Longs vs. Conway: Which Is Better for Buyers?

Pick Conway if you want a real town with a downtown, a river, a university, and city services. Pick Longs if you want newer subdivisions, more elbow room, and a shorter ride to North Myrtle Beach and Little River. Both sit in Horry County, both are closer to the coast than most people assume, and they feel nothing alike.

How Do Longs and Conway Differ in Day-to-Day Living?

Conway is a place you can walk. The Riverwalk runs along the Waccamaw, the downtown restaurants and shops sit a few blocks from the water, and Coastal Carolina University gives the town a steady rhythm of students, sports, and events. You get oak-lined older streets, a historic core, and a hometown calendar that includes the fall Halloween events the town is known for.

Longs is the opposite kind of place. It's mostly unincorporated, built around Highway 9 and Highway 905, with subdivisions and rural lots instead of a downtown. Most of what you do, you do in a car. You trade the walkable core for space, newer construction, and a quieter evening.

Which Fits Your Commute and Your Weekends Better?

Match the town to where you spend your time. If your work or your family is in North Myrtle Beach, Little River, or Cherry Grove, Longs shortens the drive and keeps you out of the Highway 501 traffic. If you work at Coastal Carolina University, in downtown Conway, or you split time between Conway and Myrtle Beach, Conway makes more sense.

Here's a pattern I see all the time with out-of-state buyers. They pick the town on a map, then discover on the first Tuesday that their real commute is forty minutes. Drive your route at 8 a.m. before you pick a side. Do the same on a Friday afternoon in July. That tells you more than any commute estimate.

What Types of Homes Will You Find in Each Town?

Conway has the wider mix. You'll find historic homes, mid-century ranches, townhomes, riverfront parcels, and growing new-construction communities. If golf is part of your plan, the Conway golf course homes give you that option inside town limits. If you'd rather skip the association, the no-HOA homes in Conway list is a good place to start.

Longs leans newer. Communities like Arbor Glen show the style: newer builds, tidy subdivisions, and lots that are often bigger than comparable homes in Carolina Forest. If you want to build your own, land for sale in Longs is worth a look, but check the flood zone and the soils for septic before you fall for any parcel.

How Do Taxes, Flood Risk, and Insurance Compare?

Inside Conway city limits, you pay city property tax on top of the county and school taxes. Longs sits mostly outside city limits, so that layer doesn't apply, though some subdivisions have HOA dues that cover what the city would otherwise provide. Don't compare tax bills without comparing what the money buys you.

Both areas have flood-zone pockets. Conway has the Waccamaw River and Kingston Lake. Longs has low ground near the river and the swamp edges. Pull the FEMA flood map for any house you like, and get a flood and wind-and-hail quote before you go under contract. Parcels a few streets apart can carry very different premiums.

About Greg Harrelson

Greg Harrelson is a seasoned Realtor® with more than 30 years of experience serving the Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand markets. As the founder of Century 21 The Harrelson Group, Greg has built his career helping buyers, sellers, and investors achieve success in every corner of the coastal Carolina real estate market. His expertise spans residential homes, investment properties, land development, and coastal condos. Known for his deep local knowledge, innovative marketing strategies, and commitment to personal service, Greg consistently helps clients reach their real estate goals while navigating the ever-changing market with confidence and precision.