Myrtle Beach vs Spartanburg
Compare Myrtle Beach, SC and Spartanburg, SC on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Spartanburg is the cheaper metro on paper: ACS median rent runs $960/mo versus $1,138/mo in Myrtle Beach — a gap of about $178/mo — and HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents show $1,141/mo against $1,361/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (233 vs 237 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Myrtle Beach runs summer highs near 90°F and winter lows near 38°F, while Spartanburg runs 87°F and 27°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Spartanburg; if walkable daily life matters more, Myrtle Beach screens stronger on the walkability proxy (14 vs 9). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Spartanburg leads 74 to 68 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Myrtle Beach leads 57 to 44 on the daily life screen.
Spartanburg leads 45 to 34 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Myrtle Beach is roughly $127,500 in Spartanburg using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Myrtle Beach | Spartanburg | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,138/mo | $960/mo | Spartanburg |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,361/mo | $1,141/mo | Spartanburg |
| Median home value | $248,000 | $196,000 | Spartanburg |
| State income tax | 6% | 6% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 26 min | Myrtle Beach |
| Safety score | 39/100 | 39/100 | Tie |
| School score | 3/10 | 4/10 | Spartanburg |
| Walkability estimate | 14/100 | 9/100 | Myrtle Beach |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 7/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 221.6 | 176.3 | Myrtle Beach |
| Mountain distance | 204 mi | 36 mi | Spartanburg |
| Coast distance | 14 mi | 181 mi | Myrtle Beach |
What stands out
Myrtle Beach stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Trail access within 48 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Named beach within 1 miles
Myrtle Beach tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Spartanburg stronger signals
- Trail access within 25 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 79 miles
- Mountain access within 36 miles
Spartanburg tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Myrtle Beach cheaper than Spartanburg?
On public benchmarks Spartanburg is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,138/mo in Myrtle Beach vs $960/mo in Spartanburg; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,361/mo vs $1,141/mo; state income tax is 6% vs 6%.
Is Myrtle Beach or Spartanburg safer?
Myrtle Beach screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 39/100 for Myrtle Beach and 39/100 for Spartanburg (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Myrtle Beach or Spartanburg?
School screens show 3/10 for Myrtle Beach vs 4/10 for Spartanburg, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg?
Myrtle Beach: summer highs near 90°F, winter lows near 38°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Spartanburg: 87°F / 27°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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