Moving to Forestbrook, SC: Living in Forestbrook

Forestbrook is a residential community just west of Myrtle Beach, tucked between US-501, the Carolina Bays Parkway (SC-31) and Socastee Swamp. It has grown quickly over the last two decades, yet it still feels like a neighborhood rather than a tourist strip. The local elementary and middle schools carry the community’s name, and the beach, the outlets and the airport are all a short drive away.

Forestbrook suits families who want a settled neighborhood close to Myrtle Beach jobs, and retirees and second-career buyers who like having Coastal Grand Mall and Broadway at the Beach nearby without living next to them. Nine in ten homes here are owner-occupied, so it tends to feel stable and quiet.

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

Where Is Forestbrook?

Forestbrook is a census-designated place (CDP) in southern Horry County, about 5 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach and 10 miles southeast of Conway, the county seat. The Census Bureau puts its area at 3.7 square miles, all land. US-501 forms the northeast border, the Carolina Bays Parkway (SC-31) runs along the northwest side, and Socastee Swamp marks the southeast edge.

Myrtle Beach: about 7 miles by road
Conway: about 10 miles northwest
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR): the nearest commercial airport, with more than 50 nonstop destinations on 10 airline partners

Forestbrook is one of several unincorporated communities just outside Myrtle Beach. Many Forestbrook addresses carry a Myrtle Beach mailing address even though the area is outside city limits, so county services apply.

That location is Forestbrook’s biggest selling point. US-501 takes you to Myrtle Beach or Conway, and SC-31 gives you a fast north-south route that skips much of the beach traffic on US-17.

Forestbrook Population & Demographics

Forestbrook has nearly doubled in size since 2000. The CDP had 3,391 residents at the 2000 Census, 4,612 in 2010 and 6,656 at the 2020 Census, a 44% jump in that last decade. The latest Census survey estimate is 7,479.

Measure (ACS 2020–2024)	Forestbrook	Horry County	South Carolina
Population	7,479	383,016	5,296,225
Population (2020 Census)	6,656	—	—
Median age	50.5	48.7	40.2
Residents 65 and older	27.5%	26.4%	—
Median household income	$81,286	$66,880	$69,324
Per capita income	$41,719	$38,025	$39,236
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25+)	30.3%	27.1%	32.1%
Owner-occupied homes	91.5%	77.3%	71.9%
Persons below poverty line	6.8%	13.2%	14.1%
Mean travel time to work	24.7 min	23.1 min	25.6 min

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, via Census Reporter; population history from the decennial Census, via Wikipedia.

The community has also gotten older as it has grown. In 2000, the median age was 36 and 26.8% of residents were under 18. Today the median age is 50.5, and 27.5% of residents are 65 or older.

Forestbrook’s median household income is about 20% higher than the county’s and roughly equal to the national median of $80,734. About 10.7% of residents are veterans, above the state rate of 8.3%. There are about 2,978 households, averaging 2.5 people.

Is Forestbrook Safe?

We did not find a reliable, recent crime data source specific to Forestbrook, so we are not going to quote one. Forestbrook is unincorporated, and the Horry County Police Department provides law enforcement through a five-precinct system. If you are weighing a particular street, call the non-emergency line, talk to neighbors, and visit on a weekday evening and a weekend.

Cost of Living in Forestbrook

Home Prices

The Census Bureau puts Forestbrook’s median home value at $335,800 (2020–2024), about 17% above the Horry County median of $287,700 and just above the national median of $332,700. With 91.5% of homes owner-occupied, this is mostly a place where people buy and stay.

For recent sales, Forestbrook addresses use ZIP code 29579, which also covers larger areas such as Carolina Forest. Redfin reports a median sale price of $372,339 in 29579 for the three months ending August 2026, down 4.5% from a year earlier. There were 487 sales, homes spent a median of 64 days on the market, and they typically sold for about 3% below list price. That gives buyers some room to negotiate. The most sought-after homes still move fast: Redfin says “hot homes” in the ZIP can sell for around list price and go pending in about 22 days, so be ready to act when the right house comes up.

Rent

Rentals are scarce in Forestbrook. The Census survey puts the median gross rent at $814 a month, but that number is based on a small number of rental homes and may not reflect what is listed today. For comparison, the Horry County median is $1,255 and the South Carolina median is $1,180. Expect most rentals to be single-family homes, and move quickly when a good one comes up. If you need a place to live while you shop for a home, one option is renting short term in Myrtle Beach or Conway first, and our storage service can hold your furniture in the meantime.

Best Areas of Forestbrook

Forestbrook is compact, so the differences come down to which edge of the community you live near.

The Neighborhoods Near the Schools

Forestbrook Elementary and Forestbrook Middle serve the community, and the residential streets closest to them are the natural fit for families with school-age kids who want short drop-off runs. Most homes here are single-family, and with nine in ten homes owner-occupied, neighbors tend to stay put.

Near US-501

The northeast side of Forestbrook sits along US-501, the main road to Myrtle Beach, Conway and the Tanger Outlets. It suits commuters and anyone who wants shopping and dining close by. The trade-off is traffic: 501 is the main route into Myrtle Beach and gets heavy on summer weekends.

Toward Socastee Swamp

The southeast side of the community backs up to Socastee Swamp. Homes here can feel more secluded and wooded, which appeals to buyers who want privacy and wildlife. Look carefully at drainage, flood zones and flood insurance costs before buying near the swamp, and ask the seller about past high water.

Weather & Climate

Forestbrook has a humid subtropical climate. The closest long-term normals are for Myrtle Beach (NOAA 1991–2020):

January: average high 55.5°F, average low 33.6°F
July: average high 87.4°F, average low 71.6°F
Rainfall: about 53.6 inches a year; July through September are the wettest months

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forestbrook is inland from the ocean, but heavy rain is the bigger concern here. Horry County’s emergency management office advises anyone in flood-prone areas along waterways, and anyone in a mobile home, to consider evacuating in a storm even if they are outside a designated evacuation zone.

With January highs averaging in the mid-50s, winter is usually mild enough to move comfortably. Summer is the real challenge, with highs in the upper 80s and high humidity.

Best time to move: March through May and October through early December bring comfortable temperatures and lighter traffic on US-501.

Things to Do in Forestbrook

Tanger Outlets on Highway 501

Tanger’s open-air outlet center on US-501 near Carolina Forest Boulevard is only minutes from Forestbrook. It is pet-friendly for leashed dogs and has EV charging, which makes it an easy weekend errand.

Coastal Grand Mall

Coastal Grand, off US-17 Bypass and Harrelson Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, opened in 2004. At more than a million square feet, it is the second-largest mall in South Carolina, with Belk, Dillard’s and JCPenney, more than 170 specialty stores and a 14-screen Cinemark theater.

Broadway at the Beach

This 350-acre shopping and entertainment complex surrounds the 23-acre Lake Broadway, with more than 20 restaurants, over 100 shops, theaters and nightlife. It is a popular place to take out-of-town guests.

Myrtle Beach State Park

For a quieter beach day, Myrtle Beach State Park preserves one of the last beachfront green spaces on the Grand Strand, with a fishing pier, campsites and cabins. The park suggests first-time visitors catch a sunrise over the ocean, and the pier is a favorite spot for fishing and wildlife watching. Note the county rule: pets and bikes are not allowed on Horry County public beaches from 10am to 5pm, May 1 through Labor Day.

Socastee Recreation Park

Horry County Parks and Recreation counts Socastee Recreation Park among its largest facilities. It is close to Forestbrook and handy for youth sports and open space.

Where to Eat Near Forestbrook

Forestbrook itself is mostly homes, so locals eat along US-501 or head into Myrtle Beach, about 7 miles away. Three established favorites:

Peaches Corner

Open since 1937 at 900 North Ocean Boulevard, Peaches Corner bills itself as one of the most historic restaurants on the Grand Strand. It is known for footlong hot dogs and burgers, and it is a good first stop after a move.

Sea Captain’s House

At 3002 North Ocean Boulevard, Sea Captain’s House serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with an ocean view. It is a classic pick when family comes to visit.

River City Cafe

This Grand Strand burger spot has locations from Murrells Inlet to North Myrtle Beach, including 404 21st Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. It is an easy, casual meal on a busy moving week.

Jobs & Economy

Forestbrook’s residents are a mix of working families and retirees, with a higher share of college graduates (30.3%) than Horry County overall. The location makes it easy to work almost anywhere in the county. The average commute is 24.7 minutes. The Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation lists Horry County’s largest employers as:

Horry County School District: about 6,400 employees
Coastal Carolina University: about 2,700
Horry County Government: about 2,650
Conway Medical Center: about 1,800
McLeod Seacoast: about 1,700
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center: about 1,300
City of Myrtle Beach: about 1,050
Kyocera AVX (electronics manufacturing): about 1,000

Manufacturing is smaller but steady. MBREDC’s top industrial employers in Horry County are Kyocera AVX (electronics, about 1,000 workers), Apollo Valves/Conbraco (about 425), Canfor Southern Pine (about 275), Pepsi Bottling Ventures (about 195) and Metglas (about 156).

Myrtle Beach, about 7 miles away, and Conway, about 10 miles away, are home to most of the largest employers. Tourism and health care are major parts of the local economy.

Schools in Forestbrook

Forestbrook is served by Horry County Schools, the third-largest district in South Carolina, with more than 45,000 students (2018–19) in 56 schools. Forestbrook Elementary and Forestbrook Middle are located in the community. The district is split into nine attendance areas (Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Green Sea Floyds, Loris, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee and St. James). High school and other assignments depend on your street address, so check the district’s “Find My School” tool for any home you are considering.

For higher education, Coastal Carolina University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College are both in Conway, about 10 miles away, and HGTC also has a Grand Strand Campus in Myrtle Beach.

Forestbrook Quick Facts

County	Horry County
Type	Unincorporated census-designated place
ZIP code	29579
Area code	843
Population (2020 Census)	6,656
Area	3.7 square miles
Main roads	US-501, SC-31 (Carolina Bays Parkway)
Nearest commercial airport	Myrtle Beach International (MYR)
Community schools	Forestbrook Elementary, Forestbrook Middle
Law enforcement	Horry County Police Department

Moving to Forestbrook: Tips From Our Crew

Avoid US-501 on summer Saturdays. US-501 is the main road into Myrtle Beach, and it fills with vacation traffic on rental changeover days. We plan routes and start times to stay off it at peak hours when we can.
Use SC-31 for through trips. The Carolina Bays Parkway runs right along Forestbrook’s edge and is often the quickest way to North Myrtle Beach or the south end of the Grand Strand.
Check the flood picture. Homes near Socastee Swamp and low spots can collect water in heavy rain. Look up flood zones before you buy, and if a storm is in the forecast near moving day, we’ll work with you on a new date with no rescheduling fee.
Ask about HOA rules. Some subdivisions have rules on truck parking, moving hours and how long a container can sit in a driveway. Send them to us ahead of time.
Mind school traffic. School drop-off and pickup add traffic to neighborhood roads. We try to schedule arrivals outside drop-off and pickup times on school days.
Plan for the heat. July averages in the upper 80s with high humidity. Early starts and working air conditioning at the new home keep everyone, including your furniture, in better shape.
Get a certificate of insurance if you need one. If you are moving from or into a managed apartment or condo building in Myrtle Beach, the building may require a certificate of insurance (COI) from your mover. We provide COIs free of charge.
Downsize before the truck arrives. If you are moving from a bigger home, our junk removal crew can clear out what you don’t want to pay to move.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Forestbrook

How much does it cost to hire movers in Forestbrook?

The price depends on how much you’re moving, the distance, access at both homes (stairs, long carries, HOA restrictions), packing needs and the date. A local move from Myrtle Beach is priced very differently from an out-of-state move. For an exact number, call 910-758-0081 for a free quote. An owner calls you back, typically within 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm.

Is Forestbrook part of Myrtle Beach?

No. Forestbrook is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Horry County, about 5 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach. Many homes have a Myrtle Beach mailing address, but county services and the Horry County Police Department cover the area.

Is Forestbrook a good place for families?

Many families think so. It has its own elementary and middle schools, a median household income above the county’s, a poverty rate about half the county’s, and quick access to parks, shopping and the beach. Check school assignments by address, since lines can change as the area grows.

How far is Forestbrook from the beach?

Myrtle Beach is about 7 miles away by road, usually a short drive via US-501. On summer weekends, traffic on 501 can add time, so many locals head to the beach early or use the Carolina Bays Parkway to reach less crowded spots.

Do you handle long-distance moves into Forestbrook?

Yes. Our Forestbrook moving team handles long-distance moves with a binding estimate, so the price never changes after you book. You get your own dedicated truck, the same W-2 crew from door to door, and a guaranteed delivery date. Military families get 5% off.

Move to Forestbrook With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015. Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors. With our Owner’s Promise, you talk to an owner, not a call center. If anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day, and claims are resolved in 60–90 days. We offer packing and unpacking, storage, military moves and office moves. See how our Forestbrook movers can help, or call our NC & SC team at 910-758-0081.

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Moving to Forestbrook, SC: Living in Forestbrook Guide