Carolinaforest1, 2006
Carolina Forest’s story
Carolina Forest in pictures
The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 2006 and 3 maps from 1937 on.
Explore the history →Carolina ForestSC
Public schools that outperform most of South Carolina. In South Carolina, this town has 26,263 residents.
Population
26,263
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$337K
Census ACS
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
40.3
years
Jobs based here
6,169
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#81 of 167 in SC
Is Carolina Forest a good place to live?
Real strengths, and real weak spots. The weak point is hazard risk: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 90% of U.S. communities, with hurricanes at the top. Overall, Carolina Forest earns a C+: better than 38% of U.S. towns, and 81st of 167 in South Carolina. Its best grade is for schools (A−) — its public schools beat 77% of South Carolina towns on state tests and graduation. At about $337K, a typical home costs 5 years of the Myrtle Beach metro’s $67K median household income. Health is another plus (B+): it is healthier than just over two thirds of U.S. towns. On history, just 3 of South Carolina’s 263 towns do worse. The town’s concentration of trails is 1.0 miles per square mile, above both South Carolina’s towns (0.3) and U.S. towns (0.4).
Figures: schools, state test and graduation results · health, CDC PLACES · FEMA National Risk Index · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · National Register of Historic Places · OpenStreetMap.
What makes Carolina Forest stand out
Where Carolina Forest beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Get outside
16 miles of trails in Carolina Forest
6.5% of the town is conserved land, across 3 parks and preserves.
2
Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve227 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Carolina Forest grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within South Carolina), ordered by how far Carolina Forest is from typical.
Hazard riskHurricanes top the listDOpen →SchoolsAhead of most towns comparedA−Open →Cost of livingBased on what homes cost against what households earnCOpen →HealthConway Medical Center 5.3 miles awayB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.1 of 20; 2.8% of households have no car; 0.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Jobs & income$74K median household incomeC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Carolina Forest: who provides what
Carolina Forest is unincorporated, so Horry County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSouth Carolina Public Service Authority12.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGsw&sa (Sc2620004) water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesHorry CountyHorry County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn South Carolina you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHorry Board of Voter RegistrationHorry County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jan 2024
ZIP code2957929579 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Carolina Forest.
Carolina Forest has less tooth loss than most of South Carolina and has hotter summers than most of the country, though not than most of South Carolina; it also carries more natural-hazard risk than most of South Carolina (mostly hurricanes).
OutdoorsB+
Conserved land covers 6.5% of Carolina Forest
Carolina Forest’s concentration of trails is 1.0 miles per square mile. Trails total 16 miles in 3 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve, at 227 acres.
#14for trails in SC
| Carolina Forest | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.0 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 6.5% | 1.7% | 4.3% |
6.5%
conserved · 713 of 11,003 acres
16 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. International Drive Fields | 0.3 mi | 20 |
| 2. Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve | — | 227 |
| 3. Ten Oaks Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA−
Carolina Forest earns an A− for schools
The largest public high school is Carolina Forest High, with 3,176 students. Three of its 8 schools are shown below, with the reason for each. The Horry 01 school district runs its public schools.
77%of SC districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Forest ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 1,336 | A− |
| Carolina Forest HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 3,176 | A+ |
| Ocean Bay ElementaryTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 1,181 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SC on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
The biggest natural risk in Carolina Forest is hurricanes, at a very high overall level
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 78% of South Carolina towns, with expected losses of about $519 per resident a year; that rating is what its D for hazard risk is built on.
Since 1989, 12 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Carolina Forest. FEMA puts 62% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to hurricanes, and 17% to inland flooding.
90risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingTornadoes
12
paid flood claims since 1989
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
Carolina Forest has 0.6 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Jobs based here grew from 2,956 in 2013 to 6,169.
Only 8% of working residents stay in Carolina Forest for work; the rest commute out. Carolina Forest’s average commute stands at 22 minutes. Jobs based in Carolina Forest grew to 6,169 in 2023, 3,213 more than in 2013. The top destinations are Myrtle Beach (26%), Conway (12%) and North Myrtle Beach (6%).
8%work in town
| Carolina Forest | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 17% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $57,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 11% | 8.6% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Carolina Forest8%
Myrtle Beach26%
Conway12%
North Myrtle Beach6%
North Charleston2%
8 mi
median commute distance
6,169
jobs based in Carolina Forest
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 35% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Carolina Forest is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns
Its widest gap with South Carolina is tooth loss: 8.9% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 13.9% statewide.
In Carolina Forest, 35% of adults sleep under 7 hours. 31% of adults here have obesity; 21% get no exercise outside work.
68%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Carolina Forest | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 33% | 33% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 37% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 28% | 25% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 16% |
32 measures vs. South Carolina
12 better20 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Carolina Forest | SC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.6% | 8.9% |
Conway Medical Center
5.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
79th
percentile among SC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
The climate in Carolina Forest brings four seasons and hot summers
July afternoons average 89.3°: hotter than most of the country, but cooler than 90% of South Carolina places with climate records; January nights average 35.9°.
Carolina Forest’s peak summer temperature comes in at 89°F.
89°summer high
| Carolina Forest | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 36°F | 34°F | 22°F |
| July high | 89°F | 91°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter38–59°
Spring52–74°
Summer70–88°
Fall55–76°
Nov 13
typical first frost
Mar 21
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
89°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Ages in Carolina Forest track South Carolina closely
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the South Carolina average. Carolina Forest: 36% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more. Its age of the median resident is 40.3 years.
40.3median age · SC 40.2
| Carolina Forest | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 23% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 18% | 17% | 18% |
Carolina ForestSouth CarolinaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school26%
Some college24%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.5 points. Across South Carolina, 51.3% of residents are women.
| Carolina Forest | SC | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.5% | 12.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.4% | 12.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.6% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13% | 13.2% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.4% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.9% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.1% | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 25.6% | 28.2% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.2% | 19.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.6% | 10% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.9% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.6% | 12.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade C
The median home in Carolina Forest sells for about $363K
Homes sold in Carolina Forest spent a median 59 days on the market. In Carolina Forest, the rent at the middle of the market is $1,668 a month. The share of households in Carolina Forest who are owner-occupiers: 70%.
$363Kmedian sale price
| Carolina Forest | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,668 a month | $1,058 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 65% | 73% |
Market temperature
59
days on market
97%
sale-to-list price
52
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 12 attractions →Grand Strand and 5 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Carolina Forest. Close and well known come first.
6 mi BeachGrand Strand
6 mi Theme parkFamily Kingdom Amusement Park
20 mi MuseumBrookgreen Gardens
19 mi MuseumHuntington Beach State Park
9 mi MuseumUnited States Post Office
10 mi MuseumBurroughs SchoolSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Grand Strand: Phil Guest from Bournemouth, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Family Kingdom Amusement Park: Fk714, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Brookgreen Gardens: Hisland7, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Huntington Beach State Park: Original uploader was Pendragon1998 at en.wikipedia, Public domain · United States Post Office: Pubdog, Public domain · Burroughs School: Pubdog, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Carolina Forest
17pages on Carolina Forest
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Carolina Forest
Horry-Georgetown Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Conway5.6 mi$4,468 in-state tuitionCoastal Carolina UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Conway6 mi$11,640 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Carolina Forest residents are enrolled in college, about the same as South Carolina.
A commuter town
92% of working residents leave Carolina Forest for work
Where Carolina Forest’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
6,169jobs based in Carolina Forest
8%of working residents work in town
8 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Carolina Forest
Census-designated place in South Carolina, United States
Carolina Forest is a census-designated place (CDP) in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 23,342. It is located west of Myrtle Beach and east of Conway in an area planned by International Paper in the late 1990s. Most of the development follows the Carolina Forest Master Plan, developed cooperatively between International Paper and the Horry County Government. Carolina Forest also includes the unincorporated community of Pine Island.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 25 sq mi
- Elevation
- 39 ft
Carolina Forest’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Carolina Forest.
ConwayCarolina Forest
How the neighbors grade
| Town | SC rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Forest | #81 | C+ | C | — | A− | B+ |
| Conway | #107 | C | B− | C− | A− | C+ |
Carolina Forest reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Carolina Forest with a neighbor →
Questions about Carolina Forest
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Carolina Forest, SC a good place to live?
Carolina Forest grades C+ overall, better than 38% of U.S. towns and #81 of 167 in South Carolina. It grades B+ for health and A− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Carolina Forest, SC expensive?
The typical home is worth about $337,000, 11% above the South Carolina typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.