The Town FilesGarden City, South Carolina
Community in Horry County · population 10,235 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,400
- Household income
- $47,249
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 88°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 62.2
Garden City is a community of 10,235 people in Horry County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $217,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 92% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 78% of South Carolina towns.
How Garden City 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 Garden City is worth $217,400, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $47,249, which is more affordable than 19% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,472 a month. 85.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garden City | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,400 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,472 | $937 |
| Median household income | $47,249 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 85.4% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 37.6% | — |
Who lives in Garden City
| People | Garden City | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.2 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 5.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Garden City
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 36.8°F. About 55.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 32 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garden City since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 13, 2020 about 4.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 17, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 20, 2018.
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 Garden City itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Garden City
1 public school with 429 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaside Elementary | PK-4 | 429 | 13.0 |
Towns near Garden City
- Surfside Beach, SC2.1 mi · 4,155 people · home $450,100
- Murrells Inlet, SC3.8 mi · 9,740 people · home $366,000
- Socastee, SC6.6 mi · 22,213 people · home $234,200
- Forestbrook, SC9.4 mi · 6,656 people · home $335,800
- Litchfield Beach, SC10.2 mi · 8,370 people · home $459,000
- Myrtle Beach, SC10.7 mi · 35,682 people · home $388,800
- Red Hill, SC12.9 mi · 15,906 people · home $249,500
- Carolina Forest, SC13.2 mi · 23,342 people · home $336,800
Garden City questions
Is Garden City, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garden City scores better for retirees than 78% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 73%. 42.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.2).
How much does a house cost in Garden City?
The median owner-occupied home in Garden City is valued at $217,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,249, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,472 a month.
What is the weather like in Garden City?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 36.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.3 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Garden City get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garden City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 13, 2020. 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)