With North Carolina becoming an ever-more-popular choice for retirement, one wonders how to choose among the many cities, towns, and villages scattered about its valleys, hills, and beaches. The answer depends, of course, on what you want: do you seek fine golf courses, access to arts and culture, ocean views, secluded valleys, small-town atmosphere, or big-city bustle? Is a big house important to you, or do you prefer something cozy? Are you counting your pennies, or did that last big bonus leave you free and easy with your cash? With so much variety in the state, there appears to be a little bit of something for everyone. Some in-depth research is in order, and only you know what you want, but here are four fine choices that illustrate the variety of great retirement options in North Carolina.
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- Highlands - Highlands is a favorite retirement spot for Atlanta executives, which tends to raise house prices and other costs there—an effect exacerbated by the scarcity of homes. It houses only 1,000 people (2015), so it’s definitely a seller's market. Nevertheless, if your golden years edge closer to platinum and you don't mind an influx of summer tourists seeking relief from the South's humid summers in its cool mountain air, this might be the place for you.
- New Bern - Noted by MarketWatch as "the quintessential charming small town near the sea," New Bern is graced with hundreds of Historic Register houses in four historic districts and supports art, music, and theater. It also offers plenty of outdoor recreation for seniors who aren't anywhere near ready for the rocking chair yet. And in case you overdo it, there's a well-regarded medical center in town. It's a little far from the big city, but you may not want to leave town anyway.
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- Morrisville - Morrisville is the first choice of Movoto, which is a real-estate blog. This may explain why they were unfazed by the area's fairly high housing prices, but Morrisville topped their list of ten best retirement towns. Movoto claimed to rank their choices by five criteria: cost of living, total crime, total amenities, weather, and distance from nearest international airport. But they give no details besides a list of houses for sale. It still sounds like a town worth looking into.
- Asheville - The biggest city in western North Carolina, and a hotspot for retirees, it is more bustling than cozy, yet still offers the charms of an Art Deco downtown with a plethora of small local shops and eateries, pleasant strolling, and a setting in the legendary Blue Ridge Mountains. Music, art, and theater thrive in its healthy and diverse economy, and there are many retirement communities in or near the city, often centered on golf courses, lakes, or the region's hill country. And, Asheville offers bus service from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., to make getting around without a car possible.
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