Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, long a favorite beach and golf resort, is now a popular retirement community with over 300,000 people in the Metro, including many active adults 55+. The "Grand Strand" has a community for every type of person. Myrtle Beach has become extremely attractive as a retirement community because of its low-costs, 120 golf courses, varied housing arrangements, and of course – that great sandy beach that runs uninterrupted for almost 60 miles – from Pawley’s Island in the south to North Myrtle Beach.
The downtown area features some older infrastructure and buildings to match. A somewhat honky-tonk amusement park on the beach may not be what the average retiree is looking for, but their grandchildren probably will! There is always something to do for active adults 55+ in Myrtle Beach - from golf to fishing to shopping to more than 1800 restaurants. It is a dynamic, fast-growing city of 35,682 (2020 Census). There is a very convenient airport just a few miles from the downtown which features many low cost air carriers, such as Spirit Airlines.
Watch this short Youtube video presented by Smithsonian Channel:
Where to Retire in Myrtle Beach and Home Prices
Myrtle Beach has every type of retirement community option– from living in the heart of the city to all types of planned communities farther out from town. Some are 55+ age restricted, while many others are open to anyone, but in effect 50 plus. See link at top left for Directory of Active Communities. Real estate prices in the area tend to vary tremendously, reflecting the intense competition for retirees. Careful research will turn up bargains. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median price of a home during the 2nd quarter of 2022, was $367,400 in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach area. Property taxes are are based upon 4%-6% of appraised market value multiplied by a millage rate between 100 to 200. Typical taxes for a full time resident under 65 for a home valued at $150,000 would be about $900 and $500 for someone over 65. Homeowners 65 and over can be eligible for a $50,000 homestead exemption.
What Is Special about Myrtle Beach
• The Grand Strand – one of the world’s longest sections of perfect beach • Tremendous variety of shopping and restaurants • Popular theatre with big name acts every day of the year • 120 golf courses • A housing style for every taste and budget • Mild climate • SC is considered a tax-friendly state for retirement
What Is Not Special about Myrtle Beach
A Wings store ( beach necessities) on every corner, traffic, spring break, living in a tourist town.
Who Will Like Retirement in Myrtle Beach
Although Myrtle Beach is extremely popular with retirees, only 15% of its population is over 65, so you won’t feel as if you are totally surrounded by older people. Naturally many of its developments are aimed at or are restricted to 55+; the composition in those communities will be different.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Tourism, Golf, Retail, Healthcare, Real Estate, Construction
Climate and Physical Environment
Myrtle Beach is the first community in South Carolina as you come from the north. The terrain is dominated by its long stretch of Ocean beach. Stretching away from the water the terrain is flat and sub-tropical. The average July high is 91 and the average January low is 34, August is the wettest month.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
There are seven featured theatres in Myrtle Beach, helping it deserve its reputation as a hot spot for live family entertainment, music, dance, comedy, and celebrity concerts. Among the more famous venues is the Carolina Opry, which features a continuous stream of big name acts, and Dolly Parton's Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show is a popular attraction.
Crime
As is the case with many resort communities, the crime rate is high - about twice the national average.
Medical Facilities
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center
Transportation
Myrtle Beach International is convenient and offers low-cost fares to many destinations; Other than walking on the beach for miles, the community itself is not walkable and is considered car dependent.
About 15% of Grand Strand golf courses have closed in the past decade. The total is now just under 100.
Posted by hotcguy on February 16, 2019
Myrtle Beach update
Thank you nitneylion for keeping us updated, we appreciate it and have made the corrections.
Posted by Jane at Topretirements on February 14, 2019
Out of date
This is out of date. The Place Theater was torn down several years ago. Dolly Parton\'s has a pirate theme, not Dixie Stampede. Otherwise, pretty accurate.
Please note that all contributions to Topretirements may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you don't want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then don't submit it here. By submitting content and/or photographs here you agree to give Topretirements.com the rights to use them in any manner without cost or attribution.You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Project:Copyrights for details). DO NOT SUBMIT COPYRIGHTED WORK WITHOUT PERMISSION!
