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EconPulse

Local economy signal dashboard

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PLACEThriving

Carolina Forest, SC

Thriving overall. Population is the clearest support signal, while jobs needs the most attention. Housing reads as affordable for a median-income household.

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Overall score67out of 100
Compare
90
29
100
62
100

Population

26,263

Data freshness

Unknown

GDP / Output

+7.3% YoY

90

$22.8B

Output changed +7.3% in 2024.

Vintage date unknown

State growth7.2%
U.S. growth5.3%

Jobs

Unemployment rate

29

6.5%

Unemployment is 6.5% for Latest available.

Vintage date unknown

State avg4.9%
U.S. avg5.2%

Population

+12.1% 5-year

100

26,263

Population moved +12.1% over the latest ACS window.

Vintage date unknown

State population5,296,225
U.S. population334,922,499

Housing

Rent share of income

62

26.9%

Median rent consumes 26.9% of median household income: Affordable.

Vintage date unknown

State rent$1.2K
U.S. rent$1.4K
HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

Federal Funds

$11.5K per resident

100

$4.0B

$4.0B in federal obligations flowed here in FY2025.

Vintage date unknown

State total$137.1B
U.S. total$5.3T

Population and output

Trend Snapshot

Reported share

Industry Breakdown

FY2025

Federal Money

Federal obligations

$4.0B

$11.5K per resident in reported federal flow.

Top agencies

Dollars
1. Social Security Administration$3.3B
2. Department of Veterans Affairs$427.8M
3. Department of Transportation$111.1M

Top recipients

Dollars
1. COUNTY OF HORRY$72.2M
2. SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION$48.1M
3. HORRY GEORGETOWN COMMISSION FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION$22.4M

Affordable

Housing Affordability

26.9%

of median income

1BR estimate$1,368
2BR estimate$1,801
Median income$74,436
Median home value$336,800

ACS context

Quick Facts

Population

26,263

Median age

40.3

Bachelor's degree+

35.5%

Poverty rate

13.0%

Labor force participation

61.6%

Prime rate

6.8%

CPI YoY

+3.2%

U.S. GDP YoY

+6.5%

Sources and warnings

Data Provenance

Census ACS 5-year

2024

BLS LAUS / CPS

Latest available

BEA regional CAGDP1

2024

USAspending

FY2025

FRED

2026-07-30

HUD Fair Market Rent

Latest available

Data notes
  • HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

5-year compound growth

Historical Trends

Population CAGR

+2.3%

GDP CAGR

+9.2%

Federal flow

5 years

Population (5 years)
202023,426
202124,642
202224,823
202326,373
202426,263
GDP (5 years)
2020$14.7B
2021$16.6B
2022$18.7B
2023$21.2B
2024$22.8B

2-year linear forecast

Predictive Outlook

Population forecast

202426,263
202527,327 *
202628,067 *

R² = 90.5% · * projected

GDP forecast

2024$22.8B
2025$25.0B *
2026$27.1B *

R² = 99.6% · * projected

Linear regression over available historical data. Projections are estimates based on past trends and do not account for policy changes, economic shocks, or other external factors.

housing affordability breakdown

Cost of Living

Median household income$74,436/yr
Median rent$1,668/mo
Rent share of income26.9%
Est. mortgage (30yr, 6.5%)$20,437/yr
Mortgage share of income27.5%

Rent data from Census ACS 5-year. Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 6.5% APR, 30-year fixed.

employment snapshot

Job Market

Unemployment rate6.5%
State avg4.9%
U.S. avg5.2%
Labor force participation61.6%
Poverty rate13.0%

Data from BLS LAUS / CPS. Latest available.

valuation snapshot

Real Estate

Median home value$336,800
Median monthly rent$1,668
Price-to-rent ratio16.8x

Moderate price-to-rent ratio — buying and renting are roughly balanced in this market.

composite score

Investment Climate

Investment climateStrong
Composite score71/100
Economic growth90/100
Labor market29/100
Population momentum100/100
Overall stability67/100

Composite score weighs economic growth, labor market health, population momentum, and overall stability. Not financial advice.

Location Context

Carolina Forest CDP, South Carolina

City/Town

Part of

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC

Nearby locations

Myrtle Beach, SCForestbrook, SCRed Hill, SCSocastee, SCConway, SC