Population 25,575 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Little River: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Little River
Household size in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.02 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.15 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.26 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Little River are small: just 2.27 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.02, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.5 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 52.0 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 56.2 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.6 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.0 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 56.6, Little River is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 49.5, mirroring the country. Only eight of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.4% of households in Little River, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 3.3 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Little River has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of South Carolina cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Little River
Renters in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.3% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.1% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.9 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.4% of households in Little River rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 46.2% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the east and least common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 7.9 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.0% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.3% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.7% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 24.7% of the housing in Little River, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.3 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1995 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1996 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1996 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2002 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Little River is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2002, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1995 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the center. Of the 172 South Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $823 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $841 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $912 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,425 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$601 | +$514 | +$606 |
Rent in Little River runs $1,425 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in South Carolina overall ($1,294). Rent has climbed $601 a month since 2006–10, up 73%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Little River
Bachelor's degrees in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.0% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.2% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.4% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Little River: 25.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.7% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.4% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.0% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Little River is above the national rate: 93.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Little River
| Period | Little River | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.0% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Little River than nationally: unemployment was 4.0%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Little River compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little River | 2.27 | 56.6 | 7.4% | 17.4% | 24.7% | 2002 | $1,425 | 25.4% | 93.0% | 4.0% |
| Calabash | 1.96 | 64.2 | 4.7% | 14.3% | 19.5% | 2002 | $1,436 | 33.9% | 96.2% | 5.0% |
| Carolina Shores | 1.98 | 64.2 | 3.2% | 7.6% | 15.5% | 2001 | $1,483 | 27.3% | 95.3% | 4.8% |
| North Myrtle Beach | 2.16 | 58.2 | 3.6% | 19.7% | 48.3% | 1997 | $1,321 | 38.0% | 94.7% | 2.9% |
| Longs | 2.34 | 49.8 | 13.1% | 19.4% | 13.9% | 2006 | $1,553 | 21.2% | 90.5% | 3.9% |
| Atlantic Beach | 1.87 | 60.9 | 7.1% | 32.3% | 66.8% | 1986 | $1,163 | 25.7% | 90.3% | 3.1% |
| Wampee | 2.50 | 48.3 | 12.4% | 8.1% | 20.1% | 2002 | $1,514 | 25.3% | 83.5% | 6.3% |
| Olyphic | 2.30 | 45.0 | 6.1% | 30.7% | 10.3% | 1991 | $1,247 | 10.2% | 91.5% | 1.7% |
| Briarcliffe Acres | 1.96 | 65.8 | 0.6% | 10.6% | 79.7% | 1993 | $1,384 | 40.6% | 96.1% | 3.3% |
| Sunset Beach | 1.98 | 64.6 | 3.8% | 12.2% | 43.6% | 2001 | $950 | 37.9% | 96.7% | 2.4% |
| Ocean Isle Beach | 2.32 | 60.3 | 3.1% | 11.3% | 34.4% | 2000 | $1,075 | 44.2% | 95.5% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Matteson, IL · Kilgore, TX · King George, VA · Kingsland, GA · Laguna Beach, CA · Lakeside, VA · Latham, NY · Latrobe, PA · Laurinburg, NC · Lebanon, MO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Little River. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.