Myrtle Beach Area Data & Statistics
Serving Atlantic Beach, Aynor, Conway, Garden City Beach, Litchfield Beach, Little River, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island and Surfside Beach.
The Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina continually proves that it is worthy of the moniker ''The Grand Strand'' year-after-year as it continues to win prestigious awards ranging from designation as the ''World's Best Beach'' according to Yahoo! Travel, to recognition as the ''Overall Value for Money Destination'' and host to 10 of the ''Top Ten Public Golf Courses in America'' according to Golf Digest.
ASK.COM - ''Top Family Destinations'' (2008)
GOLF DIGEST - ''Overall Value for Money Destination'' (2008)
TRIPADVISOR - ''Top Family Resort'' (2008)
YAHOO! - ''Top Ten Places for Families to Visit in the United States'' (2008)
Economic IndicatorsAdmissions Tax - Horry County| 2001 | $8.97 million | | 2002 | $9.02 million | | 2003 | $8.67 million | | 2004 | $8.92 million | | 2005 | $9.30 million | | 2006 | $9.29 million | | 2007 | $9.58 million | | 2008 | $9.94 million | | 2009 | $8.82 million | Source: S.C. Department of Parks,
Recreation and Tourism |
Accommodation Tax - Horry County| 2001 | $11.70 million | | 2002 | $12.21 million | | 2003 | $12.37 million | | 2004 | $13.12 million | | 2005 | $13.93 million | | 2006 | $14.56 million | | 2007 | $15.37 million | | 2008 | $15.09 million | | 2009 | $13.67 million | Source: S.C. Department of Parks,
Recreation and Tourism |
Retail Sales - Horry County| 2001 | $5.98 billion | | 2002 | $6.17 billion | | 2003 | $6.64 billion | | 2004 | $7.48 billion | | 2005 | $8.28 billion | | 2006 | $9.25 billion | | 2007 | $9.25 billion | | 2008 | $8.59 billion | | 2009 | $7.65 billion | | Source: S.C. Department of Revenue |
Airport Arrivals| 2001 | 709,561 | | 2002 | 628,923 | | 2003 | 666,545 | | 2004 | 766,268 | | 2005 | 781,088 | | 2006 | 716,484 | | 2007 | 839,450 | | 2008 | 782,021 | | 2009 | 743,206 | | Source: Myrtle Beach International Airport |
Resident CharacteristicsResident Population*Horry County
(1134 sq. miles) | 263,868 | | City of Myrtle Beach | 30,596 | Georgetown County
(815 sq. miles) | 60,703 | | City of Georgetown | 8,501 | | *Based on the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau data |
Income Demographics| | Per Capita | Median Family | | Georgetown | $30,399 | $49,700 | | Horry | $26,789 | $51,300 | | *Based on the 2006-2008 U.S.Census Bureau Fact Sheet |
Age Composition of Horry and Georgetown Counties* (estimates)| | Under 5 | 5-19 | 20-64 | 65+ | | Georgetown | 3,708 | 12,172 | 34,058 | 10,406 | | Horry | 15,870 | 42,695 | 148,804 | 41,493 | | *Based on the 2006-2008 U.S. Census Bureau Fact Sheet |
Average Cost of Living Prices*Average New Home Cost
(2,400 sq. ft. living area, conventionally built on site,
3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage)> | $234,371 | Average Apartment Rent
(2 bedrooms, 2 baths, unfurnished, approx. 950 sq. ft.,
excluding utilities except water and sewer) | $637 | Average Electric Bill
(based on 2,400 sq. ft. living area) | $159.84 | Average Phone Charges
(not including long distance service) | $25.93 | Average Gasoline Price per Gallon
(regular unleaded gasoline) | $2.39 | | Average Price of a Movie Ticket | $8.10 | | *ACCRA Cost of Living Index (data collected July 2009) |
Click here to download a PDF of the Myrtle Beach Area StatisticalAbstract.
For information on relocating to the area, visit the Relocation Information section of the Web site.
Visitor Characteristics
Grand Strand leisure travelers spent an average of $115 per person per day, and group business travelers spent an average of $194 per person per day. Furthermore, visitors typically use their own car as their primary transportation (86%). Most Grand Strand visitors (59%) stayed in hotels, while 25% stayed in condos and villas.
Tourist Population Estimates| 2000 | 13.8 million | | 2001 | 11.9 million | | 2002 | 12.7 million | | 2003 | 12.8 million | | 2004 | 13.2 million | | 2005 | 13.8 million | | 2006 | 14.6 million | | 2007 | 15.2 million | | 2008 | 14.7 million | | Source: D.K. Shifflet & Associates |
Visitor Age
The Grand Strand attracts a wide range of travelers. Approximately 94% of visitors are under the age of 65.
Visitor Income
The Grand Strand attracts middle-to high-income travelers; visitor income has steadily increased over the years.
| $100,000+ | 40% | | $ 75,001-$99,999 | 3% | | $ 60,001-$74,999 | 17% | | $ 45,001-$ 59,999 | 21% | | $ 30,001-$44,999 | 12% | | $ 30,000 or less | 7% |
Visitor Length of Stay
The average length of stay along the Grand Strand was 5 days for leisure travelers and 3 days for business travelers.
Visitor Origin
Along the Grand Strand, 30% of our visitors came from North Carolina. Another 22% traveled from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia. The following are the 2008 top 10 states of visitor inquiry origin: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, New York, Tennessee, West Virginia and Maryland.
Golf Revenues
According to the S.C. Parks, Recreation & Tourism Dept., golf generates more income than any other single entertainment or recreational activity in the state. Approximately 3.1 million total rounds of golf were played on area courses in 2009.
Residential Building| 2001 | 2,179 | | 2002 | 2,546 | | 2003 | 3,476 | | 2004 | 4,473 | | 2005 | 6,816 | | 2006 | 6,694 | | 2007 | 3,904 | | 2008 | 1,920 | Permits Issued - Horry County
(Single and Multi Family Units)
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census |
Employment
The majority of jobs in Horry County are related to the services necessary for successful tourism businesses. Approximately 65% to 70% of Horry County s employment is tourism related. Due to the continued economic downturn in 2009, the average unemployment rate through December was 12.2%, compared to an average of 7.2% through November 2008.
Source: S.C. Employment Security Commission
Climate| Sunny Days | 215 | | Overcast Days | 150 | | Frost Days | 42 | | Wettest Months | Aug. & Sept. | | Driest Months | April & Nov. | | Days with .10 inches or rain or more | 77 | | Days when max temp is more than 90° | 40 | *Based on more than 30 years of data
Source: S.C. Climatology Department |
Quick Facts- 14.7 million visitors annually
- 102 golf courses
- 3.1 million total rounds of golf were played in 2009
- 7 live entertainment theaters with over 10,366 seats
- Approximately 1,700 full service restaurants
- In 2009, 743,206 people arrived by one of 9 airlines
- Average of 215 sunny days every year
- The population of Myrtle Beach is approximately 30,596
- Over 300 outlet shopping stores
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