Best In South Carolina Real Estate™: Grand Strand

🏆 #1 of 6 Grand Strand cities, #1 of 10 South Carolina cities — ALEX Intelligence 2026 Rent Burden Report Murrells Inlet has the highest rent burden in South Carolina: 77.7% of renters spend over 30% of income on rent—more than any other city in the state. This is not a housing shortage; it’s a structural imbalance between tourism-driven demand and permanent housing supply. The data reveals a deeper truth: the Grand Strand’s economic model is built on seasonality, but that same model is pricing out the people who live here year-round. As rental costs rise, long-term residents face displacement, and the local economy becomes increasingly dependent on transient income. That’s a different market with different dynamics. This is about Murrells Inlet, Horry County, and the future of South Carolina’s most visited region. Rent Burden: Cities in the Grand Strand Metro (2024) (ALEX Intelligence — 2026) #1 Murrells Inlet <- this market #2 Georgetown #3 North Myrtle Beach #4 Myrtle Beach #5 Little River Rent Burden: Cities in South Carolina (2024) (ALEX Intelligence — 2026) #1 Murrells Inlet <- this market #2 Georgetown #3 North Myrtle Beach #4 Myrtle Beach #5 Little River Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-10-grand-strand-rent-burden-place-mkt View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902