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Home » 55+ » The 10 Best Places to Retire in North Carolina

The 10 Best Places to Retire in North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina street

North Carolina is an attractive state for retirees. Low taxes let your savings go further. Undiscovered beaches let you enjoy a coastal retirement without a massive Florida or California price tag. Plus, vibrant cities give you an exciting place to spend your time.

NewHomeSource found the top five cities to retire in North Carolina. Finding the perfect place for this amazing chapter in your life means investing in your quality of life and your future.

Top 10 Cities to Retire in North Carolina

Skip Ahead
1. Eden
2. Spring Lake
3. Reidsville
4. Laurinburg
5. Kinston
6. Lexington
7. Newton
8. Lenoir
9. Rocky Mount
10. Lumberton

1. Eden

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 20.8% 

Median Home Value: $83,800

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 2

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 530

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1

Eden, North Carolina is a charming small town outside Greensboro. If you’re looking to enjoy peace and quiet during your retirement, Eden will be the perfect paradise for you! Retirees love Eden’s low cost of living, affordable median home prices and its low crime rate. 

2. Spring Lake

Spring Lake, North Carolina

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 5.4%

Median Home Value: $96,000

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 51

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 288

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 2

Spring Lake is a delightful town on the outskirts of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg. This delightful community lets retirees looking to live a life they love on a fixed income make the most of their newfound freedom, without blowing out their budget. Start your search for the perfect retirement home in Spring Lake today!

3. Reidsville

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 20.5%

Median Home Value: $100,000

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 111

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 693

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1

Active adults love life in Reidsville, NC! This historic town on the bank of the Haw River has miles of walking trails winding through beautiful scenery, perfect for retirees that want to maintain a high level of activity during their golden years. Lake Reidsville and the Haw River State Park let you enjoy riparian entertainment and Mother Nature at her finest. 

4. Laurinburg

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 18%

Median Home Value: $102,400

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 46

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 285

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 2

Laurinburg, North Carolina, truly has something for every type of retiree, and a low cost of living to boot! Laurinburg’s charming history and architecture will appeal to art and history buffs that want to connect with their community. Retirees looking for high octane fun can head over to the ATV park. No matter how you spend your retirement, you’ll love life in Laurinburg.  

5. Kinston

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 22%

Median Home Value: $102,700

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 244 

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,305

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1

Retirees looking for a laid back retirement will love life in Kinston, NC. This beautiful riverside community gives active adults the chance to kick back and relax in an unbelievably affordable city. If you’re ready to live life on your terms, start your search for your new home in Kinston today. 

6. Lexington

Lexington, North Carolina

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.6%

Median Home Value: $106,000

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 130

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 489

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 8

If you like the idea of living in a historic and peaceful community, while still having easy access to metropolitan hubs, you will love life in Lexington, NC. This charming suburb of Greensboro offers retirees a comfortable community and a low cost of living, without forcing them to sacrifice their lifestyle. 

7. Newton

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 1.3%

Median Home Value: $107,700

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 72

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 453

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3

Newton is a beautiful suburb of Charlotte, that gives active adults the chance to relax, recharge, and reconnect with nature during their golden years. If you’re looking to invest in a comfortable life that still provides you with easy access to urban areas, you’ll love Newton. 

8. Lenoir

Lenior, North Carolina

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 20.6%

Median Home Value: $109,400

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 56

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 845

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3

Not everyone wants to battle alligators during their retirement. Lenoir is a great community in the heart of North Carolina’s beautiful forests, that is perfect for retirees looking for peace and privacy. Embrace stunning scenery and an unbeatable lifestyle in Lenoir.  

9. Rocky Mount

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.6%

Median Home Value: $109,500

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 447

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,577

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 3

Rocky Mount is an exciting North Carolina town. This funky community has something for everyone, ranging from nature lovers, to folks who want to live in museums. No matter how you want to spend your retirement, you can live comfortably on a fixed income and enjoy the activities you love when you make your home in Rocky Mount.  

10. Lumberton

Lumberton, North Carolina

Percentage of the Population Over 65: 15.2%

Median Home Value: $111,500

Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 77

Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 434

Number of Hospitals Within One Mile of the City: 1

Lumberton is a beautiful community, nestled in the heart of North Carolina’s beautiful natural setting. Retirees looking to stay active and reconnect with nature during their golden years can live a life they love in Lumberton. Rounding out this wonderful neighborhood is a safe environment and a low cost of living. 

Here is the complete list…

City NamePeople Over 65Violent CrimesProperty CrimesAccess to DoctorsMedian Home Price
Eden20.8%25301$83,800
Spring Lake5.4%512882$96,000
Reidsville20.5%1116931$100,000
Laurinurg18%462852$102,400
Kinston22%2441,3051$102,700
Lexington16.6%1304898$106,000
Newton18.3%724533$107,700
Lenoir20.6%568453$109,400
Rocky Mount16.6%4471,5773$109,500
Lumberton15.2%774341$111,500
Roanoke Rapids17.2%211562$112,900
Tarboro23.9%201602$113,800
Asheboro16.7%1261,1682$115,200
Shelby18.9%554343$116,100
Thomasville16.5%891,0097$117,100
Kings Mountain17.1%414005118,100
Sailsbury17.5%2511,5794$124,300
Burlington17.9%4421,8772$126,300
Elizabeth City15.101019391$127,200
Hope Mills8.8%1136832$128,600
Graham15.9%181081$129,400
Goldsboro16.3%2149851$129,100
Lincolnton17.7%312726$133,100
Fayetteville11.4%1,1796,9181$129,700
Archdale16.3%292355$136,700
Mount Airy26.3%141391$136,800
Sanford11.3%647821$136,800
Havelock4.7%285302$137,000
Kannapolis13.4%1179686$137,100
Wake Forest10.5%536603$139,000
Wilson18.3%2641,7192139,000
Smithfield22%534541$140,700
Gastonia15.6%5663,8394$144,00
Statesville14.8%1087034$146,200
Morganton21.4%734034$147,100
Winston-Salem13.9%1,4438,0975$144,400
High Point13.9%6953,6818$147,500
Monroe12.9%958164$152,200
Jacksonville6%2291,7631$152,300
New Bern19.%1189401$154,300
Greenille10%4732,8352$155,100
Greensboro13.5%1,8909,9223$152,900
Mount Holly 13%263029$163,900
Hickory16.8%1701,8835$167,900
Kernersville17.7%729706$172,000
Clayton9.7%294174$174,900
Hendersonville33%342963$175,000
Henderson16.9%2808043$175,000
Garner14.3%1046784$175,400
Knightdale9.3%674424$183,000

NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services, Medicare’s Hospital Compare and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each city.

Access to Doctors is calculated by finding the number of hospitals, discounting children’s hospitals and VA hospitals within one mile of the city.


Other North Carolina Resources

  • Top Master Planned Communities Near Raleigh, NC
  • Top Master Planned Communities near Charlotte, NC
  • First-Time Homebuyer Programs in North Carolina
  • Best Modular Home Builders in Asheville: 2020 Edition
  • The Best Suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Moving To Raleigh? This Relocation Guide Will Help
  • Top 10 Safest Cities in North Carolina
  • Moving To Charlotte? This Relocation Guide Will Help

Sanda Brown

After graduating in 2016 from The University of Texas with a degree in English, Sanda Brown became a content writer for the BDX with a focus on website copy and content marketing.

At the BDX, Sanda helps write and edit articles on NewHomeSource.com, writes website copy for builders, and manages a team of freelancers that work on additional content needs.

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