11 Best Places to Retire in North Carolina

Florida may not be the best and only choice for retirement, as many of today’s retirees have found it in the 11 best places to retire in North Carolina.

The growing popularity of North Carolina as the retirement haven has resulted in the Tar Heel State being named ‘The Halfway Back’. This after the rise in a number of former Florida-based retirees has moved in North Carolina in the last decade.

But why North Carolina, though? The reasons are understandable.

For one, North Carolina offers a diverse range of ideal living options for retirees. There are beach options and mountain options – with all the retiree-friendly activities that come with them – and of course, there are the college towns that offer their unique vibe and lifestyle options.

North Carolina also offers one of the most interesting tax policies for retirees: the state does not tax social security income. In 2014, their tax friendliness rates have significantly improved as well.

As with any retirement plan, if you want to make the most of your retirement money, location is key. Pick the right city or town, and you’ll make the most out of your move.

If you’re not on the lookout for the 7 most affordable countries to live and retire in and you want to enjoy your golden years at home turf, but Florida or Arizona is too mainstream for you, check out what North Carolina has to offer you instead!

This list of the 11 best places to retire in North Carolina is picked from the suggestions of Market Watch, Active North Carolina, Local Niche, Top Retirements, and Safe Wise.  We have ranked these towns and cities according to the following criteria: popularity as a retirement community, cost of living, lifestyle offerings and range of activities for retirees, proximity to or availability of public facilities, and of course, safety.

Check out this article and maybe you can finally shortlist your retirement options from the 11 best places to retire in North Carolina!

 

11. Davidson

Davidson is a small college town that is presented as North Carolina’s best alternative to Chapel Hill. What retirees will love about the place is that it is small enough for everyone to connect as it is highly walkable – and supposedly made for pedestrians and bike riders. There are tons of greens, the cost of living is slightly lower than Chapel Hill and Charlotte and its big city attractions are only a little over 20 miles away. The median home cost for Davidson is listed at $235,900.

10. Mount Holly

The city of Mount Holly has been named one of the safest in North Carolina in 2015. If safety is a concern for you, you’ll be delighted to know that the crime rate has reduced by 25% and violent crimes are only 2.60 per thousand. It is also a mere five-minute drive to Charlotte so it is ideal for people who want to stay close to the city. Its brick-lined walks and perfectly maintained parks – including the ones that are within proximity to the waterfront – are perfect recreations for retirees and their visiting families.

 

9. Morrisville

Morrisville boasts of its low crime rate and a friendly small-town community, making it the ideal home for retirees who want to slow down. Although the town has a higher cost of living than many others on this list of the 11 best places to retire in North Carolina, Morrisville still makes up for it with its great real estate options, great weather, and availability of amenities. Not to mention, jet-setting retirees will definitely love its proximity to the airport.

 

8. Mint Hill

Mint Hill’s housing and cost of living figures are a little bit high but they make up for these things due to the availability of outdoor activities and its proximity to Charlotte. There are several outdoor recreation centers that will make any homebody want to explore the town and an athletic association for the extra active ones.

7. New Bern

For pop culture and modern literature fanatics, New Bern NC may be best known as one of the locations for one of the most iconic romance movies in recent years: The Notebook. But New Bern is also earning a good name among retirees. Its historical houses and well-preserved structures will most especially appeal to those who are looking for a picturesque community to be a part of. Its closest city is Raleigh, about two hours away by car.

6. Apex

Apex’s appeal for retirees may exactly be the same thing that made it appealing enough to be declared the Time Money’s Best Place to Live in 2015. The cost of living is about average, the homes are not overpriced, the downtown life is equally quaint and advanced, and there is an overwhelming atmosphere of closeness that you thought you could only expect from smaller towns. It is quiet and family-friendly and easily accessible!

5. Holly Springs

With only .83 crimes per 1000 people, Holly Springs is unsurprisingly one of the safest, if not the safest place to live in North Carolina. That, and the fairly affordable cost of living and real estate rates make Holly Springs undoubtedly one of the best places to retire in North Carolina. The weather is very pleasant as well!

4. Mount Airy

Mount Airy’s primary appeal to the retirees and what primarily made it one of the best places to retire in North Carolina is the surroundings. There is something so breathtaking and so refreshing about Mount Airy. It could be the nearby Pilot Mountain State Park. It could be the bustling downtown and all its small time offerings of refreshments and entertainment. Or it could be the small town closeness of the community that makes retiring a whole lot more fun and enjoyable.

3. Brevard

Third on this list of the 11 best places to retire in North Carolina is the small town of Brevard. In fact, it is in practically every existing article on the interwebs about retiring in North Carolinas. Brevard is one retirement community designed for the more active, outdoorsy older folks. The Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding Brevard and the many, many outdoor attractions – falls, parks, friendly locals – will surely keep the adventurous senior out of doors a lot. It does not fall short of public facilities necessary to make the retiree life easy and convenient either!

2. Pinehurst

Picking the second best on our list of the best places to retire in North Carolina was a tedious task, as Pinehurst was so close to bagging the top spot. After all, Pinehurst is one of the safest cities in all of North Carolina. Not to mention, Pinehurst and its community are very accommodating – so welcoming, in fact, that there is a local organization created to do exactly that: welcome new residents. But perhaps for most retirees, the best and most compelling reason to move hereabouts is their number of world-class golf courses. Enough said.

1. Asheville

Asheville’s cost of living may be slightly higher than most others on this list but there are endless reasons why Asheville bagged the coveted top spot of the best places to retire in North Carolina. Foremost of these reasons is the median home cost that sat just under $200,000 in recent years – lower than most other retiree cities. Secondly, Asheville is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. The nearby Blue Ridge Mountains lend its breathtaking beauty as the town’s backdrop – a perfect one for all the activities retirees can do in and around Asheville. From hiking to picnicking to shopping to gallery-hopping, Asheville gives retirees a lot of options to spend their golden time on. Asheville’s UNC also offers learning courses for retirees who do not want to stop learning!

Your retirement fund is the fruit of your lifelong labor. If you’re going to spend it, spend it wisely – first off by picking the right retirement spot. Use this list as a guide for your next retirement haven hunting!