Census-designated place · South Carolina
Carolina Forest, South Carolina
Carolina Forest, census-designated place, in Horry County, South Carolina. Carolina Forest had 26,263 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±2,009). GEOID 4511833.
Residents, 2020-2024
26,263
±2,009 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 23,342
Median household income
$74,436
±$6,922 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $69,324
Median home value
$336,800
±$26,903 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $259,000
Median gross rent
$1,668
±$102 (90% margin)
South Carolina: $1,180
Where is Carolina Forest and what county is it in?
Carolina Forest is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Horry County, South Carolina. It covers 16.8 square miles of land, 1,388 residents per square mile in 2020.
Carolina Forest is in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Carolina Forest, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Carolina Forest's population at 26,263 (±2,009). The 2020 Census counted 23,342 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Carolina Forest is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Carolina Forest | Horry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 26,263 ±2,009 | 383,016 | – |
| Households | 10,113 ±693 | 158,779 | – |
| Average household size | 2.58 ±0.13 | 2.37 | – |
| Housing units | 11,177 ±671 | 217,419 | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Carolina Forest?
The median resident of Carolina Forest is 40.3 years old; 22.2% are under 18 and 18.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 8.1%. 10.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Carolina Forest | Horry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 ±4.1 | 48.7 | – |
| Under 18 years | 22.2% ±3.2 pts | 17.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.3% ±3.8 pts | 26.4% | – |
| Male | 48.3% ±2.3 pts | 48.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.1% ±2.5 pts | 7.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.2% ±4.0 pts | 75.5% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.1% ±1.4 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.9% ±1.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.2% ±2.2 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.0% ±2.5 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 12.4% ±3.4 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.4% ±1.8 pts | 8.9% | – |
| With a disability | 12.0% ±2.1 pts | 18.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.3% ±2.3 pts | 11.7% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.9% ±1.2 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.5% ±4.0 pts | 27.1% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.6% ±2.9 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.5% ±3.0 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.6% ±1.5 pts | 5.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Carolina Forest earn?
Half of Carolina Forest's 10,113 households earn less than $74,436 a year (±$6,922), against $66,880 in Horry County and $69,324 in South Carolina. 13.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Carolina Forest | Horry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $74,436 ±$6,922 | $66,880 | – |
| Mean household income | $98,648 ±$9,776 | $87,740 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,174 ±$4,472 | $38,025 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 13.0% ±5.1 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.4% ±14.5 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.6% ±3.8 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.9% ±0.6 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.9% ±2.0 pts | 92.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Carolina Forest?
Owners occupy 69.6% of Carolina Forest's occupied homes and renters 30.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $336,800 by its owner (±$26,903). The median renter pays $1,668 a month including utilities, and 35.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Carolina Forest | Horry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $336,800 ±$26,903 | $287,700 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,668 ±$102 | $1,255 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.4% ±7.9 pts | 43.7% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,510 ±$106 | $1,446 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.6% ±3.6 pts | 77.3% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.4% ±3.6 pts | 22.7% | – |
| Housing units | 11,177 ±671 | 217,419 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.0% ±2.1 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 10.3% ±5.4 pts | 19.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.1% ±4.1 pts | 53.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% ±1.0 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 7.7% ±2.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 27.2% ±4.2 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.8% ±1.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Carolina Forest work and get to work?
80.5% of Carolina Forest's workers drive alone and 10.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.5%.
| Measure | Carolina Forest | Horry County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.6% ±4.1 pts | 53.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5% ±3.2 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 80.5% ±3.9 pts | 76.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.9% ±2.0 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.5% ±2.9 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.0 min ±2.1 | 23.1 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Carolina Forest?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Carolina Forest, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $73,827 (Tract 602.09) to $88,915 (Tract 602.07).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 602.07Horry County | 9,051 | $88,915 |
| Tract 602.09Horry County | 7,974 | $73,827 |
| Tract 602.06Horry County | 9,442 | $82,563 |
| Tract 603.10Horry County | 8,332 | $75,500 |
| Tract 602.11Horry County | 3,885 | $68,611 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Carolina Forest) · Census block assignment files
How does Carolina Forest compare with other places in South Carolina?
Carolina Forest ranks 62nd of 248 places in South Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 21st | 261 |
| Residents per square mile | 73rd | 261 |
| Median household income | 62nd | 248 |
| Per capita income | 61st | 259 |
| Median home value | 40th | 248 |
| Median gross rent | 16th | 235 |
| Poverty rate | 159th | 214 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55th | 226 |
| Median age | 115th | 261 |
| Owner-occupied share | 109th | 258 |
| Work from home | 78th | 119 |
| Travel time to work | 184th | 261 |
Carolina Forest's figures with every place in South Carolina (CSV)
Every place in South Carolina, sortable · Compare Carolina Forest with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Carolina Forest?
7 of the 57 figures for Carolina Forest on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Carolina Forest are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.