Horry County, South Carolina Income Statistics
Horry County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Horry County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Horry County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,773 | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,739 | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.5% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.6% | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Horry County is about 4% lower than in South Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Horry County (5.1%/yr) than in South Carolina (5.0%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Horry County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the South Carolina average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Horry County, South Carolina grew by 56.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,773 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Horry County
| Metric | Horry County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.531 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,815 | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $47,988 | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.5% | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Horry County, it is 0.531, lower than South Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 14% more than women's income in Horry County, South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $238,945 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Horry County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,212 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Horry County | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.0% | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 8,485 people are unemployed in Horry County, South Carolina.
The average commute time in Horry County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in South Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Horry County, South Carolina has fallen from 9.8% to 4.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.3% in 2013.
Horry County, SC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Horry County, SC is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 382,931 residents against a local median of 50,166. The measure that sets Horry County, SC apart most is median household income: $66,773, 35% above the local median of $49,633. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.1%/yr against a local median of 4.2%/yr, 23% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Horry County, SC is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $31,484 on median household income, so Horry County, SC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Horry County, SC has the 2nd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horry County, SC | 382,931 | $66,773 #2/6 | 5.1%/yr #3/6 | 4.9% #3/6 | 0.531 #1/6 |
| Marion County, SC | 28,664 | $36,420 | 2.4%/yr | 7.2% | 0.552 |
| Columbus County, NC | 50,166 | $49,633 | 4.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.559 |
| Georgetown County, SC | 64,818 | $67,903 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.547 |
| Dillon County, SC | 27,862 | $46,591 | 5.3%/yr | 8.9% | 0.560 |
| Florence County, SC | 137,115 | $58,597 | 3.9%/yr | 5.6% | 0.564 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Horry County, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with South Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Horry County, South Carolina.
How Rich Is Horry County, South Carolina?
Horry County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $66,773, about 4% lower than the South Carolina average of $69,383.
How fast is household income rising in Horry County, South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Horry County, South Carolina rose 57%, from $42,624 to $66,773. Over the same years, income here lagged behind South Carolina as a whole: +57% against +59%.
What was the median household income in Horry County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Horry County, South Carolina was $64,470, up 8% from $59,903 in 2022. The South Carolina median that year was $66,973.
What was the median household income in Horry County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Horry County, South Carolina was $51,789. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $66,773.
What is the Gini coefficient in Horry County, South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Horry County is 0.531. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Horry County, South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Horry County, South Carolina has narrowed from about 21% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,212 since 2009.
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