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Retirement community in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

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Murrells Inlet, South Carolina Retirement Guide

established retirement community
66

Retirement Score

Murrells Inlet, South Carolina at a Glance

Median Home Price
$336,500
State Income Tax
State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; generous retirement income deduction.
Avg January Low
41.4°F
Cost of Living Index
93.3 (US avg = 100)
Best For
established retirement community
RetireCityIQ Score
66 / 100

Overview

Explore the key retirement factors for Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, including cost of living, taxes, healthcare quality, and climate data.

Cost of Living

Affordability Metrics

Cost of Living Index
93.3 (U.S. avg = 100)Low confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated May 2026
Median Household Income
$71,019High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

Murrells Inlet's cost of living is 6.700000000000003% below the national average. For a detailed breakdown of expenses, see our cost of living methodology.

Housing

Real Estate & Housing

Median Home Price
$336,500High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$1,404High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Owner-Occupied Housing
85.2%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)

Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in Murrells Inlet using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.

Estimated monthly carrying cost

$729

Stress-case monthly carrying cost

$819

Median home price used: $336,500

Median rent reference: $1,404 / month

Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.

Budget validation

Calculate if your savings last in this city

Use RetireFree to test whether your portfolio can support retirement in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina after local housing costs, taxes, healthcare, inflation, and withdrawal timing.

Open the RetireFree Calculator →

Healthcare

Access & Quality

Healthcare Access Score
100 / 100High confidence
CMS Hospital General Information · Updated October 2026
Care Access (Proxy)
100 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026
Aging-in-Place Score
35.6 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026

Quality of care and specialist availability are critical for a successful retirement. Murrells Inlet scores 100 out of 100 for healthcare access.

Care planning link

Find local assisted living in Murrells Inlet

If your city research includes aging parents, future care needs, or a move closer to family, compare local care options alongside housing and healthcare access.

Assisted living in Murrells Inlet →

Taxes

State Tax Climate

Retirement Tax Score
45 / 100High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated October 2026
Tax Details
State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; generous retirement income deduction.High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated October 2026

South Carolina has a tax environment that is moderate for retirees.Read more in our detailed South Carolina tax guide.

Climate

Weather & Environment

Avg July High
87.3°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated October 2026
Avg January Low
41.4°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated October 2026
Annual Precipitation
55.8"High confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated October 2026
Sunny Days / Year
306 daysHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated October 2026

With 306 sunny days a year and an average January low of 41.4°F, Murrells Inlet offers a mild winter climate.

Safety & Walkability

Community Safety

Safety Score
78.1 / 100Low confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated June 2026

Walkability

Walk Score (proxy)
9.6 / 100Low confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
0 / 100Low confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026

Demographics

Population Profile

Population
10,297High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Median Age
60.2High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Age 65+
37.2%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Veterans
14.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
39.3%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

Diversity Breakdown

White
88.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Black
4.5%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Hispanic/Latino
6.8%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Asian
1.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

Frequently asked questions about retiring in Murrells Inlet

Is Murrells Inlet, South Carolina a good place to retire?▾

Murrells Inlet, South Carolina is one of the US retirement-friendly cities tracked by RetireCityIQ. Notable retirement-relevant traits include established retirement community. See the at-a-glance card on this page for the cost of living, state tax treatment, climate, and healthcare access metrics.

What is the cost of living in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina for retirees?▾

The cost-of-living index is 93, roughly 7% below the national average of 100. Median home price is around $336,500.

Does South Carolina tax Social Security or retirement income?▾

For South Carolina residents: State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; generous retirement income deduction.

What is the climate like in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina?▾

Murrells Inlet, South Carolina has January average low around 41°F, July average high around 87°F. Climate normals are based on 30-year averages from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.

What is healthcare access like in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina?▾

Murrells Inlet scores 100/100 on the RetireCityIQ healthcare access index — a top-tier score. The index combines CMS hospital quality ratings, Medicare Advantage plan availability, and hospitals per 100,000 residents (KFF + CMS data).

Interested in Murrells Inlet? Talk to a Local Expert.

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