Retire in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
Compare Grand Strand towns from the Brunswick Islands to Pawleys Island on taxes, health care, housing and storm risk.
We compare 21 towns in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand with U.S. Census data, the nearest hospital from our local directory and official state tax rules. The highest share of residents 65 and older is in Sunset Beach (59.7%) and Southport (47.9%). Taxes: South Carolina: social Security and military retirement exempt; North Carolina: social Security not taxed.
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Compare towns in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
Tick up to three towns to see them side by side. Tap a column to sort. Hospital distance is a straight line from the town center to the closest hospital in our directory, not driving time.
| Town | Population | Median age | 65 and older | Median home value | Median rent | Income, 65+ households | Nearest hospital | Pharmacies within 5 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach | 38,371 | 47.3 | 23.7% | $388,800 | $1,261 | $67,691 | 3.8 mi | 3 |
| Leland | 29,607 | 47.3 | 28.4% | $398,900 | $1,735 | $82,450 | 2.8 mi | 0 |
| Conway | 27,263 | 32.5 | 16.8% | $260,900 | $866 | $49,119 | 4.7 mi | 0 |
| Carolina Forest | 26,263 | 40.3 | 18.3% | $336,800 | $1,668 | $70,352 | 3.5 mi | 5 |
| North Myrtle Beach | 19,855 | 61.9 | 41.6% | $416,900 | $1,263 | $68,427 | 3.6 mi | 2 |
| Little River | 11,771 | 61.4 | 42.2% | $305,800 | $1,528 | $59,569 | 1.7 mi | 3 |
| Murrells Inlet | 10,044 | 60.4 | 38.3% | $366,000 | $1,751 | $69,976 | 9.1 mi | 1 |
| Oak Island | 9,030 | 62.3 | 42% | $456,500 | $1,339 | $71,696 | 5.8 mi | 1 |
| Georgetown | 8,565 | 46.3 | 28.3% | $168,100 | $780 | $47,091 | under 1 mi | 0 |
| Forestbrook | 7,479 | 50.5 | 27.5% | $335,800 | $814 | $80,724 | 3.9 mi | 4 |
| Shallotte | 4,639 | 45.5 | 23.7% | $349,500 | $1,256 | $58,445 | 5.5 mi | 0 |
| Sunset Beach | 4,351 | 69.1 | 59.7% | $410,900 | $537 | $71,086 | 9.3 mi | 1 |
| Surfside Beach | 4,270 | 55.5 | 28.9% | $450,100 | $1,274 | $64,097 | 4.0 mi | 3 |
| Southport | 4,205 | 64.2 | 47.9% | $437,700 | $1,426 | $70,372 | under 1 mi | 2 |
| Andrews | 3,485 | 34.5 | 14.1% | $116,400 | $1,043 | $57,375 | 17.0 mi | 0 |
| Loris | 2,645 | 51.2 | 22% | $214,300 | $694 | $35,313 | 18.5 mi | 0 |
| Aynor | 1,112 | 40.0 | 14.6% | $255,700 | $1,160 | $51,750 | 19.0 mi | 1 |
| Holden Beach | 962 | 64.4 | 46.4% | $658,900 | $1,475 | $91,389 | 6.9 mi | 1 |
| Ocean Isle Beach | 903 | 67.3 | 58.6% | $835,500 | $87,813 | 11.6 mi | 0 | |
| Bolivia | 247 | 37.5 | 25.9% | $290,000 | $1,167 | $31,818 | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Pawleys Island | 170 | 68.3 | 70.6% | $1,694,400 | $121,875 | 9.8 mi | 0 |
Taxes for retirees
South Carolina
Social Security and military retirement exempt
- Social Security and railroad retirement benefits are exempt from South Carolina income tax.
- All military retirement pay is exempt, at any age.
- Other qualifying retirement income: up to $3,000 a year can be deducted before 65 and up to $10,000 a year from 65.
- From the year you turn 65 you can also deduct $15,000 against any South Carolina income.
North Carolina
Social Security not taxed
- North Carolina does not tax Social Security or railroad retirement benefits.
- Military retirement pay can be deducted if you served at least 20 years or were medically retired (taxable years from 2022).
- Federal, state and local government retirees with five or more years of service as of Aug. 12, 1989 (the Bailey settlement) can deduct those benefits.
- Other pensions and IRA withdrawals are taxed as regular income.
The real costs, honestly
Insurance and storms come first. Homeowners and flood insurance can cost more here than the property tax, and a standard policy does not cover flooding. Get quotes before you make an offer, check the flood zone and learn your evacuation zone.
FEMA flood maps · FloodSmart (National Flood Insurance Program) · Ready.gov: hurricanes
| County | Hurricane | Coastal flooding | Heat wave | Winter weather | Tornado |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horry County | Very High | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| Georgetown County | Very High | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Low | Relatively Low |
| Brunswick County | Very High | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
Local pharmacies for retirees in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
Hospitals in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
- Brunswick Medical Center
- Brunswick Medical Center
- Conway Medical Center
- Lighthouse Behavioral Health Hospital
- Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital
- Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health
- McLeod Seacoast
- Grand Strand Regional Medical Center
- McLeod Health Carolina Forest
- Ralph Johnson VA Medical Center
- South Strand Medical Center
- Dosher Memorial Hospital
An active retirement in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
Myrtle Beach Fishing Beach Romance Reads Visitor guides Events Golf coursesLibraries
Your moving checklist
- South Carolina: Driver's license and car registration with South Carolina DMV
- South Carolina: Register to vote at SC Votes
- North Carolina: Driver's license and car registration with NCDMV
- North Carolina: Register to vote at NC State Board of Elections
- Medicare plans change by ZIP code: compare them at Medicare.gov, or get free one-on-one help from your state's SHIP counselors
- Find a new doctor before you move: many practices have waiting lists for new patients
- Save your county emergency management page and sign up for its alerts
Already retired here?
Help the next family decide. We publish short answers from readers after an editor reviews them, never with your address.
- Why we moved here: what you love, what surprised you and what you would tell a friend.
- Ask a local: send a question and we will answer it on this page or in a story.
- Add a club or class: free listing in our events calendar.
Retirement news and guides
- Hurricane evacuation zones for Grand Strand retirees: how to know your zone in SC and NC
- Senior centers and councils on aging in Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick counties
- Medicare help on the Grand Strand: free SHIP counseling in Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick
- South Carolina vs. North Carolina for Grand Strand retirees: income and property tax rules
- Retiring in Myrtle Beach: how SC taxes Social Security, pensions and military pay
Questions people ask about retiring in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
Does South Carolina tax retirement income?
Social Security and military retirement exempt. Social Security and railroad retirement benefits are exempt from South Carolina income tax. All military retirement pay is exempt, at any age.
Does North Carolina tax retirement income?
Social Security not taxed. North Carolina does not tax Social Security or railroad retirement benefits. Military retirement pay can be deducted if you served at least 20 years or were medically retired (taxable years from 2022).
Which towns are closest to a hospital in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand?
Georgetown (under 1 mi to Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital), Southport (under 1 mi to Dosher Memorial Hospital), Little River (1.7 mi to McLeod Seacoast), measured in a straight line from the town center to hospitals in our local directory.
How high is the hurricane risk in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand?
FEMA National Risk Index rating by county. Horry County: Very High; Georgetown County: Very High; Brunswick County: Very High. Ask for an insurance quote before you buy a home.