The Town FilesCarolina Forest, South Carolina
Community in Horry County · population 23,342 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $336,800
- Household income
- $74,436
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 87°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.3
Carolina Forest is a community of 23,342 people in Horry County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $336,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for families than 89% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 88% of South Carolina towns, more of a college town than 87% of South Carolina towns.
How Carolina Forest ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carolina Forest is worth $336,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $74,436, which is more affordable than 20% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,668 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carolina Forest | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $336,800 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,668 | $937 |
| Median household income | $74,436 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 2007 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Carolina Forest
| People | Carolina Forest | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.5% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.0% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 87.8% |
Weather in Carolina Forest
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 53.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carolina Forest since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 6, 2001 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 17, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 79 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 10, 2011.
Severe weather in Horry County since 1996
Horry County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 7, 2025 | Fire | FM-5554: Covington Drive Fire |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4835: Tropical Storm Debby |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Horry County
Horry County had 144,489 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,046 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Carolina Forest itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near Carolina Forest
- Myrtle Beach, SC4.2 mi · 35,682 people · home $388,800
- Forestbrook, SC4.3 mi · 6,656 people · home $335,800
- Red Hill, SC5.9 mi · 15,906 people · home $249,500
- Socastee, SC7.7 mi · 22,213 people · home $234,200
- Conway, SC9.1 mi · 24,849 people · home $260,900
- Surfside Beach, SC11.4 mi · 4,155 people · home $450,100
- North Myrtle Beach, SC12.4 mi · 18,790 people · home $416,900
- Garden City, SC13.2 mi · 10,235 people · home $217,400
Carolina Forest questions
Is Carolina Forest, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carolina Forest scores better for retirees than 65% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 19%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Carolina Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Carolina Forest is valued at $336,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,436, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,668 a month.
What is the weather like in Carolina Forest?
July highs average 87.4°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Carolina Forest get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carolina Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 6, 2001. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)