The best — and worst — places to retire in NC, says report. Which cities made the list?
More and more people are venturing South to call North Carolina home, but a new report is revealing the best — and worst — spots in the state to retire.
This spring, GOBankingRates released a list of the 10 cities across the Tar Heel state that may not be ideal for older people looking to settle down. A separate report, detailed below, also found the best spots for retirees in the US, with an NC town highly ranked.
“North Carolina gets pretty high marks as a retirement destination thanks to its combination of affordability, moderate weather, diverse geography and urban centers that offer all the amenities,” the report says.
“Determining the best and worst places to retire is an inexact science because there are so many different variables at play… But based on different studies and metrics, some places are more likely to land in the ‘worst’ column than the ‘best’ one.”
First, here are the cities — listed in alphabetical order— determined by GoBackingRates.com to be the worst places to retire in North Carolina because of high costs of living, livability and other factors.
Worst places to retire in NC
Asheville
Cary
Chapel Hill
Charlotte
Gastonia
Goldsboro
Jacksonville
Mooresville
Statesville
Wilmington
Best places to retire
In a separate report, GoBankingRates also released a list of the best places to retire across the U.S. with no savings — with Pinehurst, North Carolina, ranking among the top 10.
What to know about Pinehurst:
Percentage of population 65 and older: 39.5%
Average 2023 home value: $499,175
Average 2023 property tax: 0.82%
Annual homemaker services costs: $52,624
Annual home health aide costs: $52,624
Annual grocery costs: $4,537.47
Annual healthcare costs: $7,564.28
Annual utilities cost: $3,811.21
Annual transportation costs: $2,835.17
Annual necessity costs: $18,748.14
Last year, Hickory, N.C., was ranked the “best affordable place to retire” in the country by U.S. News & World Report, The News & Observer previously reported.
This story was originally published July 17, 2024 at 12:47 PM with the headline "The best — and worst — places to retire in NC, says report. Which cities made the list?."
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