The Myrtle Beach metro is home to 368,937 people (down 17.6% over five years), with a median household income of $64,623. Typical rent of $1,722/month works out to 32.0% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Myrtle Beach's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 19.9% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 17.3% |
| Retail trade | 14.2% |
| Professional & management | 11.0% |
| Construction | 9.4% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 32.0% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Myrtle Beach market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,722/month suggests a household income around $69,000/year. The metro's median household income is $64,623.
By workforce share: Education & health care (19.9%), Arts, food & hospitality (17.3%), Retail trade (14.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).