When buyers tell me they want the Grand Strand lifestyle but not the tourist-town feel of Myrtle Beach itself, I know exactly where to start the conversation. The Horry County and Pee Dee region has a real collection of small towns within reasonable distance of the coast, and each has its own character, its own price point, and its own type of buyer that fits best. After thirty-plus years of selling homes across all of these towns, I have a strong sense of which small town works for which kind of buyer. Here's the honest ranking of the best small-town options for full-time living near Myrtle Beach.
Conway
Conway is the biggest of the small towns and often the first stop for buyers who want a real downtown. About 15-20 minutes from Myrtle Beach along Highway 501, Conway offers a walkable historic district, a Riverwalk along the Waccamaw, restaurants, coffee shops, and enough retail depth to handle daily life without leaving town. Coastal Carolina University adds a college-town energy that keeps parts of Conway livelier than a purely residential town.
Who fits Conway: buyers who want beach proximity without beach prices, families who value the school options, retirees who want walkable downtown character, and remote workers who need airport access and downtown amenities. Prices for full-time family homes commonly run $260,000 to $700,000. For broader inventory, browse Conway real estate.
Aynor
Aynor sits about 25 minutes west of Conway. Population under 1,000 in the town proper, with the surrounding rural area adding meaningfully more. This is a real small town — the Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down in September is genuinely the social event of the year, and the daily rhythm is quiet, agricultural, and unmistakably Southern.
Who fits Aynor: buyers who prioritize small-school experience, families who want rural pace, retirees seeking quiet, and remote workers who don't need daily commutes. Prices for solid single-family homes commonly run $220,000 to $400,000, with real acreage available in the $350,000-$550,000 range. Aynor real estate inventory reflects the mix of older brick ranches, newer subdivisions like Baylee Estates and King Farm Estates, and land parcels.
Loris
Loris sits about 25 minutes inland from North Myrtle Beach via Highway 9. Population around 2,500 in the town proper. Loris has held onto its small-town character better than most of the Grand Strand's outer ring — the Bog-Off Festival, downtown restaurants and shops, and a farming-town identity that's still visible.
Who fits Loris: buyers wanting real acreage at prices Conway can't match, retirees seeking rural quiet, remote workers who want space, and families who prioritize small-school experience. Prices $180,000 to $550,000 depending on size and land. See Loris real estate for the current inventory.
Little River
Little River is a different flavor of small town — it's actually a waterfront town at the north end of Horry County. About 25 minutes north of central Myrtle Beach along Highway 17, Little River has a working harbor character with marinas, waterfront restaurants, and a genuine boating culture. It's more retirement-oriented than family-oriented on average.
Who fits Little River: retirees who love water, boaters, second-home buyers who want water access, and remote workers with boating hobbies. Prices $250,000 to over $1 million depending on water frontage and community. Little River real estate covers everything from marina condos to inland single-family.
Longs
Longs sits about 15-20 minutes from North Myrtle Beach via Highway 31. It's grown faster than most Horry County pockets over the last decade. Not quite a downtown-focused town like Conway or Loris, but a functioning small community with new subdivisions, older neighborhoods, and real amenity communities.
Who fits Longs: retirees wanting golf and amenities at friendlier prices, families wanting new construction at accessible price points, buyers wanting acreage with coastal proximity, and remote workers who want quick beach access. Prices $250,000 to $700,000+ depending on community. Longs real estate inventory is broad and continues to expand.
Galivants Ferry
Galivants Ferry is the most rural of the small towns in this list. About 30 minutes west of Conway, with population under 500 and a truly small-town character. This is the option for buyers who genuinely want space, privacy, and rural character.
Who fits Galivants Ferry: buyers wanting real land at real value, remote workers who don't need commutes, and buyers who value privacy above all. Land is inexpensive and homes are usually on real acreage.
Marion
Marion sits about 45 minutes west of Conway in Marion County. Historic town with real character, lower cost of living than Horry County, and a slower pace. The trade-off is a longer drive to the coast.
Who fits Marion: buyers prioritizing historic character and lowest cost, retirees comfortable with the drive to beach and coastal healthcare, and buyers seeking property tax and general cost savings. Prices are meaningfully lower than any Horry County option.
Comparing the Small Town Options
The key trade-offs:
Beach access: Little River, Longs, and Conway win here. Aynor, Loris, Galivants Ferry, and Marion require longer drives.
Downtown character: Conway and Little River lead. Loris has a real if smaller downtown. Aynor, Longs, Galivants Ferry, and Marion are more residential.
School depth: Conway offers the most school program options. Aynor and Loris offer the small-school experience. Longs and Little River zone into varied Horry County schools.
Housing variety: Conway and Longs have the broadest housing options at every price point. Loris, Aynor, and Galivants Ferry are more focused on specific inventory types.
Price point: Galivants Ferry and Marion offer the lowest prices. Little River waterfront and Conway premium neighborhoods reach the highest.
What Small Town Buyers Consistently Underestimate
The isolation effect. Even 25 minutes from the beach and 45 minutes from a major hospital can feel long when you actually need to make those drives regularly. Buyers who visit for the weekend love the quiet. Buyers who live full-time in the smaller towns sometimes take a year to fully adjust.
The utilities question. Most small-town properties outside the immediate town centers are on well and septic. Internet availability varies by exact address. Cellular coverage is generally fine but not always excellent. Verify these details by exact street address before committing.
Two Things I Tell Every Small-Town Buyer
First, visit multiple towns before you commit. Buyers who fall in love with the first small town they see and never see the others sometimes end up wondering if the alternative would have fit better. Spend a Saturday in Conway, an afternoon in Aynor, another visit in Loris. The right town becomes obvious once you've felt them all.
Second, plan realistic daily driving patterns. Where will you actually go for groceries, healthcare, dining, and family visits? Do the math on those drives before assuming the small-town choice works for your life. Some buyers thrive on 25-minute grocery runs. Others discover they hate them within six months. Know yourself before you commit to a specific town.
Key Takeaways
- - Conway is the biggest small-town option with the deepest amenities and best commute to the coast; broadest housing variety
- - Aynor offers real small-town character with smaller schools and rural pace, 25 minutes west of Conway
- - Loris provides better value on acreage than Conway can match, with a strong small-town identity
- - Little River is the waterfront small town — best for boaters, retirees, and second-home buyers
- - Longs delivers newer construction and beach proximity via Highway 31 at friendlier prices than coastal pockets
- - Galivants Ferry is the deep-rural option for buyers who want land and privacy above all
- - Marion offers the lowest prices with a longer drive to the coast and Horry County services
- - Buyers should visit multiple towns, plan realistic daily driving patterns, and verify utility availability by exact address
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.