People ask us this one all the time, usually right after "So where do you live?" So we sat down, argued a little, and wrote it out. These are our honest picks for retirement on the Grand Strand, in Horry and Georgetown counties.
Your list will look different, and that is the point. Use ours as a starting place, then tell us what matters to you.
Our Criteria for Retiring on the Grand Strand
- One-level living, or at least a primary suite on the main floor.
- Healthcare access. Horry and Georgetown counties are served by several hospital systems, including Grand Strand Health, Conway Medical Center, McLeod Health and Tidelands Health. We would check which doctors and specialists are in network before picking a street.
- Off-season livability. A neighborhood that is lovely in July and empty in January is not for everyone.
- Flood zone and insurance checked before we fall in love.
Pick One: Amenities and Energy Near Market Common
If we wanted restaurants, shops, a movie theater and a walk around the lake without getting in the car, we would look at the Market Common area of Myrtle Beach. It has a mix of homes, townhomes and condos, plus an active-adult option in Cresswind. Our Market Common guide covers the neighborhoods in detail.
Nearby Carolina Forest is the other name that comes up for retirees who want newer homes and everyday shopping close by. We would tour both and compare HOA documents side by side.
Pick Two: A Quieter Coast in Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island
If we wanted marsh views, seafood and a slower pace, we would head south. Murrells Inlet has the MarshWalk and a fishing-village feel, and Pawleys Island, just over the line in Georgetown County, is famously low-key. Read our Murrells Inlet pros and cons and Pawleys Island pros and cons before you visit.
Pick Three: Value and Space in Conway
If we wanted more yard for the money and a real downtown, we would look at Conway, the Horry County seat on the Waccamaw River. It has a historic riverfront, its own hospital, and plenty of new construction on the edges of town. Our Conway pros and cons post lays out the tradeoffs, including river flooding in some low areas.
Beach Access From Each Pick
Market Common is close to the south end of Myrtle Beach and to Myrtle Beach State Park. Murrells Inlet residents often use Huntington Beach State Park and the Garden City beach accesses, and Pawleys Island has public beach access points listed by the Town of Pawleys Island. Conway is inland, so the beach is a drive. We do not publish drive times because they swing so much with summer traffic, so test the route at the time of day you would actually go.
What We Would Skip, and Why
We would skip falling for a home before checking its flood zone on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. We would skip buying on the busiest stretch of a tourist road if we wanted quiet evenings. And we would skip a community whose rules do not fit how we live, like a strict guest limit when we plan to host family all summer. None of these places are bad. They just are not right for everyone.
What a Good Retirement Week Looks Like
We like to picture an ordinary week, not a vacation. Coffee on the porch, a doctor's appointment, groceries, a round of golf or a walk, dinner with friends, and a visit from family. Wherever you can do all of that without stress is probably your spot.
How to Turn Our List Into Your Shortlist
Tell us your budget, how often family visits, and whether you want golf, water or walkability. We will build a short list of neighborhoods across Horry and Georgetown counties and set up a map call so you can see how they fit together before you fly in. For more background, our best Myrtle Beach suburbs post and Retiring to Myrtle Beach guide are good next reads.
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