1st Advantage MortgageGeorgetown County households have a median income of $68,713 and median rent of $1,204 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Georgetown County by the numbers
- What Georgetown County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Georgetown County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Georgetown County
- The counties around Georgetown County
- Georgetown County towns compared
- Georgetown County households compared
- Before borrowing in Georgetown County
- A Georgetown County household budget, worked through
- Steps before you apply in Georgetown County
- Lender oversight for Georgetown County
- More guides for Georgetown County
- Frequently asked questions
Georgetown County by the numbers
Georgetown County is home to about 64,811 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 22nd most populous of 46 county-level areas in South Carolina. It covers 814 square miles of land, or about 80 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Georgetown County is not part of any metropolitan area. Murrells Inlet is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 10,044 people (15% of the county total).
What Georgetown County households earn
Half of Georgetown County households take in less than $68,713 a year and half take in more, about the same as the South Carolina median of $69,324.
| Households earning | Georgetown County | +/- vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.5% | -2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.8% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.1% | +1.3 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 15.0%, 1 point higher than the state's 14.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.494 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $68,713 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Georgetown County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (12% against 9%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.4% in Georgetown County. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Georgetown County | Gap to South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.4% | +3.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.6% | -3.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.2% | +0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Georgetown County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,204 in Georgetown County versus $1,180 statewide. 59% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. Home values center on $289,500, or 4.2 years of median income. 84% of Georgetown County households own their home and 16% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1993.
| Measure | Georgetown County | South Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,204/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $289,500 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.6% | 14.2% | n/a |
Because most Georgetown County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The counties around Georgetown County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (28 to 56 miles). Income ranges from $36,301 in Marion County to $84,358 in Berkeley County; 1 of these neighbors top Georgetown County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown County | - | $68,713 | $1,204/mo | 84% |
| Williamsburg County, SC | 28 mi | $46,213 | $765/mo | 76% |
| Horry County, SC | 39 mi | $66,880 | $1,255/mo | 77% |
| Berkeley County, SC | 41 mi | $84,358 | $1,654/mo | 75% |
| Marion County, SC | 46 mi | $36,301 | $669/mo | 63% |
| Florence County, SC | 48 mi | $58,305 | $954/mo | 64% |
| Clarendon County, SC | 56 mi | $52,401 | $763/mo | 73% |
Georgetown County towns compared
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 45% of Georgetown County residents live in one of the 6. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $56,981 in Georgetown to $170,750 in DeBordieu Colony. Median rent ranges from $780 in Georgetown to $1,751 in Murrells Inlet. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murrells Inlet | CDP | 10,044 | $77,438 | $1,751 | 17 mi |
| Litchfield Beach | CDP | 9,044 | $76,351 | $1,704 | 11 mi |
| Georgetown | city | 8,565 | $56,981 | $780 | 3 mi |
| DeBordieu Colony | CDP | 627 | $170,750 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Dunbar | CDP | 577 | $91,058 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Pawleys Island | town | 170 | $122,500 | n/a | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Georgetown County households compared
College graduates make up 33% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Georgetown County | South Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.8% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.8% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.9% |
| 60+ min | 13.6% |
Before borrowing in Georgetown County
A few patterns in the Georgetown County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Georgetown County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Georgetown County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Older households. A 52.2 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Tight rental budgets. With 59% of Georgetown County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Georgetown County household budget, worked through
Georgetown County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,726 gross per month ($68,713 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,204, takes 21% of that
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $800 left for all other debt payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,373 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Steps before you apply in Georgetown County
Quick steps for Georgetown County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A South Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Georgetown County
Georgetown County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. South Carolina also has the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions for consumer credit. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: South Carolina guide.
More guides for Georgetown County
The South Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Georgetown County household make?
About $68,713 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24).
What do renters pay in Georgetown County?
$1,204 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
Should Georgetown County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 84% of Georgetown County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Georgetown County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, Georgetown, DeBordieu Colony, Dunbar and 1 more.
Will a Georgetown County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming South Carolina as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.