Best In South Carolina Real Estate™: Grand Strand

This is not a housing crisis — it’s a market signal. The Grand Strand’s rental economy has shifted from accessibility to exclusivity, with capital now favoring luxury and short-term rentals over affordability. This data, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey and analyzed by ALEX Intelligence, shows that even the most historically affordable city in the metro is now under structural strain. The real question isn’t where the best deals are — it’s how the market will adapt when affordability becomes a non-negotiable constraint. Learn more: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-28-grand-strand-severe-rent-burden-place-mkt Renters Over the 50% Rent Threshold, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 Georgetown — 34.1% #2 Myrtle Beach — 33.1% #3 North Myrtle Beach — 32.5% #4 Little River — 27.4% #5 Conway — 26.7% #6 Litchfield Beach — 20.6% #7 Socastee — 18.3% #8 Garden City — 16.9% #9 Carolina Forest — 15.4% #10 Red Hill — 15.3% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Thomson M (CC BY 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=59083441; Slide 2: Farragutful (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=44451434; Slide 3: James Willamor (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=57248969; Slide 4: Matthew Trudeau Photography from Murrells inlet , USA (CC0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=51481197 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-28-grand-strand-severe-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