Carolina Forest — the #1 family pick
Carolina Forest is the master-planned heart of family Myrtle Beach. It's a collection of newer subdivisions — Waterway Palms, The Farm, Berkshire Forest, Forestbrook and others — built largely in the last 20 years, so you get modern floor plans, amenities like pools and clubhouses, and sidewalks throughout.
It sits about 10–15 minutes inland, which buys you more house for the money than oceanfront and puts you in the well-regarded Carolina Forest schools cluster. For most relocating families, it's the first place we show.
Market Common — walkable and modern
Built on the old Air Force base, Market Common is a walkable, town-center neighborhood with shops, restaurants, parks and lakes. Homes range from townhomes and condos to single-family. Families who want a low-maintenance, community feel with the beach minutes away gravitate here.
Surfside Beach & Murrells Inlet — beach-town family life
If being close to the sand matters more than square footage, Surfside Beach (officially "The Family Beach") and Murrells Inlet to the south offer cottages and newer low-maintenance homes in tight-knit, golf-cart-friendly towns. Murrells Inlet adds the MarshWalk, Brookgreen Gardens and strong schools in the St. James area.
Inland value — Conway, Longs & Aynor
Buyers who want the most space for the money look inland. Conway offers a historic downtown, larger lots and no-HOA options 15 minutes from the beach. Longs and Aynor bring new construction and acreage at the value end, with good schools. The trade-off is a longer drive to the ocean.
How to choose
Rank your three non-negotiables — commute, school zone, budget — and we'll match neighborhoods to them. School attendance lines matter here: two homes a mile apart can feed different schools, so verify the zone before you fall in love with a house.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
- Which Myrtle Beach area has the best schools?
- The Carolina Forest schools cluster and the St. James area near Murrells Inlet are the most sought-after by families. Always confirm a specific address's attendance zone with Horry County Schools, since lines change.
- Is Carolina Forest a good place to live?
- Yes — it's the most popular family choice in Myrtle Beach for its newer homes, amenities, sidewalks, and well-regarded schools, all about 10–15 minutes from the beach.
- Where do families get the most house for the money near Myrtle Beach?
- Inland communities like Conway, Longs, and Aynor offer larger lots and new construction at lower prices than the beach, in exchange for a longer drive to the ocean.