Why retirees keep choosing Myrtle Beach
Most people first know Myrtle Beach from a family vacation. A lot of them come back years later to stay.
The reasons are simple. You get the beach, the golf, and mild winters, without the price tag of South Florida. South Carolina also led the country in 2025 for net gain of residents 65 and older.
If you’re weighing a move, here’s what retiring in Myrtle Beach looks like: the taxes, the healthcare, daily life, and the trade-offs worth knowing before you sign anything.
Taxes: better than most people expect
South Carolina has an income tax, which scares off some retirees at first glance. Look closer and it’s one of the friendlier states in the Southeast for people living on retirement income.
Social Security isn’t taxed. South Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level.
Retirement income gets a break. South Carolina offers a deduction on pension and retirement account income, and it increases once you turn 65.
Income tax rates just dropped. Starting with tax year 2026, South Carolina replaced its old three-bracket system with two rates: 1.99% on taxable income up to $30,000 and 5.21% above that. The top rate was 6% before. The law also sets up automatic rate cuts in future years when state revenue grows, with the stated goal of eventually eliminating the income tax.
Property taxes are low, especially for a primary home. South Carolina taxes your primary residence at a 4% assessment ratio instead of the 6% used for second homes and rentals. That’s a big difference, but you have to apply for it. In Horry County, the application window runs from January 1 of the tax year to January 15 of the following year.
The 65+ homestead exemption. If you’re 65 or older and have been a South Carolina legal resident for at least one year, the state’s Homestead Exemption removes up to $50,000 of your home’s value from property taxes. You apply through the Horry County Auditor once you’ve been approved for the 4% primary residence rate.
For most retirees, the combination of untaxed Social Security, the retirement deduction, and low property taxes on a primary home means a much smaller tax bill than they paid up North. Your actual numbers depend on your income mix, so run them with your tax advisor.
Healthcare on the Grand Strand
Healthcare is usually the first question retirees ask, and the Myrtle Beach area has grown into a real medical hub. Several hospital systems serve the region:
- Grand Strand Health. Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach is the area’s largest hospital, with emergency and trauma care, cardiac care, and neurosurgery.
- Tidelands Health. The region’s largest healthcare provider runs hospitals in Murrells Inlet and Georgetown and partners with MUSC Health, South Carolina’s academic medical center. Its medical park at The Market Common puts outpatient care minutes from the south end of Myrtle Beach.
- McLeod Health. Runs McLeod Seacoast in Little River and McLeod Loris on the north end, plus a growing presence in Carolina Forest.
- Conway Medical Center. A not-for-profit hospital that has served Horry County for nearly 100 years.
Before you move, confirm that your Medicare plan, supplemental coverage, and any specialists you’ll need are available locally.
Daily life: what you’ll actually do
Retirement here doesn’t have to revolve around the tourist strip. Locals live a different Myrtle Beach than vacationers do.
Golf. The Grand Strand is one of the best-known golf destinations in the country, and many courses offer local rates and memberships well below what you’d pay up North or in South Florida.
The beach, on your schedule. Once summer ends and the crowds go home, the beaches quiet down. Fall and spring are the best seasons to live here, and that’s when visitors are fewest.
On the water. Fishing, kayaking, and boating on the Intracoastal Waterway and the area’s inlets and rivers.
The Market Common. Built on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, it’s the area’s most walkable district, with restaurants, shops, a movie theater, a grocery store, lakes, and walking and biking paths. Many retirees treat it as their downtown.
Staying active and social. Pickleball, fitness classes, clubs, churches, volunteer groups, and Coastal Carolina University events give newcomers plenty of ways to meet people.
Food. Fresh seafood is everywhere, from casual waterfront spots to the restaurant row in Murrells Inlet.
Getting around, and getting home to family
Flying. Myrtle Beach International Airport sits on the south side of town and has nonstop service to many cities in the Northeast and Midwest. For a lot of retirees, the deciding factor is how easily kids and grandkids can visit.
Driving. Myrtle Beach is within a day’s drive of much of the East Coast and Midwest.
Local traffic. Summer traffic on the main corridors can be heavy. Locals learn the back roads and run their errands early. Living on the south end, near The Market Common and the airport, keeps most daily trips short.
The honest trade-offs
No place is perfect. Here’s what to weigh before you commit:
- Summer crowds. Tourist season brings traffic and busy restaurants. Most retirees adjust their routines, and many say the off-season more than makes up for it.
- Hurricane season. The coast sees storms from June through November. Build quality, elevation, and a plan matter. Newer homes built to current codes hold up best.
- Insurance. Coastal homeowners and flood insurance costs real money here too, though generally far less than in Florida. Get a quote on the specific property before you buy.
- Humidity. Summers are hot and sticky. If you’re coming from Florida you won’t notice much difference. If you’re coming straight from the North, you will.
- Growth. The area is one of the fastest-growing in the country, which brings new restaurants, healthcare, and services, along with more traffic and construction.
Where to live: waterfront without the hassle
If you’re picturing retirement on the water, Lauderdale Bay Estates was built with you in mind.
- Single-story homes. Every plan is on one level, so stairs never become a problem.
- Low maintenance. All-brick construction with stucco accents stands up to coastal weather with little upkeep.
- On the Intracoastal. A community dock and sunsets over the water.
- Near what matters. About 5 minutes to The Market Common, with its shopping, dining, and Tidelands Health medical park, and about 10 minutes to the beach.
- A low HOA. [Confirm the current amount.]
Phase II homesites are available now. Come see it in person.
Questions? Call Ashley Taylor at Native Homes Realty, 843-215-9379
This article is general information, not tax or financial advice. Tax rules change; talk with a qualified advisor about your situation.