Wanting to retire in Myrtle Beach area? Here are the top-ranking spots to go
Thousands of people move to Horry County each year – many of those are retirees or soon-to-be retired who are looking for a reasonably-priced locale along the Grand Strand.
And while there are plenty of places to relocate, four communities have been named among the nation’s top 50 most livable retirement towns, according to a study by GOBankingRates.
The rankings were based on U.S. Census data for cities with populations of at least 10,000 and population percentages of at least 33% for ages 65 and older, as well as the median household income in each location.
Murrells Inlet and Garden City, both with 65 and older populations of more than 37%, ranked No. 20 and 21 on the list. North Myrtle Beach ranked No. 43 and Little River ranked No. 49 on the list. Both places’ older population is 38% and 43% respectively.
Murrells Inlet is recorded as having a median household income of $75,438 and Garden City has a median household income of $50,027, according to the study. North Myrtle Beach’s median household income is $72,111 and Little River’s is $64,590.
Out of the more than 428,000 people living in Horry County, about 114,000 were age 65 and older in 2024, the latest figures offered by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The county’s older population is higher than both South Carolina and the U.S. national average, the Census reported. The figures highlight the growing retirement population in the county, which is the fourth-largest county in the state.
