10 Best Places to Retire in North Carolina

Patricia Doherty

11 May 2023 at 3:50 pm·6-min read

From mountain towns to beach cities, these are the best places to retire in North Carolina.

<p>Courtesy of Visit NC</p> — Courtesy of Visit NC

The state of North Carolina boasts beaches, the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, and year-round moderate weather. College towns, historic cities, farming communities, and coastal areas provide a range of lifestyles and beautiful places to live, with something for every retiree. And it's not just scenic beauty and diverse cities that make North Carolina a good place to retire: There is no state tax on Social Security benefits, and state income tax is modest at about 5.25 percent.

In order to determine the best places to retire in North Carolina, we considered ratings from Niche.com, which factors in data about housing access, cost of living, crime, weather, outdoor activities, and more to rate cities with a letter grade, along with additional data on housing prices, safety ratings, and nearby amenities.

Duck

<p>Moelyn Photos/Getty Images</p> — Moelyn Photos/Getty Images

If you love the beach, an easy-going lifestyle, and a small-town atmosphere, the Outer Banks city of Duck might be an ideal place to retire. There’s a one-mile boardwalk for morning strolls, shopping, and dining, plus free guided walks to learn about the island's flora and fauna. Local events include a jazz festival, Independence Day parade, winter holiday celebration, summer concerts, and outdoor fitness classes.

Duck gets high marks on safety, nightlife, and housing metrics from Niche.com, and according to Redfin.com, the overall cost of living in Duck is about five percent lower than the national average.

Belmont

For retirees who enjoy history, outdoor activities, and the advantages of being near a larger city, Belmont is an attractive retirement destination. Located about 12 miles west of Charlotte, Belmont is a growing city. Its Downtown Belmont Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its fine vintage architecture, while two colleges (Belmont Abbey College and Gaston College) bring a youthful element to the city.

According to data from Salary.com and BestPlaces.com, the cost of living in Belmont is slightly less than the national average, and Belmont received an overall rating of A from Niche.com.

Pinehurst

If you plan to hit the links in retirement, Pinehurst might be the right destination for you. Known for its golf courses and pleasant small-town style, Pinehurst is centrally located two hours from the coast, three hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains, and one hour from Raleigh. And there’s more than golf, with outdoor activities, museums, art galleries, wineries, and farms to visit in the greater Sandhill area. The Village of Pinehurst offers a variety of programs for adults as well.

Named by SmartAsset.com as one of the best places to retire in North Carolina for its healthcare access and large population of retirees, Pinehurst received an overall rating of A from Niche.com.

Carolina Beach

A suburb of Wilmington, Carolina Beach will delight retirees who enjoy its vintage feel, lively nightlife, world-class fishing, and miles of beaches and picturesque sand dunes. Its classic boardwalk features shops, restaurants, and entertainment along with ocean breezes. Music festivals and events make summer especially exciting in the Carolina Beach area, and nearby Wilmington offers museums, restaurants, performing arts, and historical sites.

Niche.com gives Carolina Beach an overall A- rating with high marks for health and fitness, nightlife, and outdoor activities. According to Niche.com, about 70 percent of residents own their homes, and Realtor.com estimates the median home price as $695,000.

Laurinburg

Laurinburg is located in the south-central part of North Carolina with convenient access to Charlotte, Raleigh, and the coast. Outdoor activities abound with the nearby Lumber River providing opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and fishing. Golf courses, wineries, historical sites, and art museums offer activities for a variety of interests.

The city is one of the more affordable retirement destinations on this list; according to Realtor.com, the median home price in Laurinburg is $159,000, and Niche.com gives the city an overall B- rating, with a B+ for cost of living.

Marion

Retirees seeking outdoor activities, a lively downtown, and mountain views might consider Marion, located about 36 miles northeast of Asheville. Residents enjoy Marion’s restaurants, art galleries, and festivals along with nearby state and national parks that offer opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking and biking. Want to spend more time with Mother Nature without breaking a sweat? Take a drive on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.

Marion is a Certified Retirement Community according to Retire NC, meaning it meets the criteria for “providing amenities, services, and opportunities for retirees to enjoy active and productive lives.” According to Realtor.com, the median home price is $275,000.

Reidsville

<p>Gary W. Carter/Getty Images</p> — Gary W. Carter/Getty Images

Located minutes from Greensboro in the northern part of the state, Reidsville is an affordable community combining a small-town feel with nearby big-city amenities. Two public lakes, parks, walking trails, and an active community make Reidsville an attractive retirement destination. Cheering for high school football games, playing golf, or enjoying street art and vintage homes — there’s much to do in Reidsville.

Reidsville is a Certified Retirement Community, and the Reidsville Center for Active Retirement Enterprises (RCARE) offers trips and activities including bowling, bocce ball, pickle ball, dancing, card games, and fitness classes. Realtor.com estimates the median home price at $205,000.

New Bern

Once the capital of North Carolina, New Bern is the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola and the inspiration for novelist Nicholas Sparks. This 300-year-old city, set on the Neuse River, is located about 30 miles from the Atlantic Coast, so residents are never too far from the beach. Historic homes, downtown condos, and gated communities provide a range of housing options, and boating, hiking, biking, and golf are among outdoor activities. Cultural opportunities include art galleries, concerts, and performances at the New Bern Civic Theater.

New Bern received an overall grade of B+ from Niche.com, and Realtor.com estimates the median home price at $330,000. New Bern is also a Certified Retirement Community.

Winterville

Located south of Greenville and about 20 miles from the coast, Winterville is a small but growing family-oriented community that's big on local flavor. Strawberry picking at the town’s farms, the annual Watermelon Festival, and eateries serving up fresh seafood and Carolina-style BBQ are some of the town's tasty attractions. And better yet, Winterville is another Certified Retirement Community.

Niche.com named Winterville one of the best places to live in North Carolina and awarded it an overall A grade. The city is listed as one of North Carolina’s safest cities by SafeWise, and according to Realtor.com, the median home price is $315,000.

Cary

This community is located in the “Research Triangle” of North Carolina, near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill and the universities of Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University. Residents can look forward to festivals and events like the North Carolina Symphony’s Summerfest Series at Koka Booth Amphitheater, set among 14 forested acres next to Symphony Lake.

Called “one of the best places to live in North Carolina” by Niche.com, Cary received a grade of A+, and it was named one of North Carolina’s safest cities by SafeWise. The median home price is $575,000, according to Realtor.com.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.

The Independent
Victoria Beckham first slept with David ‘hours after meeting Prince Charles’
‘Thereafter, she said, Beckham was ‘a total animal’ in bed,’ the biography claims
Twentytwo13
Malaysians on tenterhooks after Johor Regent takes on Selangor Sultan in public domain
The football drama in Malaysia has reached fever-pitch, with the spotlight now on the Johor and Selangor palaces. The post Malaysians on tenterhooks after Johor Regent takes on Selangor Sultan in public domain appeared first on Twentytwo13.
The Telegraph
‘This wasn’t a debate, it was a medical emergency’: Our writers give their verdicts
Follow the latest reaction in our live blog
Cosmopolitan
Katy Perry Went Topless in Nothing But Ripped Tights and an Open Jacket at PFW
Katy Perry went topless in nothing but ripped tights and an open jacket during Paris Fashion Week.
The Independent
Boy, 14, was held down and hacked to death at Wyoming mall while he tried to protect his girlfriend
Dominique Antonio Richard Harris and Jarreth Plunkett, both 15, are accused of murdering 14-year-old Bobby Maher during fatal attack
Associated Press
Indonesia detains 103 Taiwanese in a raid in Bali involving suspected cybercrime
Indonesian immigration authorities have detained 103 Taiwanese people after a raid at a villa on the resort island of Bali, officials said Friday. Godam said Indonesian authorities cannot charged them with conducting cybercrime.
AFP News
As ice melts, Everest's 'death zone' gives up its ghosts
On Everest's sacred slopes, climate change is thinning snow and ice, increasingly exposing the bodies of hundreds of mountaineers who died chasing their dream to summit the world's highest mountain.Sherpa said that bringing one body down from close to Lhotse's 8,516 metre peak -- the world's fourth-highest mountain -- had been among the hardest challenges so far.
The Independent
‘Panic mode’ Democrats begin calling for Biden to step aside after ‘horrible’ debate performance against Trump
‘Need to have Harris take over. Cleanest option,’ one Democrat strategist told The Independent
Associated Press Videos
Three bodies found inside crater at summit of Mount Fuji
Three bodies were found at the summit of Mount Fuji, Japan’s most famous mountain. One of the bodies had been brought down from the slopes but efforts to bring back the two other bodies were set to continue Friday or later, according to officials after a search was called off for Thursday because of forecasts for heavy rainfall.
SETHLUI.COM
4 hours to heaven: 10 short trips to take from Singapore
The post 4 hours to heaven: 10 short trips to take from Singapore appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
The Telegraph
South Korea is running out of children – and this country could be next
Every spring, when warm rays of sunshine herald the start of South Korea’s baking summer, fountains across Seoul’s central Gwanghwamun plaza suddenly burst into life, sending cooling jets of water into the air.
CNN
China expels two former defense ministers from Communist Party as military purge deepens
China on Thursday expelled its former Defense Minister Li Shangfu from the ruling Communist Party over corruption allegations, state broadcaster CCTV reported, eight months after he was dramatically removed from the post.
The Independent
‘I really don’t know what he said – and I don’t think he does either’: Trump pulls no punches as Biden struggles in debate
The first debate began with Biden spluttering and tripping over his own words, while Trump rambled
INSIDER
China says it picked up a submarine detector dropped by a US Navy aircraft in the South China Sea
A video shared by Chinese state media shows a US Navy plane dropping something into the sea. China called it a submarine detector.
SETHLUI.COM
Owners of private diner with 2 years waitlist open curry mee stall at Havelock Food Centre
The post Owners of private diner with 2 years waitlist open curry mee stall at Havelock Food Centre appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
BBC
China honours woman who died saving Japanese family
Hu Youping, a bus attendant, tried to restrain an assailant at a bus stop outside a Japanese school.
Associated Press Finance
China calls on scientists of all nations to study lunar samples, but notes obstacle with the US
China's space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from around the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples that the Chang'e 6 probe brought back to Earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the United States. Officials said at a televised news conference in Beijing meant to introduce the mission's achievements that any cooperation with the U.S. would be hinged on removing an American law that bans direct bilateral cooperation with NASA. "The source of the obstacle in US-China aerospace cooperation is still in the Wolf Amendment,” said Bian Zhigang, vice chair of the China National Space Administration.
Hello!
Rita Ora has coined it an itsy bitsy bikini summer once again
Rita Ora just made a case for heatwave dressing in a skimpy bikini. See photos
The Independent
Bill Gates’ daughter Jennifer is pregnant with second child
Gates is already mother to one-year-old daughter Leila
INSIDER
US stockpiles of the rare earth minerals it would need to fight a war against an adversary like China are a mystery, and experts warn it's a problem
Whether the US rare earth minerals stockpile is ready for an emergency is shrouded in mystery, but there are indications it isn't.