The Town FilesLittle River, South Carolina
Community in Horry County · population 11,711 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $305,800
- Household income
- $65,786
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 61.4
Little River is a community of 11,711 people in Horry County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $305,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of South Carolina towns, better for retirees than 92% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 86% of South Carolina towns.
How Little River 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 Little River is worth $305,800, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $65,786, which is more affordable than 19% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,528 a month. 76.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Little River | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $305,800 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,528 | $937 |
| Median household income | $65,786 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 76.6% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.1% | — |
Who lives in Little River
| People | Little River | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.4 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 10.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Little River
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 36.7°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 34 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Little River since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 15, 2021 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 57 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 28, 2000.
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 Little River itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Little River
4 public schools with 4,493 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Myrtle Beach High | 9-12 | 1,654 | 17.8 |
| North Myrtle Beach Middle | 6-8 | 1,321 | 16.1 |
| Waterway Elementary | PK-5 | 845 | 15.9 |
| Riverside Elementary | PK-5 | 673 | 14.3 |
Towns near Little River
- Carolina Shores, NC4.3 mi · 4,588 people · home $288,600
- North Myrtle Beach, SC5.5 mi · 18,790 people · home $416,900
- Sunset Beach, NC7.7 mi · 4,175 people · home $410,900
- Shallotte, NC16.3 mi · 4,185 people · home $349,500
- Carolina Forest, SC17.5 mi · 23,342 people · home $336,800
- Myrtle Beach, SC18.4 mi · 35,682 people · home $388,800
- Forestbrook, SC21.7 mi · 6,656 people · home $335,800
- Red Hill, SC22.6 mi · 15,906 people · home $249,500
Little River questions
Is Little River, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Little River scores better for retirees than 92% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 85%. 42.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.4).
How much does a house cost in Little River?
The median owner-occupied home in Little River is valued at $305,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,786, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,528 a month.
What is the weather like in Little River?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 36.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Little River get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Little River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 15, 2021. 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)