Murrells Inlet, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Hammock Coast short-term rentals averaged a $390 ADR, 52.2% occupancy and $5,219 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area is 52%. average monthly revenue in the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area is $5,219. average daily rate in the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area is $390. the top operator in the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area is The Litchfield Company with 403 listings. market score is 53/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Pawleys Island/Georgetown regional market, which includes Murrells Inlet. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Murrells Inlet.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This page covers short-term rental performance for Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, using data through September 2026. Performance figures describe the Hammock Coast STR market, a regional series that covers Murrells Inlet, so the numbers reflect the wider coast rather than Murrells Inlet alone. In September 2026 the Hammock Coast STR market averaged an ADR of $390, occupancy of 52.2%, and revenue of $5,219 for the month. Entire-place stays averaged $394 per night, a small step above the all-listings figure.
Year over year, the market is moving up on every measure. Occupancy rose 8.6%, ADR rose 11.6%, and revenue rose 13.2%. Calendar-year history tells the same story. 2025 closed at 51.7% occupancy, a $338 ADR and $4,587 in average monthly revenue, while the first nine months of 2026 are running at 54.8% occupancy, a $378 ADR and $5,407 in monthly revenue. Occupancy peaked at 60.3% in 2022 and slid to 51.4% by 2024 before stabilizing, so the recent gain comes mostly from rate rather than a return to 2021 and 2022 occupancy levels.
Murrells Inlet is a coastal village in Georgetown County, roughly 13 miles south of Myrtle Beach, and is branded the Seafood Capital of South Carolina. Visitors come for the half-mile MarshWalk, charter and inshore fishing, kayaking, and boat tours, with Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park as nearby anchor attractions. The area relies heavily on vacation rentals rather than hotels. The resident population is 10,087.
Bedroom, channel, listing-type, and top-operator data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Murrells Inlet, so this profile omits it.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 29% |
| Feb | 51% |
| Mar | 58% |
| Apr | 57% |
| May | 58% |
| Jun | 73% |
| Jul | 76% |
| Aug | 60% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 34% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Murrells Inlet are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Pawleys Island/Georgetown market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Pawleys Island/Georgetown market as a whole, which includes Murrells Inlet, so these counts are not Murrells Inlet-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Litchfield Company | 403 | 1,924 | ★ 4.34 |
| 2 | Tidelife Vacation Rentals | 196 | 3,965 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | DeBordieu Rentals | 145 | 1,811 | ★ 4.51 |
| 4 | Dune Beach Home Rentals | 142 | 326 | ★ 4.58 |
| 5 | The Dieter Company Vacation Rentals | 112 | 323 | ★ 4.76 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Murrells Inlet?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Murrells Inlet are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 15.7% |
| vrbo | 26.5% |
| both | 57.8% |
Home Value Trends (Murrells Inlet)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Murrells Inlet are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Murrells Inlet — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Murrells Inlet. It is an unincorporated community, so there is no town ordinance. Regulation falls to Georgetown County for most of the area, and to Horry County for a small portion of the community.
Georgetown County treats short-term rentals as a residential use and does not require a special STR permit. There is no cap on rental nights, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence requirement. Enforcement severity is rated minimal. The City of Georgetown is a separate municipality with its own permit rules, and those do not apply here.
Zoning is the main constraint. Rentals are not allowed in every residential zone, so buyers should confirm that a specific parcel permits transient rental. HOA, PUD, and community covenants can set their own restrictions regardless of county rules.
Operators still have to collect taxes. The local occupancy tax is 3%, remitted to the Georgetown County Finance Department, and South Carolina’s 7% state sales tax on accommodations also applies. Hosts need a South Carolina retail license and accommodations tax registration.
Starting with tax year 2023, furnished residential rentals are filed as Business Personal Property on a PT100 with the SC Department of Revenue, replacing a 6% assessed-property return filed with the County Auditor. No new STR permitting ordinance for unincorporated areas was found as of mid-2026. Confirm current rules with the county before buying.
Market Comparison
The Hammock Coast STR market shows a distinct profile. September 2026 occupancy was 52.2% and ADR was $390, with $5,219 in monthly revenue.
Seasonality drives the occupancy picture. July (76.2%) and June (73.4%) are the peak months, while January (29.1%), December (33.6%) and November (36.8%) sit far below them. Investors comparing this coast with year-round markets should weigh the winter drop.
Growth is solid. Revenue is up 13.2% year over year, with ADR up 11.6% and occupancy up 8.6%.
The lodging mix also differs from nearby Myrtle Beach. Murrells Inlet relies heavily on vacation rentals rather than hotels, while Myrtle Beach, about 13 miles north, is hotel-dominated. That matters for investors who want direct access to visitors who prefer private homes near the MarshWalk, Brookgreen Gardens, and Huntington Beach State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions About Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
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