Moving to Pawleys Island, SC: Living Guide

Pawleys Island is one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast. Rice planters’ families started spending summers here in the early 1700s, and the island still has a barefoot, low-key feel: almost no commercial buildings, a 25 mph speed limit, rope hammocks and a wide beach backed by dunes and salt marsh. The town even describes its own style as shoeless and carefree.

Most people who say they live in “Pawleys Island” actually live on the mainland in the 29585 ZIP code, along US-17 and the golf communities between the ocean and the Waccamaw River. That area suits retirees, golfers, remote workers and families who want good schools on the Waccamaw Neck and a quieter coast than Myrtle Beach. Home prices are among the highest on the Grand Strand, so it pays to understand the market before you shop.

Planning a move to Pawleys Island? Call our NC & SC team at 910-758-0081 or get your price online.

Where Is Pawleys Island?

Pawleys Island sits in Georgetown County on the Waccamaw Neck, the peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Waccamaw River. The town itself is only on the barrier island, which is a little over 3 miles long and about a quarter mile wide, with a tidal creek and marsh behind it. Two short causeways, the North Causeway and the South Causeway, connect it to the mainland. The Pawleys Island post office address also covers a large unincorporated area on the mainland, including the commercial strip along US-17 (Ocean Highway).

The town describes itself as 70 miles north of Charleston and 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach. Approximate driving distances:

Murrells Inlet: about 12 minutes north
Georgetown: about 13 miles, roughly 18 minutes
Myrtle Beach: about 23 miles, roughly 32 minutes
Charleston: about 73 miles, roughly 1 hour 31 minutes, via US-17

US-17 is the main road in and out, north toward Myrtle Beach and south toward Georgetown and Charleston. Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) is the closest commercial airport, and Charleston International is the other common choice.

Pawleys Island Population & Demographics

The Town of Pawleys Island is tiny. It had 103 residents at the 2010 Census and 130 at the 2020 Census, because most island houses are second homes and rentals. So to describe the wider Pawleys Island community, the table below uses the Census Bureau’s figures for the 29585 ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA), which covers about 61.8 square miles and 16,966 residents, alongside Georgetown County and South Carolina.

Measure	ZIP 29585 (Pawleys Island area)	Georgetown County	South Carolina
Population	16,966 (ACS 2020–2024)	65,912 (July 2025 est.)	5,570,274 (July 2025 est.)
Median age	61.7	—	40.2
Residents 65 and older	—	33.9%	21.1%
Median household income	$81,946	$68,713	$69,324
Per capita income	$55,914	$44,163	$39,236
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	52.5%	32.8%	32.1%
Median home value	$463,400	$289,500	$259,000
Persons in poverty	7.5%	17.4%	13.3%
Mean travel time to work	22.8 min	29.1 min	25.6 min

Sources: Census Reporter (ACS 2024 5-year) for ZIP 29585 and state median age; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Vintage 2025 estimates and 2020–2024 ACS) for Georgetown County and South Carolina.

The 29585 area has about 7,826 households averaging 2.2 people each, and about 11% of residents are veterans. More than half of adults hold a bachelor’s degree, well above both the county and the state. Only about 10.9% of residents moved in the past year, so this is a settled community where people stay.

Is Pawleys Island Safe?

We did not find a recent, reliable crime data source for Pawleys Island worth quoting, so we won’t guess. The Town of Pawleys Island has its own police department for the island, and the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office covers the unincorporated mainland. If you have questions about a specific street, those are the agencies to ask. As anywhere, visit the neighborhood at different times of day and in different seasons, since summer rental weeks feel very different from January.

Cost of Living in Pawleys Island

Home Prices

Pawleys Island is one of the priciest places to buy on this stretch of coast. The Census Bureau puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the 29585 ZIP code at $463,400, compared with $289,500 for Georgetown County, $259,000 for South Carolina and $332,700 for the U.S. On the island itself, sample sizes are small, but Census Reporter’s estimate for the town’s median home value is above $1.6 million.

Recent sales confirm the trend. Redfin reports that the median sale price in 29585 was about $550,000 over the three months through August 2026, up 6.7% from a year earlier, while the price per square foot slipped 1.8% to $274. Homes sold in a median of 54 days, down from 109 days a year earlier, and closed at about 97.3% of list price. Newer homes in golf communities and older cottages near the marsh can sell at very different prices, so compare within the same neighborhood.

Rent

Long-term rentals are hard to find because so many properties are owner-occupied or weekly vacation rentals. Zumper lists an average rent of $2,000 a month in Pawleys Island as of September 2026, with one-bedrooms around $1,250, two-bedrooms around $1,650 and three-bedrooms around $2,300. For comparison, the Census median gross rent for all of Georgetown County is $1,204. If your rental is short term while you house-hunt, consider storage for the furniture you don’t need right away.

Best Neighborhoods in Pawleys Island

The Island

Living on the island itself means crossing a causeway over the marsh every time you come home, which generations of visitors say makes their blood pressure go down. Houses line a single strip that is mostly one house wide, with ocean on one side and creek on the other. Twelve residences in the historic district date from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s. The island bans new commercial buildings, the speed limit is 25 mph, and the town has an Architectural Review Board. It suits buyers who want old-coast character and don’t mind flood insurance and elevated homes.

Mainland Pawleys and the US-17 Corridor

Across the marsh, the unincorporated mainland is where daily life happens. The US-17 corridor has The Hammock Shops Village, grocery stores, restaurants and services, and neighborhoods stretch back toward the Waccamaw River. Waccamaw High School is on Kings River Road. This area suits families and year-round residents who want the Pawleys address with easier access to schools, shopping and the highway.

The Golf Communities

Golf is a big part of Pawleys life, and the town notes that about ten golf courses sit within five miles of the island. Pawleys Plantation is a Jack Nicklaus design with six holes along a tidal marsh, and Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Club are both on the mainland in 29585. Homes around these courses suit retirees and golfers who want mature trees, club amenities and quiet streets. Expect HOA rules on truck access and move times.

Weather & Climate

Pawleys Island has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and hot, humid summers. The closest long-term weather station is Myrtle Beach International Airport, where 1991–2020 normals show January highs around 55.7°F with lows near 36.7°F, and July highs near 87.6°F with lows near 73.7°F. Annual precipitation averages about 48.5 inches. Snow is very rare. The town notes that the water is comfortable for swimming from May to October.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 and peaks around September 10, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October, according to the National Hurricane Center. Pawleys has felt it before: Hurricane Hugo swept some island cottages away in 1989. Local legend even has a ghost, the Gray Man, who is said to walk the beach before big storms. Look up your address on the South Carolina Emergency Management Division’s Know Your Zone map, and ask about flood zones and elevation certificates before you buy.

Best months to move: April, May, October and November. Summer brings rental-week traffic on the causeways and US-17, and late summer overlaps with peak hurricane season.

Things to Do in Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island Beach

The beach is wide, uncrowded and known for good surf. Georgetown County’s lot at the south end of Springs Avenue is the largest free public beach access lot in the county, and eight other public access points offer about 141 combined parking spaces. You can fish in the surf or from the two marsh bridges, launch a boat from one of three island ramps, or paddle the salt marsh at high tide.

The Hammock Shops Village

Pawleys is famous for its rope hammocks, and The Hammock Shops Village on US-17 is where to see them. The village has 21 shops, including The Original Hammock Shop, plus two restaurants. It is a favorite stop for gifts, local foods and a lazy afternoon under the oaks.

Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens sits off US-17 between Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet. Founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, it combines an American sculpture collection, botanical gardens, the Lowcountry Zoo and exhibits on the area’s history. It is a National Historic Landmark.

Huntington Beach State Park

Just north in Murrells Inlet, Huntington Beach State Park has three miles of beach, salt marsh where birders have recorded more than 300 species, and Atalaya, the Huntingtons’ Moorish-style winter home. The Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival is held there each September.

Golf

With about ten courses within five miles of the island, golf is an everyday activity here, not just a vacation. Pawleys Plantation, Caledonia and True Blue are three well-known local courses.

Historic Sites

All Saints Church, Cedar Grove Plantation Chapel and the Pawleys Island Historic District are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town also hosts a Fourth of July parade on the island.

Where to Eat in Pawleys Island

Frank’s Restaurant & Bar

Frank’s has been a Pawleys favorite since 1988. At 10434 Ocean Highway, it is really two restaurants in one location, Frank’s and Frank’s Outback, with four dining venues and four bars, including a courtyard. Menus change seasonally, and reservations are recommended.

Pawleys Island Tavern

Locals call it “the PIT.” Pawleys Island Tavern, at 10635 Ocean Highway, is a casual spot with a daily blue plate lunch, crab cakes the owners are proud of, a back porch for football and a tiki bar that opens on weekend afternoons when the weather cooperates.

Pawley’s Raw Bar

For a raw bar and seafood, Pawley’s Raw Bar at 9448 Ocean Highway is part of the Divine Dining Group, a Grand Strand restaurant company, and opens daily at 11 a.m.

Jobs & Economy

Tourism, real estate, golf and health care drive the Pawleys Island economy. Vacation rentals, restaurants and shops along US-17 employ many residents, and the golf courses and resorts add seasonal and year-round jobs. Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, just north on US-17 in Murrells Inlet, is the closest hospital.

Many working residents commute. Georgetown, the county seat, is about 18 minutes south, and Horry County’s larger employers are to the north. The Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation lists Horry County’s top employers as Horry County Schools (6,400 employees), Coastal Carolina University (2,700), Horry County Government (2,650), Conway Medical Center (1,800), McLeod Seacoast (1,700) and Grand Strand Regional Medical Center (1,300). With a median age above 60 in the 29585 area, many residents are retired, and a growing number work remotely.

Schools in Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island is served by the Georgetown County School District. Students on the Waccamaw Neck attend the Waccamaw family of schools: Waccamaw Elementary, Waccamaw Intermediate, Waccamaw Middle and Waccamaw High School. Waccamaw High is at 2412 Kings River Road in Pawleys Island, serves grades 9 through 12 and enrolled 846 students in 2023–2024. Its teams are the Warriors.

The Waccamaw Neck Library, a branch of the Georgetown County Library, serves Pawleys Island. For college, Coastal Carolina University in Conway reported a record preliminary enrollment of 11,881 students for fall 2025.

Pawleys Island Quick Facts

County	Georgetown County
Town population (2020 Census)	130
ZIP code	29585
Area codes	843 and 854
Island size	A little over 3 miles long, about 1/4 mile wide
Access	North Causeway and South Causeway
Main highway	US-17 (Ocean Highway)
Nearest airport	Myrtle Beach International (MYR)
Nearest hospital	Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital (Murrells Inlet)
Public schools	Georgetown County School District (Waccamaw schools)

Moving to Pawleys Island: Tips From Our Crew

Know the island parking rules. On the island, the town allows parking along the side of the road within five feet of the pavement unless posted otherwise, but no vehicle may park on the pavement in the right of way. Tell us your exact address so we can plan where the truck will sit and how far we’ll carry.
Mind the causeways and the speed limit. Both causeways are short and the island speed limit is 25 mph. Bikes, golf carts and walkers share the road, so we plan extra time on the island and avoid peak beach hours.
Avoid Saturday check-in traffic. Summer rental turnover clogs US-17 and the causeways on weekends. A weekday move is usually faster and less stressful.
Plan for elevated homes. Many island and marsh-side homes sit on pilings, with long exterior stairs. Let us know so we bring the right crew size and equipment for heavy pieces like pianos and safes.
Check HOA and ARB rules early. Golf communities often limit truck size and move hours, and island projects can need Architectural Review Board approval. If your HOA or building wants a certificate of insurance, we provide it free.
Leave room for storms. For moves between August and October, keep your date flexible. A & M never charges a rescheduling fee, so if a storm threatens, we simply pick a new day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Pawleys Island

How much does it cost to hire movers in Pawleys Island?

The price depends on how much you’re moving, how far, whether the home has stairs or a long carry, and whether you need packing or storage. An island house on pilings takes more time than a ground-level condo. Call 910-758-0081 or request a free quote online, and an owner will call you back within 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm.

Is Pawleys Island a town or an area?

Both. The Town of Pawleys Island covers only the barrier island and had 130 residents in 2020. The Pawleys Island mailing address, ZIP 29585, also covers a much larger mainland area along US-17 and toward the Waccamaw River, which is where most year-round residents live.

Is Pawleys Island expensive?

Compared with most of South Carolina, yes. The Census median home value for the 29585 ZIP code is $463,400, and Redfin’s recent median sale price was about $550,000. Rents average about $2,000 a month on Zumper. Budget for flood and wind insurance, too.

What schools serve Pawleys Island?

Georgetown County School District serves Pawleys Island. Students attend the Waccamaw schools on the Waccamaw Neck, including Waccamaw Elementary, Waccamaw Intermediate, Waccamaw Middle and Waccamaw High School on Kings River Road. Confirm your assignment with the district before you buy.

Can A & M move me to Pawleys Island from out of state?

Yes. Our long-distance moves come with a binding estimate, so your price never changes after booking. You get your own dedicated truck, the same W-2 crew from pickup to delivery and a guaranteed delivery date.

Move to Pawleys Island With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers is a family-owned company, and has been since 2015. Our Pawleys Island movers are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors. Under our Owner’s Promise, you talk to an owner, not a call center, and if anything is damaged an owner calls you the same day, with claims resolved in 60 to 90 days.

We handle local moves, packing and unpacking, piano and safe moving, storage and military moves with 5% off. Call 910-758-0081 or visit our Pawleys Island moving page.

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Moving to Pawleys Island, SC: Living in Pawleys Island Guide