Early voting is open today in Brunswick, Georgetown, and Horry counties. 2026 election guide: dates, hours and locations
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026 A Vik Media Group publication
Grand Strand Dispatch Myrtle Beach and Brunswick Islands news: Horry, Georgetown and Brunswick counties
Subscribe
Retire/South Carolina

Retire in Little River, SC: taxes, health care and cost of living

Little River, SC has about 11,771 residents, and 42.2% are 65 or older. The median home value is $305,800 and the median rent is $1,528 a month. The nearest hospital in our directory, McLeod Seacoast, is 1.7 mi away in a straight line. South Carolina: social Security and military retirement exempt.

Census figures are U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020-2024), loaded Oct. 31, 2026. Tax rules checked Oct. 30, 2026 on each state's official site. This page is information, not tax, legal or financial advice.

42.2%of residents are 65 or older
61.4median age
$305,800median home value
$1,528median rent a month
1.7 mito the nearest hospital
12.3%of adults are veterans

Retire in Little River is presented by: this spot is open for one local business.

A clinic, financial advisor, community or real estate office at the top of this guide, marked Sponsored, in front of people deciding where to retire.

Ask about it
Map of towns and hospitals in Myrtle Beach and the Grand StrandHorryGeorgetownBrunswickMyrtle Beach: 23.7% 65+Leland: 28.4% 65+Conway: 16.8% 65+Carolina Forest: 18.3% 65+North Myrtle Beach: 41.6% 65+Little River: 42.2% 65+Murrells Inlet: 38.3% 65+Oak Island: 42% 65+Georgetown: 28.3% 65+Forestbrook: 27.5% 65+Shallotte: 23.7% 65+Sunset Beach: 59.7% 65+Surfside Beach: 28.9% 65+Southport: 47.9% 65+Andrews: 14.1% 65+Loris: 22% 65+Aynor: 14.6% 65+Holden Beach: 46.4% 65+Ocean Isle Beach: 58.6% 65+Bolivia: 25.9% 65+Pawleys Island: 70.6% 65+Brunswick Medical CenterBrunswick Medical CenterCarolina Dunes Behavioral HealthConway Medical CenterDosher Memorial HospitalGrand Strand Regional Medical CenterLighthouse Behavioral Health HospitalMcLeod Health Carolina ForestMcLeod SeacoastRalph Johnson VA Medical CenterSouth Strand Medical CenterTidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital
Town (darker = more residents 65+)HospitalLittle River

Health care near Little River

DoctorsHospitalsUrgent carePharmaciesDentists

Little River compared with nearby towns

TownPopulationMedian age65 and olderMedian home valueMedian rentIncome, 65+ householdsNearest hospitalPharmacies within 5 mi
Little River Horry Co.11,77161.442.2%$305,800$1,528$59,5691.7 mi3
North Myrtle Beach Horry Co.19,85561.941.6%$416,900$1,263$68,4273.6 mi2
Sunset Beach Brunswick Co.4,35169.159.7%$410,900$537$71,0869.3 mi1
Ocean Isle Beach Brunswick Co.90367.358.6%$835,500$87,81311.6 mi0

Compare all 21 towns in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand ›

Taxes for retirees in South Carolina

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.

These deductions are claimed on the SC1040 state return. Source: South Carolina Department of Revenue: tips for retirees (Nov. 12, 2024)

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

CountyHurricaneCoastal floodingHeat waveWinter weatherTornado
Horry CountyVery HighRelatively HighRelatively ModerateRelatively HighRelatively High

Risk ratings compare each county with every U.S. county. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Local pharmacies for retirees in Horry County

Suggested from our local directory, with hours, phone and directions. See all ›

An active retirement near Little River

Myrtle Beach Fishing Beach Romance Reads Visitor guides Events in Little River Golf coursesLibraries Little River news

Your moving checklist

  • Driver's license and car registration with South Carolina DMV
  • Register to vote at SC Votes
  • 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.

Retirement news and guides

How we build this page: Census data loaded Oct. 31, 2026; hospitals, urgent care and pharmacies come from our directory listings with a public address; tax rules come from each state's revenue office and are checked every January. Something wrong? Tell us.

Cite this data

Free to reuse in your story, report or website under CC BY 4.0. Just credit Grand Strand Dispatch with a link to this page. Downloads: towns.csv.