The Town FilesNorth Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
City in Horry County · population 18,790 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $416,900
- Household income
- $72,722
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 61.9
North Myrtle Beach is a city of 18,790 people in Horry County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $416,900, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of South Carolina towns, better for cycling than 96% of South Carolina towns, more seaside character than 91% of South Carolina towns.
How North Myrtle Beach 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 North Myrtle Beach is worth $416,900, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $72,722, which is more affordable than 10% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,263 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Myrtle Beach | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $416,900 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,263 | $937 |
| Median household income | $72,722 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 48.3% | — |
Who lives in North Myrtle Beach
| People | North Myrtle Beach | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.9 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 41.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 10.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.9% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 17.9% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 87.8% |
Weather in North Myrtle Beach
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
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Myrtle Beach since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 17, 1965 about 2.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 30, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 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 North Myrtle Beach itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in North Myrtle Beach
1 public school with 810 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Drive Elementary | PK-5 | 810 | 15.3 |
Towns near North Myrtle Beach
- Little River, SC5.5 mi · 11,711 people · home $305,800
- Carolina Shores, NC9.7 mi · 4,588 people · home $288,600
- Sunset Beach, NC12.4 mi · 4,175 people · home $410,900
- Carolina Forest, SC12.4 mi · 23,342 people · home $336,800
- Myrtle Beach, SC12.9 mi · 35,682 people · home $388,800
- Forestbrook, SC16.4 mi · 6,656 people · home $335,800
- Red Hill, SC17.9 mi · 15,906 people · home $249,500
- Conway, SC19.6 mi · 24,849 people · home $260,900
North Myrtle Beach questions
Is North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Myrtle Beach scores better for retirees than 88% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 90%. 41.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.9).
How much does a house cost in North Myrtle Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in North Myrtle Beach is valued at $416,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,722, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $1,263 a month.
What is the weather like in North Myrtle Beach?
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 North Myrtle Beach get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Myrtle Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 17, 1965. 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)