Population 141,176 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Myrtle Beach
Household size in Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.44 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in Myrtle Beach run small, averaging 2.44 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has climbed from 2.33 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the west.
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 Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.0 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.5 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.5 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.9 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Myrtle Beach skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.6, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.0% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.9% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Myrtle Beach (9.9%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Myrtle Beach
Renters in Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.7% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.2% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.2% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.7 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Myrtle Beach rent their homes (25.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 39.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. The renter share is down 9.7 points from 2006–10, 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 Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.6% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 28.7% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 25.5% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.7% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −9.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Myrtle Beach: 17.7% of homes are empty, 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 9.9 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1993 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1995 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1997 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2002 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Myrtle Beach 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 1993 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the east has the oldest housing.
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 Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $930 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $944 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,101 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,494 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$563 | +$514 | +$606 |
The median renter in Myrtle Beach pays $1,494 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in South Carolina as a whole ($1,294). Rent has climbed $563 a month since 2006–10, up 61%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 33.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Myrtle Beach
Bachelor's degrees in Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.3% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.9% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.9% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.9% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Myrtle Beach (33.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the center.
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 Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.4% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.5% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.2% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Myrtle Beach is above the national rate: 94.2% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.8 points, in line with the national trend. Myrtle Beach has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five South Carolina cities.
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 Myrtle Beach
| Period | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Myrtle Beach than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Myrtle Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | 2.44 | 46.5 | 9.9% | 25.0% | 17.7% | 2002 | $1,494 | 33.9% | 94.2% | 4.4% |
| Socastee | 2.60 | 43.5 | 9.9% | 33.6% | 9.9% | 1995 | $1,247 | 22.7% | 91.4% | 3.7% |
| Surfside Beach | 2.21 | 51.2 | 11.2% | 32.1% | 42.8% | 1985 | $1,324 | 35.3% | 94.1% | 6.8% |
| Ocean Forest | 2.60 | 49.1 | 2.9% | 1.8% | 19.2% | 2012 | $1,703 | 57.6% | 99.3% | 0.3% |
| Red Hill | 2.71 | 36.6 | 15.9% | 26.6% | 9.4% | 1995 | $1,166 | 20.1% | 87.0% | 10.0% |
| Bucksville | 2.52 | 52.3 | 6.4% | 7.3% | 18.8% | 1989 | $1,652 | 26.5% | 93.2% | 13.8% |
| Nixonville | 2.55 | 46.1 | 7.4% | 27.1% | 7.4% | 2010 | $1,630 | 26.7% | 93.3% | 3.8% |
| Conway | 2.59 | 44.4 | 13.2% | 23.4% | 8.9% | 1998 | $1,127 | 17.7% | 88.1% | 4.4% |
| Briarcliffe Acres | 1.96 | 65.8 | 0.6% | 10.6% | 79.7% | 1993 | $1,384 | 40.6% | 96.1% | 3.3% |
| Homewood | 2.44 | 46.8 | 7.3% | 15.1% | 3.6% | 2004 | $1,327 | 10.2% | 87.4% | 5.1% |
| Shell | 2.68 | 45.8 | 10.6% | 10.1% | 9.2% | 1998 | $884 | 14.6% | 84.1% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Worcester, MA · Yakima, WA · Winston-Salem, NC · Youngstown, OH · Woodbury, MN · Williamsburg, VA · Ypsilanti, MI · Yuba City, CA · Wilmington, NC · Winter Haven, FL
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 Myrtle Beach. 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.
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