Moving to Myrtle Beach, SC: The Local's Guide
Neighborhoods, utilities, DMV deadlines, schools, hurricane prep and moving-day tips from our North Myrtle Beach crew.
Thinking About Moving to Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach pulls in new residents from every direction: retirees trading snow for sand, families chasing a lower cost of living, and remote workers who want the beach ten minutes away. Our North Myrtle Beach crew moves people into condos, golf communities and new subdivisions across the Grand Strand every week, so we put together the guide we wish every new resident had.
Every fact below links to the official source so you can double-check it. Rules and numbers change, so confirm anything important before you rely on it.
Myrtle Beach at a Glance
Population
38,371 (ACS 2024 5-year estimate) (source)
County
Horry County (source)
Median home value
$388,800 median value of owner-occupied housing units (ACS 2024 5-year) (source)
Median household income
$60,394 (ACS 2024 5-year) (source)
Climate
Humid subtropical; July mean daily high 87.4°F, January mean daily low 33.6°F; long, hot, humid summers with average daytime highs of 83–91°F (source)
Myrtle Beach Neighborhoods
A quick look at the areas new residents ask us about most. Our crews move families into all of them.
Oceanfront / Ocean Boulevard
The beachfront strip, where many of the Grand Strand's estimated 460 hotels and a large share of condo buildings sit, so moves usually involve shared elevators, loading areas, and seasonal paid parking.
The Market Common
Built on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base (closed 1993). The 3,937-acre site now has more than 1,200 homes, parks, and a walkable retail district.
Carolina Forest
A large planned area west of Myrtle Beach off US 501 (23,342 residents in 2020, up from about 3,400 in 2000) that is mostly newer subdivisions along Carolina Forest Boulevard.
Grande Dunes
An upscale golf community between US 17 and SC 31 with resort and private members' courses opened in 2002.
Pine Lakes
Named city neighborhood around the historic Pine Lakes Country Club (built 1926–27), a long-established golf-course setting.
The Dunes / Arcadian Shores
North-end Myrtle Beach neighborhoods listed among the city's sections, close to the beach and the golf clubs.
Socastee
A large unincorporated community in Horry County (22,213 residents in 2020) with suburban neighborhoods southwest of the city.
Surfside Beach
"The Family Beach" just south of Myrtle Beach, where thousands of homes and condos are owned by non-residents as weekly vacation rentals, so rental turnover days can crowd the streets.
Your First 30 Days in Myrtle Beach: Setup Checklist
Utilities
- Electric: Santee Cooper serves portions of Horry County (check your meter or call 800-804-7424 to confirm you’re in its territory; start service online); Horry Electric Cooperative is the other electric provider listed for the area (source)
- Water, sewer & trash: Inside city limits, the City of Myrtle Beach Utility Billing Division bills water, sewer, sanitation and stormwater on one monthly statement; (843) 918-1212, mbutilpay@cityofmyrtlebeach.com, City Services Building, 921 North Oak Street; residential New Service application in the city Document Center. Outside the city, Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority (843-443-8200) is the main listed provider. (source)
- Natural gas: Dominion Energy (natural gas); propane suppliers such as AmeriGas (843-248-5755) are also listed for the area (source)
- Trash, bulky items & recycling: Inside city limits, the Myrtle Beach Solid Waste Division picks up appliances, furniture, and boxes or bags of household items with regular garbage. Set them in a neat pile at the curb, 3–5 feet from other items, with no construction debris or toilets (843-918-2160). Break down moving boxes for recycling: the city accepts cardboard boxes once all packaging and tape is removed, and garbage runs Monday–Thursday, 6 a.m.–4 p.m., in four rotating zones (look up your zone on the city’s GIS map). (source)
Driver’s license & car
- Driver’s license: Apply for an SC driver’s license or ID within 45 days of permanently moving to SC; surrender your out-of-state license (source)
- Vehicle title & registration: 45 days to transfer vehicle registration to SC. First get a property tax bill from the Horry County Auditor (bring VIN and latest registration card), pay it at the County Treasurer, then bring the original paid receipt, Title Application (Form 400) and out-of-state title/registration to SCDMV (source)
- Nearest DMV offices: SCDMV has Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach Commons branches (plus North Myrtle Beach); hours and live wait times on the branch locator (source)
Register to vote
- Register with the South Carolina Election Commission at scvotes.gov (source)
Schools
- School district: Horry County Schools — link (source)
- How to enroll: Students new to HCS (grades K-12) complete online pre-enrollment, uploading parent/guardian ID, proof of residency, the student’s birth certificate and immunization records; the school then emails phase-two instructions (source)
- Find your zoned school: Horry County Schools Attendance Zone Lookup (source)
Property taxes
- South Carolina assesses owner-occupied homes at 4% versus 6% for commercial and rental property (and 6% for personal vehicles) (source)
- In Horry County, ‘legal residence’ is the special 4% assessment for owner-occupied homes and includes a credit exempting the school operating tax; the County Assessor reviews legal residence applications (source)
Hurricane & Flood Prep
- Know your evacuation zone: Horry County ‘Know Your Zone’ (Zones A, B, C) — interactive map: link (source)
- Check flood risk: FEMA Flood Map Service Center (search by address) (source)
- Hurricane season: Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1–November 30 (source)
Plan your move date with storm season in mind, and keep a backup date. Our crews watch the forecast for every coastal move.
Getting Around Myrtle Beach
- Main roads: US 17, US 17 Business, US 501, SC 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway, a bypass for most of the Grand Strand), Farrow Parkway, Grissom Parkway, Harrelson Boulevard and Ocean Boulevard; I-73 and I-74 are planned (source)
- Airport: Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), about 50 nonstop destinations (source)
- Public transit: Coast RTA bus service (source)
Things to Do in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach State Park
Myrtle Beach State Park — 4401 South Kings Hwy; camping, fishing pier (843-238-5325) (source)
Huntington Beach State Park
Huntington Beach State Park — 16148 Ocean Hwy, Murrells Inlet; home of the annual Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival (source)
Broadway at the Beach
Broadway at the Beach — amusements, theaters, restaurants and shops (source)
Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach
Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach — walk-through shark tunnel (source)
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk (opened 2010) and the 200-foot SkyWheel (source)
Moving Day in Myrtle Beach: Tips From Our Crew
Parking, trash pickup, traffic and building rules we plan around on every local move.
Trash & Large Items
Inside city limits, the Myrtle Beach Solid Waste Division picks up appliances, furniture, and boxes or bags of household items with regular garbage. Set them in a neat pile at the curb, 3–5 feet from other items, with no construction debris or toilets (843-918-2160).
Recycling Your Boxes
Break down moving boxes for recycling: the city accepts cardboard boxes once all packaging and tape is removed, and garbage runs Monday–Thursday, 6 a.m.–4 p.m., in four rotating zones (look up your zone on the city’s GIS map).
Parking & Meters
City meters are paid 9 a.m.–midnight every day from March 1 through September 30, and parts of The Avenues (east of Kings Highway, north of 31st Ave N) are decal-only, so plan where the truck will park. New residents can get a free resident parking decal at the Pavilion Parking Garage, 914 N. Kings Highway.
Beach Season Traffic
Beach season runs late April through late October and the area draws over 20 million visitors a year. May Bike Week (about 200,000 visitors) and Memorial Day Black Bike Week (up to 400,000) jam Kings Highway (US 17 Business), the US 17 Bypass, US 501, and SC 31, so avoid those dates if you can.
Condos & Hurricane Season
Most oceanfront condo buildings and HOA communities require an elevator reservation, set move-in hours, and a certificate of insurance, so book these early. Plan around hurricane season too (June 1–Nov 30, peaking around Sept 10) and summer highs of 83–91°F with heavy humidity.
Moving to Myrtle Beach: FAQs
You must apply for an SC license or ID within 45 days of moving to the state, and you have 45 days to transfer your vehicle registration. Before registering, pay the vehicle property tax bill from the Horry County Auditor/Treasurer and bring the paid receipt to SCDMV.
South Carolina assesses an owner-occupied legal residence at 4% instead of 6%, and in Horry County the legal residence classification also exempts the school operating tax. Apply through the Horry County Assessor’s Office, which reviews legal residence applications.
Horry County uses Zones A, B and C based on storm-surge vulnerability. Look up your address on the county’s interactive Know Your Zone map, and check flood risk separately on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.
Inside Myrtle Beach city limits, water, sewer, sanitation and stormwater are billed together by the city’s Utility Billing Division at (843) 918-1212. Electricity comes from Santee Cooper or Horry Electric Cooperative depending on your address.
Local moves are billed by the hour, with the clock starting when our crew arrives at your home. Long-distance moves get a binding, flat-price estimate that won’t change after you book. Call 910-758-0081 for a free written quote.
Yes. Our long-distance moves come with your own truck, the same crew from door to door and a guaranteed delivery date.
Ready to Move to Myrtle Beach?
Get a free, written quote from our North Myrtle Beach crew. Family-owned since 2015.