News Summary
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has become the fastest-growing metro area for seniors in the U.S., with a significant 6.3% increase in residents aged 65 and older last year. This trend is part of a broader pattern, with seniors constituting over 25% of the total population. Factors such as a favorable climate and remote work opportunities have contributed to Myrtle Beach’s appeal, as many retirees seek a quieter lifestyle away from urban centers. The shift aligns with national demographic trends indicating an aging population across the country.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has seen a significant spike in its senior population, surpassing national trends. The Myrtle Beach metropolitan area recorded a 6.3% increase in residents aged 65 and older last year, making it the fastest-growing metro area for seniors in the United States. This surge is part of a broader pattern that represents a growth rate of over 22% among seniors in the area between 2020 and 2023. This growth now sees senior citizens constituting more than 25% of the total population of around 413,000 in the Myrtle Beach metro area.
Various factors have contributed to this rising trend. Key attractions such as a mile-long boardwalk and a prominent 200-foot Ferris wheel are being enjoyed by a demographic that has shifted toward quieter pastimes, including dining out and playing pickleball, marking a departure from the area’s previously rowdy nightlife. The COVID-19 pandemic has also played a pivotal role in this demographic shift, as many retirees realized they could leave bustling urban centers like New York and Ohio and work remotely, making Myrtle Beach a desirable destination.
The city’s favorable climate, low taxes, and ample recreational opportunities have made it a magnet for retirees. Notably, while Myrtle Beach experiences a rapid gain in its senior demographic, the national rate for the same age group grew by only 3.1% last year. In contrast, the population of individuals under 18 has seen a slight decline of 0.2%.
This trend aligns with a decades-long shift in the United States where the proportion of seniors has increased from 12.4% to 18% over the last twenty years, whereas the share of children has dropped from 25% to 21.5%. Projections indicate that by 2024, several states long-known for their aging populations, such as Maine and Delaware, will reflect similar patterns to emerging states like Montana, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.
Demographics and Lifestyle Changes
Maine currently holds the record for the highest median age in the country, at 44.8 years, while Utah has the youngest median age at 32.4 years. The shift in demographics is mirrored in other population data, including an increase in the Hispanic population in the U.S., which reached 20% last year for the first time, primarily due to migration.
In the context of broader population dynamics, significant growth rates of Black populations are noted in major metropolitan areas like Houston, New York, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Similarly, New York, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Seattle have seen marked increases in Asian populations, also mainly attributed to migration trends. Meanwhile, the non-Hispanic white population saw a slight decline in the past year, although areas such as Nashville, New York, and Charlotte reported numerical growth in that demographic.
The white population experienced its largest growth rates in regions like Myrtle Beach, alongside Daphne-Fairhope, Alabama, and Wilmington, North Carolina. The overall decline in the white population across the nation has been linked to deaths outpacing births in that demographic.
Conclusion
As Myrtle Beach transforms into a prime retirement destination, the demographic landscape continues to evolve significantly. This accelerated growth in the senior population presents both opportunities and challenges for the city and its residents as they accommodate an increasingly older populace amid shifting national trends.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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Additional Resources
- Oxford Economics: Seniors Age in Place
- Wikipedia: Population Ageing
- Myrtle Beach Online: Press Release
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Demography
- Senior Housing News: Sinceri Senior Living Focus
- Google Search: Population Trends in the U.S.
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
