What to Know When Moving to Myrtle Beach

what to know when moving to myrtle beach

The population boom Myrtle Beach has seen over the last 10 years is not slowing down. For the 3rd year in a row we’re atop the list of US News & World Report’s Fastest Growing Places. What does that actually mean and look like? Let’s dig into what to know when moving to Myrtle Beach.

Thank you to The Cottages at Myrtle Beach for presenting this content. The Cottages is one of the Grand Strand's newest and most desired new cottage-style communities. What makes The Cottages unique is their combo of location, amenities, and beauty plus quality craftsmanship in home designs. Go see them to today if you're new to Myrtle or just looking for a new place to call home.

why are people moving to myrtle beach?

The reasons vary but there seems to be consensus around these 3 main things:

1 – Milder Weather | Generally people moving into the area are from the northeast or midwest and they’re seeking milder winters. Myrtle Beach definitely checks that box. Although the summers are hot, we’re averaging 74 degrees for 6 months out of the year.

2 – Business-Friendly Environment | The city has a pro-business atmosphere which includes low income taxes and incentives for growing companies. The city is trying hard to revitalize key parts of town and the growing population is increasing demand for products and services these new residents are used to elsewhere.

3 – Beach Access & Cost of Living | Myrtle Beach offers close proximity to the beach for relatively low cost of living (compared to places like Charleston, Wilmington and coastal Florida). With 60 miles of coast in the Grand Strand even inland communities are no farther than 30-45 minutes from beach access.

key stats: moving to myrtle beach

Here are some key stats to know about living in or moving to Myrtle Beach.

• Metro population is around 478,654 (Horry Co and parts of Georgetown Co). Horry County itself is around 375,550 and the city of Myrtle Beach is around 39,162. (source)

• The metro population has been growing by 5–6% per year since 1990. In the last 3 years that has slowed to 3-4% but the total number of people relocating is still increasing since the growth is on a much larger number than in years past (source)

• In statistics we can better understand, about 1,100 people per month are moving into the Myrtle Beach area (source)

• Current projections are for an 81.9% increase by 2060 and a total metro population of 944,000+ (source)

challenges in moving to myrtle beach

• Schools | We’ve written about the issue of school overcrowding, particularly in elementary schools. Read more about the health of Horry County schools here.

• Job Outlook | Myrtle Beach only ranks at 4.7/10 for job outlook. Myrtle Beach’s annual salary is $18,000 below national average and unemployment is .5% higher.

• Infrastructure | Anyone who lives local knows we feel the crunch in a myriad of ways from June–August. Most notably in traffic, wait times at restaurants and popular attractions, and burnout from those who work in the tourism/service industry section.

• Aging Population | 40% of Horry County is over the age of 55. We need more young professionals and families for better economic diversity and the appeal for businesses to invest here.

tips for moving to myrtle beach

See it in busy and slow seasons | Take a couple of “vision trips” to see it in the busy summer and the slower off-season. Many things do still close down or limit hours in the off-season which may catch new residents by surprise.

Think about the school system and day-to-day commute | For families with school-aged children, look closely at your school district. And also that daily commute!

Live somewhere that feels like home | The Grand Strand is huge and it may take living here a few months to figure out what part of town makes the most sense. A great transitional (or permanent) housing option is The Cottages at Myrtle Beach. These are excellent for new and current residents looking for space, luxury, amenities, convenience and flexibility.