Healthcare & Safety in Pawleys Island

Pawleys Island sits within reach of Tidelands Health's Georgetown County hospital network, and crime data reads favorably overall -- with one real, disclosed exception: an elevated motor vehicle theft rate.

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Healthcare access via Tidelands Health

Tidelands Health operates Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital (606 Black River Road, Georgetown) and Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital (4070 Highway 17, Murrells Inlet), both within a short drive of Pawleys Island, serving Georgetown, Williamsburg, and Horry counties across more than 70 outpatient locations -- a real, genuinely accessible regional hospital network for this small community.

A favorable overall crime read -- with one real, disclosed exception

Pawleys Island's overall crime rate reads lower than the national average and safer than 68% of South Carolina communities per NeighborhoodScout -- a genuinely favorable overall picture. However, Pawleys Island also carries one of the nation's highest motor vehicle theft rates (odds of roughly 1 in 134), plausibly linked to tourism and second-home exposure (unattended vehicles at vacation properties). This nuance is disclosed rather than smoothed into an unqualified "safe" verdict.

No specific neighborhood is named as unsafe

Per this dataset's site policy, no specific neighborhood or block within Pawleys Island is called out as higher- or lower-crime here -- confirm current, address-specific data directly with NeighborhoodScout or local law enforcement before relocating, and take reasonable precautions against vehicle theft given the documented elevated rate.

Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-24. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.