Myrtle Beach named America’s fastest growing city in 2022

South Carolina’s most popular tourist attraction is also America’s fastest growing city for the second year in a row, according to a new national ranking.

U.S. News and World Report put Myrtle Beach at the top of its 2022 list, which analyzes Census and FBI data along with metrics including quality of education, access to healthcare and user surveys to rank desirability.

In addition to being named the magazine’s fast-growing city, Myrtle Beach also pulled down honors as the best place to live in the state and 25th best area for retirees nationally.

“Although it’s better known to outsiders as a vacation hot spot for beachgoers and golfers, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is also an attractive place to live for a number of reasons,” the magazine said. “Young professionals, growing families and empty nesters who are drawn to the area’s mild weather and beaches set down roots here and enjoy the area’s relatively low cost of living.”

Southern cites in Florida and North Carolina dominate the list of 25 fastest growing places, but Spartanburg and Charleston are also mentioned.

As of July 1, Myrtle Beach had just over 37,000 residents — almost 38 percent higher than 2010 estimates of 27,122.

Despite a pandemic that down much of the nation’s economy for two years and cut into household incomes, demand for Myrtle Beach’s beachfront accommodations haven’t slowed.

In March, Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce CEO Karen Riordan said visitor spending in 2021 more than doubles from 2020, to $1.9 billion, while lodging recovery rates leapt by 38 percent.

JLL, a Chicago-based real estate firm that tracks the hospitality industry, said tourism-heavy areas can expect to see continued growth in 2022, which ripples across all sectors of their economies.

“Consumers’ insatiable appetite for experiences, travel and hospitality will fuel high levels of demand as international borders fully reopen and business travel’s recovery accelerates,” the firm said in a sector outlook. “Coupled with a relatively muted supply pipeline, this will enable the lodging industry to recover earlier than anticipated, making for greater investment opportunities in the sector. “

This story was originally published May 29, 2022 at 5:00 AM.