Health Profile of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach Health Score
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
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C
Myrtle Beach Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
General Health Overview
| Metric | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 77.3 | 75.8 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 15.9% | 9.6% | 8.4% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 15.8% | 19.6% | 16.3% |
Life expectancy in Myrtle Beach is 77.3 years, about 1.5 years longer than the South Carolina average of 75.8 years. The uninsured rate is 15.9%, higher than the South Carolina average of 9.6%. Self-rated poor health is reported by 15.8% of residents, lower than the South Carolina average of 19.6%.
Population by Age
Older residents
14,762 residents in Myrtle Beach are age 50 or older.
- 85+ 687 255 men · 431 women
- 75–84 1,998 897 men · 1,101 women
- 65–74 4,486 2,215 men · 2,271 women
- 50–64 7,591 3,573 men · 4,018 women
Younger residents
6,324 residents in Myrtle Beach are age 17 or younger.
- 12–17 1,797 978 boys · 819 girls
- 7–12 1,685 913 boys · 772 girls
- 3–7 1,535 813 boys · 722 girls
- 0–3 1,307 677 boys · 630 girls
About 2,116 residents in Myrtle Beach (6.0% of the population) are older than the area's life expectancy of 77.3 years.
The highlighted slice of the age axis is the share of residents older than the life-expectancy mark.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 10.6% | 14.2% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 6.6% | 6.4% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 6.7% | 7.4% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 34.5% | 39.9% | 34.3% |
The rate of diabetes in Myrtle Beach is about 25% lower than in South Carolina.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 20.4% | 21.5% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 18.4% | 16.0% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 26.3% | 30.0% | 25.1% |
The rate of binge drinking in Myrtle Beach is about 15% higher than in South Carolina.
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 59,817 cigarettes a day, 1.8 million a month, or 21.8 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 657,986 minutes a day and 240.2 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Myrtle Beach is 77.3 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 5.91 lifetimes a year.
* Source: Shaw M, Mitchell R, Dorling D. "Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes." BMJ. 2000;320:53.
Illustrative only. This is not an estimate of how many people actually die from smoking each day or year - it's a rough, order-of-magnitude comparison meant to help grasp the scale of smoking in this area. We take no responsibility for any decisions made based on this figure.
Air Quality
| Metric | Myrtle Beach | South Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 5.99 | 6.97 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.0 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Myrtle Beach is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Myrtle Beach, SC Health Compared With Nearby Cities
How Myrtle Beach, SC compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Life expectancy | Uninsured | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 35,303 | 77.3 yrs #2/3 | 15.9% #2/3 | 34.5% #2/3 |
| Carolina Forest, SC | 24,923 | 80.3 yrs | 7.9% | 31.5% |
| Socastee, SC | 22,859 | 75.9 yrs | 20.5% | 36.1% |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has an overall health index grade of C, making it somewhat better than South Carolina, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina a healthy place to live?
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has a Map AI Health Index grade of C, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average.
How long do people live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?
People in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina can expect to live 77.3 years on average, 1.5 years longer than the South Carolina average of 75.8.
How many people lack health insurance in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?
15.9% of residents in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina have no health insurance, about 1 in 6 people, 6.3 points above the South Carolina rate of 9.6%.
What is the obesity rate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?
34.5% of adults in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina are classified as obese, about 1 in 3, 5.4 points below the South Carolina rate of 39.9%.
How many cigarettes do smokers in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina go through, and how much life does that cost?
Assuming each smoker smokes 10 cigarettes a day, that's about 59,817 cigarettes a day, 1.8 million a month, or 21.8 million a year! At 11 minutes* of life lost per cigarette, that's about 657,986 minutes a day and 240.2 million a year lost to smoking overall - and since life expectancy in Myrtle Beach is 77.3 years, that's roughly equivalent to 0.02 lifetimes a day, or 5.91 lifetimes a year.
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