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Garden City Beach

Garden City Beach

Neighborhood in Garden City, South Carolina

Horry County 29576

$1,565,560 Average Value
$445 Average Price per Sq Ft
22 Homes For Sale

Murrells Inlet’s longest stretch of beach

For anyone wanting to dip their toes in the sand, Garden City Beach is the go-to beachfront community in the port community of Murrells Inlet. This small town next to Myrtle Beach has been home to many intriguing characters over the last 300 years – from rice farmers and fishermen to explorers and pirates. Today, it is mainly occupied by seasonal visitors looking to fish, boat and birdwatch on the Atlantic shore. As one of the only inlet neighborhoods allowing rental homes, Garden City Beach is popular with both tourists and part-time residents. The beach’s rental properties are a short walk or bike ride from the shore’s signature fishing pier, which is always open to visitors. The area’s top destinations, including the Marsh Walk, Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens, are all only a few miles from the shore. “No part of the Grand Strand has as much to offer as Garden City Beach,” says Kyle Hawley, a Murrells Inlet native and a Realtor with Dunes Realty. “If you want peace and quiet, we’ve got it. If you want outdoors, we’ve got it. Dining and nightlife, we’ve got it all in a few miles.”

Garden City Beach is located along the southern coast near Myrtle Beach.
Garden City Beach is located along the southern coast near Myrtle Beach.
Numerous bike trails run alongside the miles of marsh in Garden City Beach.
Numerous bike trails run alongside the miles of marsh in Garden City Beach.
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Fishermen cast a line at The Pier at Garden City

Garden City Beach and the adjoining Surfside Beach are the main places near Murrells Inlet to surf, swim and enjoy the water. The Pier at Garden City on Waccamaw Drive has a tackle shop, arcade and café. Golfers can choose from the International Club of Myrtle Beach and the Wachesaw East Golf Club, both within 5 miles. Garden City is 7 miles from some of the most recognizable landmarks on the Grand Strand. For instance, Huntington Beach State Park on Ocean Highway is known for its 3-mile stretch of undeveloped beachfront, beginner-friendly hiking trails and the Atalaya Castle, a nearly century-old Moorish-style mansion. And less than a mile away, Brookgreen Gardens has the largest collection of sculptures in the United States inside a 9,000-acre botanical garden.

The Pier in Garden City Beach has benches and umbrellas for fishing and sightseeing.
The Pier in Garden City Beach has benches and umbrellas for fishing and sightseeing.
"The inland marshes in Garden City Beach offer plenty of opportunities for fishing fun."
"The inland marshes in Garden City Beach offer plenty of opportunities for fishing fun."
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Seaside crab cakes at Hippie Hen House

Small surf and beach shops dot the shoreline, and locals can head farther into Murrells Inlet to find large shops and acclaimed restaurants. There are a Kroger and two Walmarts on U.S. Route 17, or beachgoers can pick up cold drinks and snacks at Garden City Grocery, next to the fishing pier on Atlantic Avenue. Less than a mile off the beach, Route 17 has many restaurants, including Hippie Hen House, best known for its crabcakes, and Stella’s Homemade Ice Cream, with nearly 40 flavors made in-house. Also located on the highway, the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk is one of the area’s biggest foodie destinations. The boardwalk has eight top local restaurants, including Bovine’s, known for its seafood, steaks and wood-fired pizzas.

The Hippie Hen House is a local favorite in Garden City Beach.
The Hippie Hen House is a local favorite in Garden City Beach.
At the Hippie Hen House, customers can savor a wide range of cocktails to complement their meals
At the Hippie Hen House, customers can savor a wide range of cocktails to complement their meals
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Garden City allows year-round residences and short-term rentals

Garden City Beach is one of the most popular places for tourists to stay overnight due to the many waterside rental properties. “It’s where you’ll find a lot more second homeowners who rent their house out as a vacation rental property, and that’s because when you get away from the beach, we have a lot of planned HOA communities that don’t allow short-term rentals,” says Drew Dellinger, who has lived in the Grand Strand for over 20 years and is a Realtor with Garden City Realty. Owners and visitors can enjoy these candy-colored beach houses, which range from bungalows costing between $700,000 and $1 million to multistory properties selling between $1 million and $3 million. Nearly every home has a waterfront view, and it’s a short walk or bike ride down the palm-tree-lined streets to reach the shore. While the area is not particularly prone to flooding, Dellinger says, many waterfront houses are elevated to protect against rising tides. Garden City Beach also has a desirable CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, far below the national average of 4.

There are large beach homes and bungalow-style residences in Garden City Beach.
There are large beach homes and bungalow-style residences in Garden City Beach.
Garden City Beach has newer large beach homes on the water.
Garden City Beach has newer large beach homes on the water.
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Cars and Coast RTA buses traverse Ocean Highway

The neighborhood is 12 miles from Myrtle Beach, and Route 17 – also known as Ocean Highway – directly connects the two seaside communities. Coast RTA buses also run between Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet. Myrtle Beach has plenty of shopping, dining and tourist attractions, as well as the closest commercial airport, Myrtle Beach International Airport. Closer to home, Murrells Inlet has its own healthcare facility, Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital on Route 17, and there are multiple churches just a few blocks from the shore. They include St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Garden City Baptist Church and Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran, all on Cypress Avenue.

The Coast RTA has bus lines that serve the Garden City Beach area.
The Coast RTA has bus lines that serve the Garden City Beach area.
Route 17 is the main thoroughfare near Garden City Beach.
Route 17 is the main thoroughfare near Garden City Beach.
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Future artists attend St. James High

The northern part of Garden City Beach is zoned into Horry County Schools, which Niche ranks among the top 20 school districts in the state. Horry Schools like Seaside Elementary School and St. James High School have A-minus scores on Niche, while St. James Middle School and St. James Intermediate Schools both earn A ratings. St. James High has one of the best-ranked fine arts programs in the state, with awards in band, chorus, orchestra and drama. Families living south of Yucca Avenue can send their children to Georgetown County Schools like Waccamaw Elementary School, which has an A-minus grade on Niche. Those children move on to Waccamaw Intermediate School, Waccamaw Middle School and Waccamaw High School, all of which have B-plus grades. The Horry-Georgetown Technical College Grand Strand Campus is 8 miles away in Myrtle Beach. The campus is home to the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach, where future chefs get hands-on experience in a student-run restaurant.

Seaside Elementary offers diverse programs for students in South Myrtle Beach.
Seaside Elementary offers diverse programs for students in South Myrtle Beach.
St. James High School has a large campus with several outdoor sports fields.
St. James High School has a large campus with several outdoor sports fields.
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Delaney Murray
Written By
Delaney Murray
Carmen Natale
Photography Contributed By
Carmen Natale
Houston Knight
Video By
Houston Knight

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Brian Piercy, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Transit

Airport

Myrtle Beach International

27 min drive

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Garden City Beach US
Homicide 1 4
Sexual Assault 1 4
Assault with Weapon 1 4
Robbery 1 4
Burglary 2 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 1 4
Larceny 2 4
Crime Score 1 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$1,192,500
Median Single Family Price
$1,595,000
Median Townhouse Price
$1,350,000
Median 2 Bedroom Price
$349,538
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$445
Number of Homes for Sale
22
Last 12 months Home Sales
32
Months of Supply
8.30
Median List Price
$1,390,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
7%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-16%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
423
Median Year Built
1984
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
3,889
Significantly above the national average
1,935
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
3,850
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
988
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
12,850

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Brian Piercy, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
504
Median Age
60
Population under 18
11.7%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
37.5%
Above the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$131,870
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$139,959

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
100%
College Graduates
66%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
20%
% Population in Labor Force
47.2%
Below the national average
65.1%

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

29 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

8 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Garden City Beach