Is Conway SC a Good Place to Live? What to Know Before Moving There

by Bigg Lloyd Dotson

Is Conway SC a Good Place to Live? What to Know Before Moving There

If you're thinking about moving to the Myrtle Beach area, Conway might not be the first place on your list.

And that's exactly why I think it's worth talking about.

A lot of relocation buyers arrive focused almost entirely on the beach.

Myrtle Beach.

North Myrtle Beach.

Surfside Beach.

Murrells Inlet.

Then they start looking at homes, driving around, and figuring out what they can get for their money.

And suddenly...

Conway starts looking pretty interesting.

I've lived in the Myrtle Beach area for 13 years, and I've watched Conway become a serious option for buyers who want access to the Grand Strand without necessarily wanting their everyday life centered around the beach.

But Conway isn't Myrtle Beach farther inland.

It has its own identity.

And whether you'll love living there depends heavily on what you're actually moving here for.

Quick Answer

Conway can be a great fit if you want more of a hometown atmosphere, historic character, access to the Waccamaw River, residential neighborhoods, and the possibility of getting more house or land for your money than you might find closer to the beach.

It may not be the best fit if your dream is walking to the ocean, living in a traditional beach town, or being close to Myrtle Beach attractions every day.

The trade-off is pretty simple.

You're giving up some proximity to the beach in exchange for a completely different way of living.

Conway Is Its Own City

This is important.

Conway isn't a Myrtle Beach suburb that happened to get pushed farther inland.

It's one of the oldest communities in South Carolina and the county seat of Horry County.

Downtown Conway sits along the Waccamaw River and has a completely different atmosphere from the beach communities.

Historic buildings.

Local restaurants.

Shops.

The Riverwalk.

Community events.

Tree-lined streets.

There's an actual downtown here.

And for buyers coming from parts of the country where a traditional town center is part of everyday life, Conway can feel surprisingly familiar.

Downtown Conway Is A Big Part Of The Appeal

This is where I think some buyers change their minds about Conway.

They arrive expecting "inland Myrtle Beach."

Then they spend some time downtown.

Downtown Conway has become a destination of its own.

You can grab dinner, walk along the river, visit local businesses, and attend events without feeling like you're in the middle of a major tourist district.

And Conway really leans into its personality.

If you've ever seen what downtown looks like around Halloween, you know exactly what I mean.

The city transforms itself.

That's part of what separates Conway from some of the newer communities around the Grand Strand.

It has history.

It has traditions.

It already had an identity long before the area's recent growth.

You're Farther From The Beach

Let's get the obvious one out of the way.

If you're moving to South Carolina because you want to be five minutes from the ocean, Conway probably isn't where I'd start.

Depending on where you live in Conway and where you're headed along the coast, getting to the beach can become a real drive.

Traffic and season matter too.

For some people, that's an immediate no.

For others?

They realize they're probably not going to the beach every day anyway.

And suddenly the trade-off becomes much easier to consider.

Would you rather be closer to the ocean?

Or would you rather have more space, a different style of neighborhood, or potentially more house for your budget?

That's the real decision.

You May Get More For Your Money

This is one of the reasons Conway ends up on so many buyer shortlists.

As you move farther inland, your housing dollar can sometimes stretch differently than it does closer to the coast.

That might mean:

A larger home.

A bigger yard.

A newer house.

More garage space.

More privacy.

Or simply more options within your budget.

That doesn't mean every house in Conway is inexpensive.

Far from it.

There are higher-end communities and properties throughout the area.

But buyers who aren't willing to pay a premium simply to be closer to the beach often discover they have more choices once they expand the search toward Conway.

Not All Of Conway Feels The Same

This is another mistake relocation buyers make.

They search "Conway" online and assume everything with a Conway address provides the same lifestyle.

It doesn't.

Conway covers a large area.

Living near historic downtown is a completely different experience from living in a newer master-planned community.

A property with acreage farther outside town is different again.

And some Conway mailing addresses can feel much more connected to the Myrtle Beach side of the area than people expect.

So when someone tells me...

"We like Conway."

I still need to know what they mean.

Downtown?

New construction?

Acreage?

A planned community?

Golf?

Quiet country living?

Those searches can take us in completely different directions.

New Construction Has Changed The Conversation

Conway has seen significant residential growth.

That has created more options for buyers looking for newer homes while also changing parts of the area that longtime residents remember very differently.

For relocation buyers, new construction can be attractive.

Modern floor plans.

Newer roofs and HVAC systems.

Energy-efficient features.

Community amenities.

Builder incentives in some situations.

But I wouldn't automatically choose new construction over an established Conway neighborhood.

Older homes can sometimes offer things newer developments struggle to duplicate.

Larger lots.

Mature trees.

Established streets.

More separation between homes.

And sometimes fewer community restrictions.

The right answer depends on what matters to you.

Traffic And Growth Matter Here Too

Moving inland doesn't mean you're escaping growth.

Conway and the surrounding parts of Horry County have grown considerably.

That means more homes.

More businesses.

More people using roads that weren't necessarily designed for today's population.

If you're considering Conway, I'd use the same advice I give buyers everywhere else.

Don't judge your commute from a map.

Drive it.

If you'll be working in Myrtle Beach, drive from the neighborhood you're considering to work during the time you'd actually commute.

If you'll be retired, your experience may be completely different.

The question isn't whether Conway has traffic.

The question is whether your Conway lifestyle works with the places you'll regularly need to go.

Conway Can Offer More Breathing Room

This is probably one of the biggest lifestyle differences between Conway and the more developed coastal areas.

You can find neighborhoods.

But you can also find properties with larger lots and more separation.

For buyers coming from dense metropolitan areas in the Northeast, that can be a major change.

Some people absolutely love it.

They want a yard.

A workshop.

A bigger garage.

Space between neighbors.

Maybe room for a boat or RV where the property and rules allow it.

Others discover they actually prefer having restaurants, stores, and amenities right outside the neighborhood.

Neither is better.

They're different versions of life on the Grand Strand.

Conway vs. Carolina Forest

This is one of the comparisons I'd make early if you're considering living inland from Myrtle Beach.

Carolina Forest generally offers more of a suburban lifestyle.

Planned communities.

Amenities.

Shopping.

Restaurants.

Easy access to many everyday services.

Conway generally offers more variety.

Historic neighborhoods.

New construction.

Traditional subdivisions.

Larger properties.

And, depending on how far outside the city you go, more rural options.

If you want suburban convenience, Carolina Forest may pull you one direction.

If you want more space or more of a hometown atmosphere, Conway may pull you the other.

I'd tour both before deciding.

What About Flooding?

This is an area where I don't like generalizations.

The Waccamaw River is part of Conway's identity, and parts of the broader area have experienced flooding during major weather events.

But that does not mean every Conway property has the same flood risk.

Flood risk is property-specific.

Before buying, I'd want to know the flood-zone designation for the actual property, whether flood insurance may be required by your lender, and what an insurance professional says about the property.

Don't buy or reject an entire city based on somebody saying:

"Conway floods."

Research the house you're actually considering.

My Bigg Take

Conway is one of those places I think relocation buyers should experience before crossing it off the list.

Because if all you see is the distance from the ocean...

You're missing the point.

Conway isn't trying to be Myrtle Beach.

That's the appeal.

Spend a morning downtown.

Walk along the Waccamaw River.

Have lunch.

Drive through some established neighborhoods.

Then go look at newer communities farther out.

You'll quickly realize there isn't just one Conway.

And if your priorities include more space, a hometown atmosphere, or simply getting away from some of the coastal activity while still being able to enjoy Myrtle Beach when you want it...

Conway deserves a serious look.

The question isn't:

"Is Conway too far from the beach?"

The question is:

"How often do I really need the beach to be right outside my door?"

Your answer to that question tells me a lot about whether Conway belongs on your shortlist.

🎙️ Want to Go Deeper on Conway?

I've also dedicated an episode of the Living Bigg in Myrtle Beach podcast to Conway.

If Conway is on your relocation shortlist, give it a listen. I dig deeper into why so many people start their home search focused on Myrtle Beach and eventually find themselves looking seriously at Conway.

🎙️ Listen: Conway, SC — Why So Many People End Up Here After Looking at Myrtle Beach

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3JnPIsViGmr2DsLHcYBVST?si=OaDXt1UPRz2HOZiyLYGe9w

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Conway SC from Myrtle Beach?

It depends heavily on where you live in Conway and where you're going in Myrtle Beach. Conway covers a large area, and traffic and season can significantly affect drive times. If beach access is important to you, test the drive from the specific neighborhood you're considering.

Is Conway cheaper than Myrtle Beach?

In some situations, buyers may find more home, land, or newer construction for their budget in Conway compared with properties closer to the coast. Prices vary significantly by neighborhood, property type, age, and location, so the individual homes should be compared rather than assuming everything in Conway costs less.

Does Conway have a downtown?

Yes. Historic Downtown Conway sits near the Waccamaw River and includes restaurants, shops, community events, historic buildings, and the Riverwalk.

Is Conway good for retirees?

It can be. Conway may appeal to retirees who want access to the Grand Strand while preferring a hometown atmosphere, more space, or less emphasis on living directly at the beach. Healthcare access, driving habits, housing preferences, and desired amenities should all be part of the decision.

Does Conway flood?

Flood risk varies by property. The Waccamaw River and other waterways affect portions of the area, but flood-zone designation and risk should be researched for the specific property rather than applied to Conway as a whole.

Is Conway a good place for full-time living?

For many people, yes. Conway has grocery stores, healthcare, restaurants, shopping, local events, residential communities, and a historic downtown, making it much more than simply an inland alternative to Myrtle Beach.

About the Author

Bigg Lloyd Dotson is a Myrtle Beach real estate agent with LPT Realty and host of the Living Bigg in Myrtle Beach podcast. After living in Connecticut for 21 years, Bigg relocated to the Grand Strand and has now called the Myrtle Beach area home for 13 years.

Today, he helps buyers and sellers throughout Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Carolina Forest, Conway, and communities across the Grand Strand.

His content focuses on relocation, coastal living, local real estate, and helping people understand what everyday life on the Grand Strand is actually like before making a move.

Thinking About Moving to the Grand Strand?

Every buyer's definition of the perfect coastal lifestyle is different.

If you're trying to decide whether Conway, Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach, or another Grand Strand community fits the way you want to live, I'd be happy to help you narrow down the options.

📞 833-ASK-BIGG

Live Bigg. Move Smart. Coast Easy.