles)
Galen Health Institutes-Myrtle Beach
8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 743 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Moores Creek National Battlefield, 56 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Moores Creek National Battlefield (56 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Moores Creek National Battlefield
National Battlefield
56 mi awayCharles Pinckney National Historic Site
National Historic Site
93 mi awayFort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach Library
910 1st Ave South, North Myrtle Beach
Cities Near North Myrtle Beach
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Myrtle Beach?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Myrtle Beach FAQ
Is North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina affordable?⌄
North Myrtle Beach's median rent is $1,263/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $72,722/year. Median home value is $416,900.
Is North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina safe?⌄
North Myrtle Beach's violent crime rate was 305 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3860 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?⌄
Horry County, which includes North Myrtle Beach, has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in North Myrtle Beach is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,263/month and median household income is $72,722/year. The median home value is $416,900. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in North Myrtle Beach is 22 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