Myrtle Beach is a city located in Horry County South Carolina. Myrtle Beach has a 2024 population of 40,938. Myrtle Beach is currently growing at a rate of 3.13% annually and its population has increased by 13.8% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 35,973 in 2020.
The average household income in Myrtle Beach is $80,513 with a poverty rate of 15.28%. The median age in Myrtle Beach is 47 years: 44.9 years for males, and 49.3 years for females.
Myrtle Beach is the center of the Grand Strand area, a stretch of beach that is one of the top tourist destinations in the state. However, an estimated 14 million people visit this beautiful beach city every year.
The city’s economy revolves around the tourism industry. Hotels, resorts, and almost 100 golf courses are just a few of the things that fuel this city’s economy. Manufacturing is also an important industry, producing such products as foam, plastic, rubber, and ceramic.
Since the first census taken in 1940, the city of Myrtle Beach has primarily seen growth every ten years. The population jumped significantly from 1970 to 1980, rising from over 8,500 to over 18,000. The city did see a decline at the time of the 2000 census, dropping by over 8%.
However, the population was on the rise again at the time of the 2010 census. The census grew by over 19% between 2000 and 2010 to over 27,000. The population has already increased by almost 19% since the last count, according to recent estimates. Looking at this data show that this city is only going to continue to get more significant in terms of its population.
The Waccamaw Tribe were the earliest inhabitants of Myrtle Beach. The first Europeans did not arrive until the late 18th century. Unfortunately, there are not many records of this time period, so the actual history had to be pieced together using land grant documents.
Early settlers grew indigo and tobacco. However, the sandy soil resulted in few crops that were of much lower quality than crops grown in other areas. What is now known as the Grand Strand was mostly unsettled before the American Revolution. Once colonies began to gain their independence, the area still remained unsettled.
Growth began in the last 1800s with the arrival of the railroad, which transported timber from the coast to inland cities. Lumber and railroad workers would travel to the local beaches when not at work, marking the early beginnings of Myrtle Beach as a tourist spot.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the idea formed to make the region a tourist destination. The area was named in 1900, and the name is based on the [Southern Wax Myrtle](https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1878/southern-wax-myrtle/), which grows in the region. Myrtle Beach was incorporated in 1938 as [a town. It gained status](https://web.archive.org/web/20120409221906/http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/faq.html) as a city in 1957.Throughout the years, the city has become a popular spot for tourists from all over the state, nation and worldwide. Approximately 14 million tourists visit Myrtle Beach each year. The city’s beach is lined with hotels, resorts, restaurants and other attractions including shopping centers and amusement parks. The city is a popular spot for special conventions and events. It is also a popular destination for cyclists who attend motorcycle rallies annually.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Myrtle Beach was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 26,221 | 72.71% |
Black or African American | 5,613 | 15.56% |
Two or more races | 3,525 | 9.77% |
Asian | 340 | 0.94% |
Other race | 335 | 0.93% |
Native American | 24 | 0.07% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.02% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 16,201 | 2.22 | 60.6 | 39.4 |
Non Family | 7,098 | 1.28 | 50 | 50 |
Married | 6,970 | 2.64 | 80.1 | 19.9 |
Female | 1,666 | 4.09 | 29.8 | 70.2 |
Male | 467 | 3.42 | 39.2 | 60.8 |
2.84
Average Family Size
2.22
Average Household Size
60.6%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 1,541 | 5.56% |
Associates Degree | 2,906 | 10.48% |
Bachelors Degree | 5,983 | 21.57% |
Graduate Degree | 2,937 | 10.59% |
High School Graduate | 7,892 | 28.45% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 745 | 2.69% |
Some College | 5,732 | 20.67% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 20,460 | 19,190 | 7,598 |
Black | 4,152 | 3,683 | 509 |
Hispanic | 2,118 | 1,654 | 173 |
2+ Races | 1,902 | 1,676 | 554 |
Other Race | 275 | 85 | 34 |
Asian | 244 | 232 | 156 |
Native American | 24 | 12 | 0 |
Islander | 6 | 6 | 6 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $38,942 | $56,970 | $33,128 |
Graduate Degree | $60,847 | $69,239 | $56,166 |
High School Graduate | $28,910 | $32,612 | $26,492 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $24,375 | $33,232 | $17,363 |
Overall | $33,175 | $34,828 | $27,392 |
Some College | $28,384 | $33,863 | $23,949 |
$33,175
Average Earnings
$34,828
Average Male
$27,392
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
86.4% of Myrtle Beach residents speak only English, while 13.6% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 9.03% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 24,665 | 2,499 | 10.13% |
Black | 5,512 | 1,745 | 31.66% |
Hispanic | 4,095 | 1,010 | 24.66% |
Multiple | 3,525 | 705 | 20% |
Asian | 340 | 97 | 28.53% |
Other | 335 | 86 | 25.67% |
Islander | 6 | 6 | 100% |
15.28%
Overall Poverty Rate
14.96%
Male Poverty Rate
15.6%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Myrtle Beach is Islander, with 100% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Myrtle Beach is White, with 10.13% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 5.28%. Among those working part-time, it was 15.1%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 21.56%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 29.52% |
High School | 17.97% |
Some College | 11.11% |
Bachelors or Greater | 7.91% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Male Unemployed | 49.59% |
Female Unemployed | 36.39% |
Male Employed | 8.96% |
Female Employed | 7.39% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $66,880 | $104,660 |
Households | $50,558 | $80,513 |
Married Families | $82,877 | $-999,999,999 |
Non Families | $31,423 | $47,457 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
47.5%
Overall Marriage Rate
51.2%
Male Marriage Rate
43.9%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
2,367
Number of Veterans
2,159
Male Veterans
208
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 1,218 |
First Gulf War | 444 |
Second Gulf War | 343 |
Korea | 155 |
World War II | 21 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
65 to 74 | 964 |
75+ | 565 |
55 to 64 | 403 |
35 to 54 | 373 |
18 to 34 | 62 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 1,979 | 8.79% |
Black | 327 | 6.86% |
2+ Races | 44 | 1.89% |
Hispanic | 18 | 0.68% |
Asian | 13 | 5.08% |
Other Race | 4 | 1.36% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
13.43%
Veteran Poverty Rate
27.84%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
60.3%
Labor Force Participation
57.7%
Employment Rate
4.2%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
30.01%
Born in Myrtle Beach
88.85%
Native Born
11.15%
Foreign Born
7.78%
Non Citizen
3.37%
Naturalized
88.85% of Myrtle Beach residents were born in the United States, with 30.01% having been born in South Carolina. 7.78% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 47,145 | 1,242 | 2.71% |
2028 | 45,903 | 1,241 | 2.78% |
2027 | 44,662 | 1,241 | 2.86% |
2026 | 43,421 | 1,242 | 2.94% |
2025 | 42,179 | 1,241 | 3.03% |
2024 | 40,938 | 1,241 | 3.13% |
2023 | 39,697 | 1,271 | 3.31% |
2022 | 38,426 | 1,429 | 3.86% |
2021 | 36,997 | 1,024 | 2.85% |
2020 | 35,973 | 1,350 | 3.9% |
2019 | 34,623 | 858 | 2.54% |
2018 | 33,765 | 1,155 | 3.54% |
2017 | 32,610 | 937 | 2.96% |
2016 | 31,673 | 1,121 | 3.67% |
2015 | 30,552 | 1,044 | 3.54% |
2014 | 29,508 | 813 | 2.83% |
2013 | 28,695 | 721 | 2.58% |
2012 | 27,974 | 529 | 1.93% |
2011 | 27,445 | 411 | 1.52% |
2010 | 27,034 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 22,759 | -2,089 | -8.41% |
1990 | 24,848 | 6,402 | 34.71% |
1980 | 18,446 | 9,910 | 116.1% |
1970 | 8,536 | 702 | 8.96% |
1960 | 7,834 | 4,489 | 134.2% |
1950 | 3,345 | 1,745 | 109.06% |
1940 | 1,600 | -45,545 | -96.61% |