1st Advantage MortgageIn Horry County, South Carolina, the typical household earns $66,880 a year and the typical rent is $1,255. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Horry County
- What Horry County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Horry County
- Horry County housing compared with South Carolina
- Places inside Horry County
- How Horry County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Horry County budget can carry
- People and households in Horry County
- Local borrowing considerations for Horry County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in South Carolina
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Horry County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Horry County's population at 383,016; only 3 of South Carolina's 46 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 1,133 square miles, that is close to 338 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Myrtle Beach is the biggest of its 20 Census places, at roughly 38,371 people (10% of the county total).
What Horry County households earn
Half of Horry County households take in less than $66,880 a year and half take in more, 4% below the South Carolina median of $69,324. Only 12 South Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Horry County | Gap to South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | -0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.6% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -2.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Horry County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.2%, 1 point lower than the state's 14.1%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.450 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Horry County median.
Employment and commuting in Horry County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 16%. Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (16% against 9%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in Horry County. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. 4.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Horry County | Difference from South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 15.7% | +6.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.9% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.9% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +1.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.4% | +1.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Horry County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Horry County housing compared with South Carolina
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,255 in Horry County versus $1,180 statewide. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. With a median value of $287,700, a typical Horry County house costs 4.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. Half the housing stock was built before 1999.
| Home costs | Horry County | South Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,255/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $287,700 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.9% | 14.2% | n/a |
Because most Horry 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Places inside Horry County
20 Census places fall mainly inside Horry County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 194,954 residents, leaving about 49% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Forestbrook has the highest median household income on the list ($81,286) and Loris the lowest ($36,899), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $694 in Loris to $1,668 in Carolina Forest. None of the 20 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | city | 38,371 | $60,394 | $1,261 | 15 mi |
| Conway | city | 27,263 | $56,650 | $866 | 7 mi |
| Carolina Forest | CDP | 26,263 | $74,436 | $1,668 | 11 mi |
| Socastee | CDP | 23,796 | $62,257 | $1,246 | 15 mi |
| North Myrtle Beach | city | 19,855 | $72,722 | $1,263 | 17 mi |
| Red Hill | CDP | 15,920 | $68,250 | $1,179 | 9 mi |
| Little River | CDP | 11,771 | $65,786 | $1,528 | 19 mi |
| Garden City | CDP | 11,591 | $47,249 | $1,472 | 22 mi |
| Forestbrook | CDP | 7,479 | $81,286 | $814 | 13 mi |
| Surfside Beach | town | 4,270 | $70,106 | $1,274 | 21 mi |
| Homewood | CDP | 2,708 | $64,659 | $1,122 | 4 mi |
| Loris | city | 2,645 | $36,899 | $694 | 11 mi |
| Aynor | town | 1,112 | $73,984 | $1,160 | 15 mi |
| Bucksport | CDP | 747 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
How Horry County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 25 to 44 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $36,301 in Marion County to $77,024 in Brunswick County; 2 of these neighbors top Horry County's median. The list crosses into North Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horry County | - | $66,880 | $1,255/mo | 77% |
| Marion County, SC | 25 mi | $36,301 | $669/mo | 63% |
| Columbus County, NC | 31 mi | $49,442 | $824/mo | 71% |
| Georgetown County, SC | 39 mi | $68,713 | $1,204/mo | 84% |
| Dillon County, SC | 40 mi | $46,605 | $679/mo | 65% |
| Florence County, SC | 43 mi | $58,305 | $954/mo | 64% |
| Brunswick County, NC | 44 mi | $77,024 | $1,351/mo | 85% |
What a median Horry County budget can carry
Here is the Horry County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Horry County: $5,573
- Rent at the median, $1,255, takes 23% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,142 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Horry County
27% of Horry County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Horry County | South Carolina | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.1% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.7% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Horry County
What the Horry County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 12% of Horry County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 49, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 52% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Horry County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the South Carolina license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in South Carolina
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Horry County, check the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions handles consumer-credit questions as well. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the South Carolina state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the South Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Horry County earn?
The median is $66,880; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Horry County rent compare with South Carolina?
$1,255 locally versus $1,180 for the state, 6% above.
Does this page cover Myrtle Beach?
Yes, along with the other 19 Census places in Horry County, such as Conway, Carolina Forest, Socastee.
Can Horry County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every South Carolina county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Horry County residents?
The South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in South Carolina; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.