North Carolina is a state that has everything a retiree could want, from large cities like Winston Salem to small port towns like Southport, it’s no wonder retirees are naturally drawn to this state. And, there are many good places to retire in North Carolina.
Not only does this state offer cities and towns of varying sizes, but it also has the option of mountain and ocean views alike.
Sitting on the Atlantic ocean, North Carolina has more than 300 miles of oceanfront. If you are looking to settle down in a small coastal town or just want one nearby to vacation at, North Carolina has much to offer for beachfront property.
And if your heart tends towards hiking in the mountains, retirees can spend endless days exploring the Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, and adventures on the Appalachian Trail. Plus, the state is full of waterfalls, especially in the Brevard area, which is also known as the land of waterfalls.
For retirees looking to live in a state with mild weather that allows its residents to take pleasure in an active lifestyle year-round, North Carolina is the perfect place to live (Tennesse and Colorado are other examples).
Though the climate is fair most of the time, North Carolina boasts four distinct seasons, including colorful fall leaves and fragrant spring flowers. And if you are looking for a white winter wonderland, then a trip to the mountains is the perfect place to go.
Plus, North Carolina is also home to the Outer Banks (OBX), a series of barrier islands off the coast. The OBX is known for being the perfect vacation spot, full of fun tourist attractions such as the dunes and ocean boat tours. And having a vacation destination close to home makes retirement all the more enjoyable.
With 21 professional and minor league teams, including football, baseball, basketball, and hockey, North Carolina has more than enough events to keep any sports fan entertained. And that doesn’t even include college sports, which truly tips the scales for the true sports enthusiast.
But if you prefer arts, museums, and live performances, North Carolina has several venue options, like:
- Battlefields from the Civil War
- Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
- Thomas Wolfe Memorial
- Carolina Performing Arts
- Downtown Asheville Art District
- International Civil Rights Center & Museum
- The first documented gold find in the U.S.
- Battleship USS North Carolina
- North Carolina Museum of Art
And what makes North Carolina even more appealing than the climate and cities is the cost of living and housing. Both of which, plus the cost of utilities and transportation, are lower than the national average.
Though healthcare and food tend to be a bit higher, the tax breaks for seniors helps to offset these higher costs. North Carolina doesn’t tax social security, nor do they have estate or inheritance taxes.
Best Places in North Carolina
- Winston Salem
- Asheville
- New Bern
- Brevard
- Southport
Winston Salem
- Senior Population: 13.3%
- Overall Population: 251,762
If you think that the town sounds like a cigarette brand, you won’t be too far off. This large city started as two smaller cities, Old Salem, founded in 1753, intended to be a German religious settlement.
And Winston, founded in 1849, is where RJ Reynolds started his tobacco business. Finally, in 1913 the two cities merged into one and are now often referred to as the Twin City.
Winston Salem is the largest city on the list and is a city full of vibrant culture with several theaters, museums, and live music venues, such as:
- Historic Town of Salem Museum
- Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
- Heirloom Gardens
- Reynolda House Museum of American Art
- Children’s Museum
- Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
- Winston Cup Museum & Special Event Center
Additionally, Winston Salem has several wineries and breweries available for tastings, tours, or just a place to relax and unwind with friends. And though it is a large city Winston Salem has plenty of outdoor activities too:
- Salem Lake
- Quarry Park
- Bethabara Park
- Golf – Tanglewood Park and Salem Glen, both are known to host large events
- Muddy Creek Greenway – hiking, dog park, and amphitheater
Plus, much like the state in which it resides, the median cost for housing and rent is below the national average. And since Winston Salem is a major metropolitan area and home to several universities, it does boast several medical centers. And between Greensboro and The Twin City, there are several top hospitals like:
- Moses H Cone Memorial Hospital
- Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center
- Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Asheville
- Senior Population: 18.4%
- Overall Population: 92,452
Asheville is every outdoorsy retiree’s dream come true. Though it is a flourishing town, it is best known for its proximity to the mountains. For those looking for a home near nature so you can spend your days exploring the Great Smoky Mountains, Nantahala National Forests, or traversing the Appalachian Trail Asheville is the town for you.
And though Asheville is a prosperous town surrounded by unimaginable beauty, it is somehow still an affordable place to live. Asheville is a town full of outdoor adventurers but also artists, writers, and musicians looking to find their inspiration in the natural charm that surrounds this town.
So when you aren’t off hiking, there is plenty of activity in town to keep you busy, such as the fantastic restaurants that aids in Asheville’s popularity. The chefs of this city use their culinary experience to create delicious masterpieces with locally sourced ingredients.
And when you get thirsty, there is no shortage of breweries in Asheville. In fact, they lead the nation in the highest number of breweries per capita.
The artists’ impact on Asheville seen in the art deco architecture and galleries is sprinkled throughout the town. Additionally, if you enjoy live music, you will find a vibrant spectrum of choices, including “old-time mountain music.” Though, if that is not to your taste, they host several concerts throughout the year and sometimes multiple shows on the same weekend.
Plus, Asheville has several medical centers, including a full-service hospital, Mission Hospital located on St. Joseph’s campus. Mission scored as high-performing in several areas such as:
- COPD
- Aortic Valve Surgery
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Heart Failure
- Hip Replacement
- Knee Replacement
- Lung Cancer Surgery
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
New Bern
- Senior Population: 19.6%
- Overall Population: 30,157
Whether you’re a movie buff or a history nut, New Bern may be the town for you. Though it is on the smaller side and fondly referred to as a quintessential charming little town, it does have much to offer.
Adding to the beauty of New Bern are the two rivers, the Neuse and the Trent edging almost half of the town.
Once featured in the movie the Notebook book, New Bern’s picturesque streets and character will have anyone gushing over its charm. However, don’t let its size fool you, New Bern is a prosperous town with a thriving art and music community.
It is not uncommon to see street performers entertaining small crowds with their music on the streets of New Bern. And for those who enjoy larger venues, New Bern hosts multiple waterfront summer concerts. Additionally, residents and visitors can enjoy the bi-monthly art walks put on by local artists.
And for those who love history, New Bern is the second-oldest town in all of North Carolina, with several homes in the historic district that reflect this town’s past. Many of the homes have been restored by retirees wanting to bring back some of the old world beauty.
New Bern is also home to Carolina East Medical Center, a hospital that has a high rating in several specialties like:
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
- COPD
- Colon Cancer Surgery
- Heart Bypass Surgery
- Heart Failure
Brevard
- Senior Population: 29.6%
- Overall Population: 8,028
Another mountainous town, Brevard, sits near the borders of Georgia, Tenessee, and South Carolina amongst the Blue Ridge Mountains. But what makes Brevard so notable are the waterfalls surrounding the community.
The land of waterfalls is also near to Pisgah National Forest, a fantastic area for those who enjoy exploring nature. Paired with the mild climate, Brevard is a retiree’s haven for outdoor adventures, perfect for hiking, rock climbing, fishing, canoeing, camping, and biking.
This small town isn’t just waterfalls and mountains. It is also a prosperous city with a colorful art and music community. Brevard also hosts four annual festivals and is home to a multitude of music and art programs.
Brevard is much like Asheville but on a much smaller scale. In addition to its natural beauty, Brevard’s residents are also known for their neighborliness, which is another aspect that attracts retirees.
The cost of housing is slightly higher here than other areas of the state, but not so high as to discourage retirees from moving here. However, to offset the housing costs, Brevard boasts a low crime rate, adding to the town’s overall appeal.
And if all of those features aren’t enough to convince you of Brevard’s potential for being the ideal place to retire, it also has a full-service hospital Transylvania Community Hospital, not so far from the center of town.
Southport
- Senior Population: 29.7%
- Overall Population: 4,030
Southport, often referred to as a coastal gem, rests on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Southport was a bustling port town during colonial times, and still is a profitable fishing town, including shrimp boats that yet bring their catch to port.
Though Southport is a small village, it has been the stage for more than a few movies and TV shows such as Spies, Dawson’s Creek, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and A Walk to Remember. And that shouldn’t be at all surprising with its picturesque ports, old brick storefronts, and antique shops, plus over 20 miles of beachfront.
Though many retirees enjoy calling this village home, many others buy vacation homes here to rest and relax. In addition to being a quaint fishing village, Southport is also home to several luxury golf courses, which are open year-round thanks to the mild weather.
The one drawback to this small town is that during the height of tourist season, traffic can get a bit congested. But whether you are looking for a quaint coastal city or a luxury golf community, the small town of Southport offers both.
And don’t let the lower population concern you, the residents of Southport have easy access to a few different major medical centers, including:
- J. Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital
- Brunswick Community Hospital
- New Hanover Regional Medical Center
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