RANK #206 / 1001 NAT · #6 / 24 SC · POP 383,016
1YR FORECAST: -0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
Horry County, South Carolina, known for its "Grand Strand" coastline, is home to Myrtle Beach, a major tourist destination. Located in the northeastern corner of the state, about 90 miles north of Charleston, the county offers a mix of bustling coastal areas and more rural inland communities like Conway, the county seat. Commuting within the county primarily relies on personal vehicles, though Coast RTA provides bus services across Horry and Georgetown counties. The Waccamaw River, along with various parks such as Vereen Memorial Gardens and the Horry County Bike & Run Park, provides opportunities for outdoor recreation amidst diverse landscapes of beaches, forests, and swamps.
Life in Horry County attracts a mix of young professionals and retirees, drawn by a cost of living that is lower than the national average. The public school system, Horry County Schools, is one of the largest in South Carolina and is highly rated. The economy, historically driven by tourism and agriculture, is diversifying with growth in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. Recent developments include investments in data centers and industrial parks, aiming to create higher-paying jobs and expand the economic base beyond its traditional strengths.
Horry County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.2% runs above the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 15.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Horry County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Horry County Schools Capital Projects (Penny Sales Tax)
Horry County Schools
|
$600M | Operating |
|
DC BLOX Cable Landing Station and Data Center Campus Expansion (MYR2)
DC BLOX
|
$200M | Under Construction |
|
Landrace Holdings Solar Farm
Landrace Holdings, LLC
|
$55M | Operating |
|
Palmetto Coast Industrial Park
Edgewater Ventures
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 79/100, Horry County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.2%, and median household income stands at $66,880 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in SC.
Horry County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $287,700 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,255/month on average.
Horry County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.2% clip. Home values shifted +0.2% in the past year.
Not particularly — 1.4% of Horry County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.