Top 10 Places to Retire in North Carolina in 2027

1Asheville

Asheville ranks first because it pairs a 2,134-foot Blue Ridge elevation with Mission Hospital, a full regional trauma center unusual for a metro of roughly 95,000. The 178,926-square-foot Biltmore Estate anchors a year-round arts and tourism economy, and North Carolina levies no state tax on Social Security income. Four distinct seasons keep summers cooler than the Piedmont.

This suits retirees who want mountain scenery, walkable breweries, and serious medical care without a major city. The trade-off is cost: downtown-adjacent homes run well above the state median, and steep, icy streets challenge limited mobility. Against Pinehurst below, Asheville swaps golf-course flatness for elevation change and a single-resort town for a broader arts-and-healthcare economy.

2Pinehurst

Pinehurst ranks second because it is built entirely around Pinehurst Resort's nine golf courses, including No. 2, host of the U.S. Open in 1999, 2005, 2014, and 2024. Frederick Law Olmsted's firm laid out the village in 1895 as a health resort, and that planned, walkable design still defines it. Moore County's Sandhills climate brings mild winters and sandy, well-drained soil for year-round play.

This is for retirees whose daily routine centers on golf, tennis, or lawn bowling rather than mountains or coastline. Gated resort homes and memberships carry a premium, and the town offers little nightlife or large hospital capacity compared with Asheville. Next to Southern Pines below, Pinehurst is smaller, more manicured, and organized around one resort rather than a broader small-city downtown.

3Southern Pines

Southern Pines ranks third for the same Sandhills golf climate as Pinehurst next door, but with a lower cost of entry and its own historic Broad Street downtown of shops and restaurants. The town was founded in the 1880s as a winter health resort for tuberculosis patients drawn by pine forests and dry air. Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, 915 acres of longleaf pine, sits inside town limits.

This is the pick for retirees who want golf-region living with an actual town center rather than a single resort campus. A large military-retiree population from nearby Fort Bragg means VA clinic access and military-friendly banking are more built out than in Pinehurst. Against Pinehurst above, Southern Pines offers more everyday commerce and a lower price floor, but fewer marquee championship courses.

4Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill ranks fourth because it delivers a research-university town's amenities: UNC-Chapel Hill, chartered in 1789 as the first public university in the country, runs UNC Medical Center and a continuing-education program open to the public. The town of roughly 62,000 sits in the Piedmont, flatter and milder than the mountains but hillier than the coast. Duke's Durham campus and hospital are a 15-mile drive away.

This fits retirees who want lifelong-learning classes, college sports, and top-tier academic medicine more than golf or beach access. Housing runs high for a town this size because of steady faculty, staff, and student-family demand. Against Asheville, Chapel Hill trades mountain views for flatter Piedmont terrain and an arts-town identity for a university-town one, with two major hospital systems within a half hour.

5Wilmington

Wilmington ranks fifth for coastal retirees because it sits on the Cape Fear River just a few miles from Wrightsville Beach, pairing a working downtown Riverwalk with ocean swimming in the same day. The port city, founded in 1739, has roughly 120,000 residents and a historic district of preserved 19th-century homes. New Hanover Regional Medical Center anchors regional healthcare, while coastal property insurance runs above inland rates.

This suits retirees who want ocean and river access with a real city's restaurants, an airport, and a film and TV production scene rather than a small resort town. Hurricane risk and rising flood-insurance premiums are the trade-off, along with summer humidity that outlasts the mountains' cooler evenings. Against Chapel Hill above, Wilmington gives up university-town lifelong learning for beach access and a more tourist-driven local economy.

6Hendersonville

Hendersonville ranks sixth because it delivers Blue Ridge Mountain scenery at a lower price than Asheville, 25 miles north, while keeping Main Street's brick storefronts and a weekly farmers market. Henderson County produces more apples than any county in the state, and roadside orchards ring the town each fall. Pardee Hospital serves as the local acute-care center, smaller than Mission but adequate for routine needs.

This is for retirees who want mountain-town character without Asheville's traffic or downtown home prices, and who don't mind driving for specialty care or a larger airport. The town skews quieter and older than Asheville, with less nightlife and fewer big-name restaurants. Against Asheville above, Hendersonville trades big-city arts and healthcare depth for a smaller, slower Main Street and meaningfully cheaper real estate.

7Brevard

Brevard ranks seventh for retirees chasing a smaller, quieter mountain alternative to Asheville, 35 miles east. The town calls itself the Land of Waterfalls, with more than 250 named falls in surrounding Transylvania County, including Looking Glass Falls off U.S. 276. Brevard is also known for its white squirrel population, protected by local ordinance since the 1980s, and the Brevard Music Center runs a seven-week classical festival each summer.

This fits retirees who want hiking and waterfalls as a daily backdrop and will trade Asheville's restaurant scene and hospital capacity for a town of about 8,000. Winters bring more snow than Asheville because surrounding elevations in Pisgah National Forest are higher. Against Hendersonville above, Brevard is smaller and more outdoors-focused, with fewer everyday services and a longer drive to a full-service hospital.

8New Bern

New Bern ranks eighth because it combines a historic waterfront where the Neuse and Trent rivers meet with a lower cost of living than coastal towns further south. Founded in 1710 by Swiss and German settlers, it served as North Carolina's colonial capital, and the restored 1770 Tryon Palace anchors downtown. New Bern is also the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, invented there by pharmacist Caleb Bradham in 1898.

This suits retirees who want boating and river access without Wilmington's beach-town prices or crowds, and who value historic architecture over nightlife. At roughly 32,000 people, specialty medical care and shopping are more limited, often requiring a drive to Greenville for less common procedures. Against Wilmington above, New Bern is quieter, cheaper, and further from the open ocean.

9Beaufort

Beaufort ranks ninth as the pick for retirees who want a small historic port town rather than a city. Chartered in 1709, it is the third-oldest town in North Carolina, and its waterfront boardwalk faces the Rachel Carson Reserve, home to wild horses just offshore. The compact historic district, with homes dating to the 1700s, sits inside Carteret County on the Crystal Coast, and the year-round population is under 4,500.

This fits retirees who want walkable, small-town charm and boat access more than a full range of city services. There is no major hospital in town, so residents drive roughly 40 minutes to Morehead City or further to Greenville for serious care, and grocery and retail options are limited compared with New Bern. Next to New Bern above, Beaufort is smaller, closer to open water, and more purely a boating town.

10Highlands

Highlands ranks tenth because it is the most remote and seasonal pick here, sitting at 4,118 feet elevation, among the highest incorporated towns east of the Mississippi River. Founded in 1875, it draws wealthy summer residents from Atlanta and Florida, and Main Street's shops and restaurants scale back sharply after Labor Day. Nearby Highlands Cashiers Hospital is small, and Asheville is more than an hour's drive away.

This is for retirees who want a cool-summer mountain retreat, plentiful hiking, and a low year-round population near 1,000, without needing year-round restaurants or a full hospital nearby. Steep, winding roads and occasional winter snow closures can isolate the town for days. Against Brevard above, Highlands is higher, smaller, pricier, and more a seasonal retreat than a self-sufficient year-round retirement town.

How we ranked these

This ranking weighted five factors equally: cost of living against the national average, North Carolina's flat state income tax combined with local property tax rates, proximity to full-service hospital systems within a 30-minute drive, seasonal comfort factoring humidity, winter mildness, and hurricane exposure, and walkable town centers where dining, arts, and healthcare cluster near housing.

Deliberately excluded: current home listing prices, which shift monthly and vary block-by-block within the same town; subjective scenery preferences like mountain versus coastal views, since those are personal rather than measurable; and short-term crime spikes tied to single incidents rather than five-year trend data. Political leanings and university sports affiliations were also left out.

What to look for

What actually matters when choosing between these ten is the 30-minute hospital drive and the August humidity, not the postcard view. A retiree managing three specialists a month should weight Chapel Hill or Asheville's medical depth far above Highlands' scenery. Check FEMA flood maps block by block in Wilmington and New Bern, since premiums swing wildly a few streets inland.

The mistake most buyers make is visiting only in October, North Carolina's most flattering month, then committing to a purchase. They miss humid August afternoons, hurricane-season insurance quotes, and January ice on steep mountain roads. Rent for a full season in the exact neighborhood before buying, and price flood and wind coverage before falling for a waterfront listing.

Related questions

Is North Carolina tax-friendly for retirees?

Social Security itself is exempt from North Carolina state tax, but pensions, 401(k), and IRA withdrawals are taxed at the flat 4.5% state income rate. Property taxes run below the national average in most counties, and homestead exemptions help seniors 65+ with qualifying income. Compared to neighboring Virginia or South Carolina, NC sits in the middle for overall tax friendliness.

Does North Carolina tax Social Security benefits?

No. North Carolina fully exempts Social Security retirement benefits from state income tax, regardless of a retiree's total income level. However, withdrawals from pensions, traditional IRAs, and 401(k) accounts are taxed at the state's flat 4.5% rate, with an exception for vested government and military pensions grandfathered under the Bailey Settlement provision.

What's the difference between the NC mountains and the coast for retirement?

Mountain towns like Asheville and Hendersonville offer cooler summers, lower hurricane risk, and quieter winters with occasional snow, but longer drives to major airports and hospitals. Coastal towns like Wilmington and New Bern offer flat, walkable terrain and boating access, but face hurricane season from June through November and higher insurance premiums tied to flood zone maps.

How does healthcare access compare across these towns?

Chapel Hill sits closest to major academic medical centers like UNC Health and Duke Health, giving retirees fast specialist access. Asheville has its own regional trauma hospital. Smaller towns like Brevard or Highlands rely on a 30-45 minute drive to a full-service hospital, which matters more as chronic conditions and specialist visits become routine.

Are these towns walkable without a car?

Downtown Asheville, Southern Pines, and Wilmington's historic district score well for walkability, with grocery, dining, and medical offices within a 10-15 minute walk of many neighborhoods. Chapel Hill is more car-dependent despite good sidewalks, since amenities spread across a wider footprint. Retirees who want to give up a second car should prioritize historic-downtown towns.

How does North Carolina's cost of living compare to Florida or Arizona?

North Carolina generally runs slightly cheaper than Florida's popular retiree metros and noticeably cheaper than Arizona's Phoenix-Scottsdale corridor, mainly on housing. It lacks Florida's zero state income tax, but property insurance is far lower since NC carries less hurricane and wildfire exposure, which narrows the total cost gap once insurance and taxes are combined.

What role does hurricane risk play in choosing a coastal NC town?

Wilmington and New Bern sit in NC's active hurricane corridor, with flood insurance often required and homeowners premiums running well above the state average. Retirees drawn to coastal living should budget for both and check FEMA flood zone maps before buying, since a property a few blocks inland can carry a dramatically different premium.

How cold do North Carolina winters actually get?

It varies sharply by elevation. Coastal and Piedmont towns like Wilmington and New Bern rarely see snow and average winter lows in the high 30s to low 40s Fahrenheit. Mountain towns like Boone and Blowing Rock sit above 3,000 feet and regularly see snow, ice, and lows in the teens, which matters for driving and heating costs.

FAQ

What is the best overall place to retire in North Carolina in 2027?

Asheville and Pinehurst consistently top NC retirement rankings for different reasons: Asheville for mountain scenery, arts, and walkability; the Sandhills for golf, mild winters, and lower cost of living. The right choice depends on whether a retiree prioritizes cultural amenities and elevation or a quieter, golf-centered community with easier home affordability.

Is Asheville too expensive for retirees now?

Asheville's cost of living has risen faster than the state average over the past decade, particularly for housing, driven by tourism and relocation demand. It still runs below national coastal-retirement hubs like Naples or Santa Fe, but budget-conscious retirees increasingly look to nearby Hendersonville or Brevard, which offer similar mountain access at 15-20% lower housing costs.

What towns are good for retirees who want a college-town feel?

Chapel Hill and Boone both offer college-town retirement living tied to UNC and Appalachian State respectively, with access to campus lectures, sports, and continuing-education programs. Chapel Hill skews more expensive and urban; Boone offers mountain elevation and a smaller-town feel but colder, snowier winters and a longer drive to a major hospital system.

Do these towns have strong 55+ retirement communities?

Yes. Pinehurst and Southern Pines have long-established golf and country-club retirement communities with decades of infrastructure built around active-adult living. Wilmington has newer master-planned 55+ developments with clubhouses and fitness centers. Asheville and Chapel Hill lean toward integrated neighborhoods rather than age-restricted communities, appealing to retirees who prefer living near residents of all ages.

What's the average home price across these top NC retirement towns?

Prices vary widely: Southern Pines and New Bern tend to offer the most affordable entry points, often mid-$300,000s for a retiree-sized home, while Chapel Hill and parts of Asheville run well into the $500,000-$700,000 range. Coastal Wilmington sits in between, with price heavily dependent on distance from the waterfront and flood zone designation.

Are there direct flights available near these retirement towns?

Asheville Regional Airport, Wilmington International, and Raleigh-Durham International (serving Chapel Hill) all offer regular commercial service, with RDU carrying the most direct national routes. Smaller towns like Southern Pines, Brevard, and Highlands rely on a 45-90 minute drive to RDU, Charlotte Douglas, or Piedmont Triad International for most flights.

How does crime compare across these towns?

Chapel Hill and Southern Pines consistently report lower violent and property crime rates than the state average, per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. Asheville and Wilmington, as larger tourist-driven cities, report higher property crime concentrated in downtown commercial districts rather than residential retirement neighborhoods, a distinction worth checking at the neighborhood level rather than citywide.

What's the biggest mistake retirees make when choosing a NC town?

The most common mistake is visiting only in fall, North Carolina's most flattering season, and missing how a town feels during humid August heat, hurricane season on the coast, or icy mountain roads in January. Renting for a season before buying, in the specific neighborhood being considered, catches most of these mismatches before a retiree commits.

Which towns are best for retirees who want to avoid hurricanes entirely?

Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, and Chapel Hill sit well inland, outside the coastal hurricane corridor, so wind and flood insurance costs stay far lower. Highlands is also inland but sits at 4,118 feet, where winter snow and ice become the trade-off instead. Retirees prioritizing storm safety should weight these mountain and Piedmont towns over Wilmington or New Bern.

How important is walkability for retirement in these towns?

Walkability matters more as driving confidence declines with age, and it directly affects daily independence. Southern Pines, downtown Asheville, and Beaufort's compact historic district let residents reach dining, groceries, and medical offices on foot. Chapel Hill and Wilmington require a car for most errands despite good sidewalks, so retirees planning to drop a vehicle should weight the historic-downtown towns higher.

Sources

• https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement
• https://www.aarp.org/retirement/
• https://smartasset.com/retirement
• https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/
• https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/individual-income-tax
• https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/NC
• https://www.usnews.com/places
• https://www.forbes.com/advisor/retirement/

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