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1 / 30#30. Cape Carteret
- Population: 2,719
Best places to retire in North Carolina
A growing percentage of the working-age population has been retiring each year since the Great Recession—a trend that has only sped up in the years since the pandemic began, according to a recent Congressional Research Service analysis. And as members of the boomer generation move solidly into their golden years, they're looking for a place to live out a longer retirement than previous generations have enjoyed.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to retire in North Carolina using data from Niche.
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2 / 30#29. Rutherfordton
- Population: 3,668
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3 / 30#28. Davidson
- Population: 14,644
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4 / 30#27. Shallotte
- Population: 4,059
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5 / 30#26. Neuse Forest
- Population: 2,267
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6 / 30#25. Cedar Point
- Population: 2,068
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7 / 30#24. Oak Island
- Population: 8,252
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8 / 30#23. Valley Hill
- Population: 2,262
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9 / 30#22. Seven Lakes
- Population: 3,919
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10 / 30#21. Nags Head
- Population: 3,096
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11 / 30#20. Alamance
- Population: 1,387
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12 / 30#19. Fearrington Village
- Population: 2,642
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13 / 30#18. River Bend
- Population: 2,933
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14 / 30#17. Fruitland
- Population: 2,374
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15 / 30#16. Clemmons
- Population: 21,032
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16 / 30#15. Laurel Park
- Population: 2,663
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17 / 30#14. Biltmore Forest
- Population: 1,670
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18 / 30#13. Tryon
- Population: 1,334
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19 / 30#12. Fairfield Harbour
- Population: 2,872
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20 / 30#11. Bermuda Run
- Population: 3,021
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21 / 30#10. Southport
- Population: 3,842
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22 / 30#9. Flat Rock
- Population: 3,460
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23 / 30#8. Emerald Isle
- Population: 3,844
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24 / 30#7. Sea Breeze
- Population: 1,632
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25 / 30#6. Southern Shores
- Population: 3,069
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26 / 30#5. Sunset Beach
- Population: 4,091
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27 / 30#4. Pinehurst
- Population: 17,250
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28 / 30#3. Carolina Shores
- Population: 4,441
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29 / 30#2. St. James
- Population: 6,199
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30 / 30#1. Pine Knoll Shores
- Population: 1,288
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