Myrtle Beach’s Senior Boom Masks Deeper Demographic and Policy Failures Nationally

Once derided as “Dirty Myrtle” for its rowdy nightlife, Myrtle Beach has transformed into the fastest-growing metro area in the United States for senior citizens, with a 6.3% increase in residents over age 65 last year alone. This coastal South Carolina community now faces the consequences of a broader demographic shift that mainstream media rarely connect to policy failures.

The U.S. Census Bureau data makes clear what many conservative observers have warned: America is aging rapidly while its younger generations shrink in size. Since 2000, seniors nationwide have surged from 12.4% to 18% of the population, while those under 18 dropped from 25% to just over 21%. This imbalance threatens future economic vitality and national security by undermining workforce strength and innovation capacity.

Myrtle Beach’s allure for retirees is no accident—it boasts low taxes, mild climate, and affordable living. But this migration trend also underscores the exodus away from traditional blue-collar job centers plagued by overregulation and high costs. Instead of revitalizing struggling inland cities or stemming brain drain, policy elites facilitate a growing divide between senior havens like Myrtle Beach and economically hollowed-out regions.

The pandemic accelerated retiree inflows as remote work liberated older Americans from geographic constraints. Yet such freedom also highlights the failure of federal policies to prioritize family formation and youthful workforce retention through practical means like tax relief for parents and deregulation that promotes job creation.

Moreover, demographic shifts reveal troubling patterns not just geographically but racially. While Hispanic populations grow primarily through immigration concentrated in major metros like Miami and Houston, non-Hispanic white populations decline nationally due to deaths outnumbering births—with only pockets like Myrtle Beach still seeing modest growth. The nation’s racial composition complexities demand honest discussions on sovereignty-linked immigration reform tailored to economic realities rather than open borders rhetoric.

This moment calls for America First policies addressing root causes: empowering families with children to thrive economically; incentivizing businesses to invest in domestic labor; and prioritizing communities where young Americans live and work instead of celebrating retirement destinations alone.

The bottom line: Myrtle Beach’s senior surge should not be a feel-good headline but a red flag signaling that without bold reforms rooted in freedom and common-sense conservatism, America risks becoming a nation increasingly defined by retirees rather than vibrant workers—jeopardizing our sovereignty and strength.