Moving to Murrells Inlet, SC: Living Guide

Murrells Inlet calls itself the seafood capital of South Carolina, and it earns the name. This old fishing village sits on a saltwater marsh at the southern end of the Grand Strand, where a half-mile boardwalk lines the water and boats head out past the jetties every morning. Behind the waterfront you’ll find oak-shaded streets, golf courses built on old rice plantations, and some of the most popular state park beaches on the coast.

The town suits retirees, remote workers and anyone who wants a slower pace without being far from Myrtle Beach. It is one of the older, better-educated and higher-income communities in the area, and most residents own their homes. It is not a cheap beach town anymore, but you get marsh views, good restaurants and two counties’ worth of amenities in one ZIP code.

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

Where Is Murrells Inlet?

Murrells Inlet is an unincorporated community on the Waccamaw Neck, the narrow strip of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Waccamaw River. The Census-designated place (CDP) sits in the northeastern corner of Georgetown County, and its northern edge follows the Horry County line. The 29576 ZIP code reaches north into Horry County as well, including the Burgess area along SC-707.

U.S. Route 17 runs through the middle of town, and US-17 Business (the old Kings Highway route) carries you past the MarshWalk and the restaurant row. Approximate driving distances:

Surfside Beach: about 9 minutes north
Myrtle Beach: about 14 miles, roughly 21 minutes, via US-17 Business
Georgetown (the county seat): about 22 miles, roughly 28 minutes
Charleston: about 82 miles, roughly 1 hour 42 minutes, via US-17

Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) is the closest commercial airport and the easiest way in and out for visiting family. Charleston International is the backup for more flight options.

Murrells Inlet Population & Demographics

Murrells Inlet is growing steadily. The CDP counted 7,547 residents in 2010 and 9,740 in 2020, and the Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 survey estimates about 10,044 people today. The numbers tell a clear story: this is a retirement and second-career community. More than a third of residents are 65 or older, the median age is 60.4, and incomes and education levels run well above the state average.

Measure	Murrells Inlet CDP	South Carolina	United States
Population (2020 Census)	9,740	5,118,425	331,449,281
Median age (ACS 2020–2024)	60.4	40.2	38.9
Residents 65 and older	38.3%	21.1%	18.9%
Median household income	$77,438	$69,324	$80,734
Per capita income	$69,195	$39,236	$44,673
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	42.1%	32.1%	35.7%
Owner-occupied housing rate	86.0%	71.9%	65.2%
Persons in poverty	7.3%	13.3%	10.2%
Mean travel time to work	23.6 min	25.6 min	26.4 min

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (2020 Census and 2020–2024 American Community Survey); median age from Census Reporter (ACS 2024 5-year).

A few more details: Murrells Inlet is home to 1,223 veterans, households average 2.18 people, and 87.8% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier, so neighbors tend to stay put. The CDP covers 7.32 square miles of land. Keep in mind these figures describe the Georgetown County CDP only; the Horry County side of the 29576 ZIP code is counted separately.

Is Murrells Inlet Safe?

We did not find a recent, reliable crime data source for Murrells Inlet worth quoting, so we won’t guess. Safety depends on the street, and the best approach is to check the specific area you are considering. Because Murrells Inlet is unincorporated, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office covers the CDP, while addresses on the Horry County side fall under the Horry County Police Department. Both agencies can answer questions about a particular neighborhood. Visit on a summer weekend night and a winter weekday before you decide.

Cost of Living in Murrells Inlet

Home Prices

Murrells Inlet costs more than most of the Grand Strand. The Census Bureau puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the CDP at $366,000 (2020–2024), compared with $259,000 for South Carolina and $332,700 nationally. Georgetown County as a whole sits at $289,500.

Recent sales run higher than that survey number. Redfin reports that the median sale price across the 29576 ZIP code was about $395,000 over the three months through August 2026, down 2.3% from a year earlier, while the price per square foot rose 8.6% to $241. Homes took a median of 75 days to sell, down from 114 days the year before, and sold for about 97.2% of list price on average. That gives buyers some room to negotiate.

Monthly owner costs are moderate once you own: the Census median is $1,661 with a mortgage and $605 without one. Budget separately for flood and wind insurance, which can change the math on a marsh-front house.

Rent

Rentals are limited because most homes are owner-occupied. The Census median gross rent in the CDP is $1,751, well above the South Carolina median of $1,180. Zumper lists an average rent of $1,775 a month in Murrells Inlet as of September 2026, with one-bedrooms around $1,350, two-bedrooms around $1,700 and three-bedrooms around $1,797. If you are renting while you shop for a house, our storage service lets you keep the bulk of your furniture out of a small rental.

Best Neighborhoods in Murrells Inlet

The Waterfront and Business 17

The heart of old Murrells Inlet runs along US-17 Business and the creek, where the Murrells Inlet Historic District, the MarshWalk and the restaurant row sit side by side. Homes here range from older cottages to newer houses with marsh views, and many are raised off the ground. This section suits people who want to walk or bike to dinner and watch the boats come in. Expect more summer traffic and noise from live music on weekend nights, which some residents love and others avoid.

Wachesaw and the Golf Communities

Much of the land around Murrells Inlet was once rice plantations, and several have become golf communities. Wachesaw East Golf Club, for example, sits on a former rice plantation and once hosted an LPGA event. These areas suit retirees and golfers who want quiet streets, mature trees and a club nearby. Many have HOAs with rules about moving trucks, gate access and move hours, so check with the association before you book a date.

Burgess and the Horry County Side

North of the county line, the 29576 ZIP code covers the Burgess area along SC-707. This side has more newer subdivisions and more families, since it feeds into Horry County Schools, including St. James High School on Highway 707. It suits buyers who want a newer house, a shorter drive toward Myrtle Beach and Market Common, and easy access to the beach in Garden City and Surfside.

Weather & Climate

Murrells Inlet has a humid subtropical climate. Average monthly temperatures range from about 46.5°F in January to 80.5°F in July. At the nearby Myrtle Beach International Airport weather station, 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 there averages about 48.5 inches. Snow is very rare, though a trace falls a few times each decade.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center, and it peaks around September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. Murrells Inlet has a long hurricane history: in the 1893 storm known locally as the Flagg Flood, the storm surge swept away members of the Flagg family who lived in houses on Magnolia Beach. Check your address with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division’s Know Your Zone tool before you buy.

Best months to move: April, May, October and November. You avoid peak beach traffic on US-17 and the most active stretch of hurricane season, and the temperatures are easy on crews and on you.

Things to Do in Murrells Inlet

The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk

The MarshWalk is a half-mile wooden boardwalk along a natural saltwater estuary at 4025 Hwy 17 Business. It connects a row of waterfront restaurants and bars, including Drunken Jack’s, The Wicked Tuna, Dead Dog Saloon, Creek Ratz, Bovine’s, The Claw House and Wahoo’s. The live music and the view are free, and locals walk it year-round to watch herons and sunsets over the marsh.

Huntington Beach State Park

At 16148 Ocean Highway, Huntington Beach State Park has three miles of beach, salt marsh and a freshwater lake where alligators are easy to spot. Birders have recorded more than 300 species here. The park is also home to Atalaya, the Moorish-style winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, which hosts the Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival every September. Arrive before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. on busy weekends, since the park may close temporarily when parking fills.

Brookgreen Gardens

Founded in 1931 by the Huntingtons, Brookgreen Gardens at 1931 Brookgreen Drive combines an American sculpture collection, botanical gardens, the Lowcountry Zoo and exhibits on the area’s history. It is a National Historic Landmark and is accredited by both the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Many residents buy annual memberships.

Fishing, Crabbing and the Inlet

The inlet itself is the main attraction. Charter boats, kayak rentals and fishing trips leave from the waterfront, and the creeks behind the MarshWalk are good for crabbing and paddling at high tide. If you have a boat, living here means you can be on the water in minutes.

Historic Landmarks

Three Murrells Inlet sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Atalaya, the Murrells Inlet Historic District and Richmond Hill. The area’s history goes back to Waccamaw people, colonial land grants and rice plantations like Wachesaw, The Oaks and Brookgreen. Mystery writer Mickey Spillane also made Murrells Inlet his home.

Where to Eat in Murrells Inlet

Lee’s Inlet Kitchen

One family has run Lee’s Inlet Kitchen at 4460 Highway 17 Business since 1948. Many recipes, including the shrimp salad, sauces, corndodgers and onion rings, have been handed down through the generations. Southern Living named it the Best Seafood Restaurant in South Carolina in 2023.

Drunken Jack’s

Drunken Jack’s has been on the MarshWalk at 4031 US-17 Business since 1979. It is known for fresh local seafood and big views of the marsh, and it is a reliable place to take visiting family.

The Wicked Tuna

The Wicked Tuna is a grill, sushi bar and bar on the MarshWalk with its own fishing fleet, which supplies its “hook to plate” menu. Reservations are recommended, especially in summer.

Jobs & Economy

Health care, tourism and retail drive the local economy. The Census Bureau’s 2022 Economic Census counted about $258 million in health care and social assistance receipts in the Murrells Inlet CDP, about $217 million in retail sales and about $106 million in accommodation and food services sales. Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, at 4070 Highway 17 South, anchors the local health care sector.

Many working residents commute north into Horry County. The Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation lists Horry County’s largest 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), Grand Strand Regional Medical Center (1,300), the City of Myrtle Beach (1,050) and Kyocera AVX (1,000). With so many retirees, only 47.0% of Murrells Inlet residents are in the civilian labor force, so the area also has a strong market for home services, marine work and hospitality jobs.

Schools in Murrells Inlet

Which school district you’re in depends on which side of the county line you live on, so check before you buy.

Georgetown County School District serves the Georgetown County side, including the Murrells Inlet CDP. Students on the Waccamaw Neck attend the Waccamaw family of schools: Waccamaw Elementary, Waccamaw Intermediate, Waccamaw Middle and Waccamaw High School, which is at 2412 Kings River Road in Pawleys Island and enrolled 846 students in 2023–2024.
Horry County Schools serves the Horry County side. The district has more than 47,000 students and is South Carolina’s third-largest. St. James High School, at 10800 Highway 707 in Burgess, opened in 2003 and enrolled 1,880 students in 2023–2024. Use the district’s Find My School tool to confirm your assignment.

For college, Coastal Carolina University in Conway reported a record preliminary enrollment of 11,881 students for fall 2025.

Murrells Inlet Quick Facts

County	Georgetown County (the 29576 ZIP also extends into Horry County)
Type of community	Unincorporated; Census-designated place
ZIP code	29576
Area codes	843, with the 854 overlay
Population (2020 Census)	9,740
Main highways	US-17 and US-17 Business; SC-707 on the Horry County side
Nearest airport	Myrtle Beach International (MYR)
Nearest hospital	Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital
Public schools	Georgetown County School District or Horry County Schools, depending on address

Moving to Murrells Inlet: Tips From Our Crew

Know your county. The same 29576 address can be in Georgetown or Horry County. That changes your schools, your property tax bill, your trash service and which agency answers a 911 call. Confirm it before you sign.
Avoid Business 17 on summer evenings. MarshWalk traffic backs up Business 17 on warm weekend nights. We like to load and unload in the morning and be clear of the waterfront by late afternoon.
Plan for stairs. Many homes near the marsh are raised on pilings, with a long staircase to the main floor. Tell us about exterior stairs when you call so we send the right size crew and plan how to get large pieces up safely.
Check HOA and gate rules. Golf and plantation communities often limit truck size, move hours and weekend moves, and some need your crew listed at the gate. Get the rules in writing a week ahead. If your building or HOA needs a certificate of insurance, we provide it free.
Book around hurricane season. If you are moving between August and October, keep your date flexible and pack a go-bag with documents and medicine. A & M never charges a rescheduling fee, so if a storm pushes your date, we just move it.
Protect wood furniture from humidity. Coming from a drier climate? Let furniture adjust before you tighten joints, and keep the AC running from day one to protect pianos and antiques.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Murrells Inlet

How much does it cost to hire movers in Murrells Inlet?

It depends on the size of your home, the distance, stairs and extras like packing or storage. A one-bedroom condo move costs far less than a four-bedroom house on pilings. The fastest way to get a real number is to call 910-758-0081 or request a free quote online. An owner calls you back within 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm.

Is Murrells Inlet a good place to retire?

Many people think so. The median age in the CDP is 60.4, and 38.3% of residents are 65 or older, so you will have plenty of company. You also get a hospital in town, golf, fishing, state park beaches and Myrtle Beach International about half an hour away.

Is Murrells Inlet in Horry County or Georgetown County?

Both. The Census-designated place is in Georgetown County, and its northern edge follows the Horry County line. The 29576 ZIP code extends into Horry County, including the Burgess area. Check the county on your property record, since it affects schools, taxes and services.

How far is Murrells Inlet from the beach?

Very close. Huntington Beach State Park is on US-17 in Murrells Inlet, and Garden City Beach and Surfside Beach are just to the north. Surfside is about a 9-minute drive, so most residents can be on the sand in minutes.

Can A & M move me to Murrells Inlet from another state?

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

Move to Murrells Inlet With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015, and our Murrells Inlet movers work out of our North Myrtle Beach and Calabash offices. Every crew member is a background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employee. We never use subcontractors. With 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, storage, piano and safe moving, and military moves with 5% off. Call 910-758-0081 or visit our Murrells Inlet moving page to get started.

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Moving to Murrells Inlet, SC: Living in Murrells Inlet Guide