The Town FilesSocastee, South Carolina
Community in Horry County · population 22,213 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,200
- Household income
- $62,257
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 43.3
Socastee is a community of 22,213 people in Horry County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $234,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of South Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 81% of South Carolina towns.
How Socastee 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 Socastee is worth $234,200, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $62,257, which is more affordable than 37% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,246 a month. 65.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Socastee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,200 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,246 | $937 |
| Median household income | $62,257 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 65.9% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Socastee
| People | Socastee | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 87.8% |
Weather in Socastee
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 55.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 39 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Socastee since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 6, 2001 about 7.3 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 95 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 Socastee itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Towns near Socastee
- Forestbrook, SC3.5 mi · 6,656 people · home $335,800
- Surfside Beach, SC5.7 mi · 4,155 people · home $450,100
- Red Hill, SC6.3 mi · 15,906 people · home $249,500
- Garden City, SC6.6 mi · 10,235 people · home $217,400
- Myrtle Beach, SC7.2 mi · 35,682 people · home $388,800
- Carolina Forest, SC7.7 mi · 23,342 people · home $336,800
- Murrells Inlet, SC9.4 mi · 9,740 people · home $366,000
- Conway, SC10.4 mi · 24,849 people · home $260,900
Socastee questions
Is Socastee, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Socastee scores better for retirees than 61% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 23%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Socastee?
The median owner-occupied home in Socastee is valued at $234,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,257, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,246 a month.
What is the weather like in Socastee?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.2 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Socastee get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Socastee 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)