Best counties to retire to in North Carolina
Best counties to retire to in North Carolina
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in North Carolina based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in North Carolina.
#25. Ashe County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 26,831
- Median household income: $50,827
- Median home value: $221,900
- Top places to live: West Jefferson (B), Jefferson (C+), Chestnut Hill Township (B+)
#24. Haywood County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 62,432
- Median household income: $61,001
- Median home value: $254,900
- Top places to live: Lake Junaluska (A-), Waynesville (B), Clyde (B)
#23. Davie County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 43,526
- Median household income: $73,234
- Median home value: $235,300
- Top places to live: Advance (A-), Mocksville (B+), Bermuda Run (B+)
#22. Northampton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 17,212
- Median household income: $47,935
- Median home value: $102,200
- Top places to live: Kirby Township (A-), Jackson (B-), Conway (B-)
#21. Rutherford County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 64,850
- Median household income: $49,771
- Median home value: $180,800
- Top places to live: Rutherfordton (B+), Forest City (B), Spindale (B-)
#20. Perquimans County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 13,146
- Median household income: $61,224
- Median home value: $211,600
- Top places to live: Hertford Township (B+), Belvidere Township (B), Parkville Township (B)
#19. Craven County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 101,074
- Median household income: $64,635
- Median home value: $206,200
- Top places to live: Trent Woods (A), James City (A-), Brices Creek (B+)
#18. Cherokee County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 29,197
- Median household income: $51,496
- Median home value: $208,700
- Top places to live: Murphy Township (B), Valleytown Township (B), Andrews (B)
#17. Mitchell County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 14,973
- Median household income: $58,089
- Median home value: $202,100
- Top places to live: Spruce Pine (B+), Grassy Creek Township (B+), Snow Creek Township (B+)
#16. Yadkin County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 37,419
- Median household income: $60,321
- Median home value: $176,400
- Top places to live: Yadkinville (B-), Jonesville (B-), Forbush Township (A-)
#15. Bertie County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 17,482
- Median household income: $45,931
- Median home value: $95,800
- Top places to live: Windsor (B-), Whites Township (B+), Windsor Township (B)
#14. Transylvania County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 33,243
- Median household income: $64,523
- Median home value: $336,100
- Top places to live: Brevard (B+), Dunns Rock Township (A-), Boyd Township (A-)
#13. Chowan County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 13,814
- Median household income: $56,982
- Median home value: $204,400
- Top places to live: Edenton (C+), Yeopim Township (B+), Middle Township (B)
#12. New Hanover County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 231,214
- Median household income: $72,892
- Median home value: $353,700
- Top places to live: Wrightsboro (A), Wrightsville Beach (A), Murraysville (A-)
#11. Alleghany County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 11,075
- Median household income: $44,272
- Median home value: $199,000
- Top places to live: Glade Creek Township (B), Whitehead Township (B), Cherry Lane Township (B-)
#10. Dare County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 37,534
- Median household income: $81,214
- Median home value: $425,400
- Top places to live: Nags Head (A), Kill Devil Hills (A-), Manteo (A-)
#9. Beaufort County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (A-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 44,597
- Median household income: $57,997
- Median home value: $181,200
- Top places to live: River Road (B+), Washington (B), Chocowinity (B-)
#8. Macon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 37,533
- Median household income: $53,298
- Median home value: $229,000
- Top places to live: Franklin (B), Highlands (A-), Highlands Township (B+)
#7. Chatham County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 78,319
- Median household income: $88,534
- Median home value: $397,800
- Top places to live: Fearrington Village (A), Pittsboro (A-), Siler City (B)
#6. Henderson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 117,387
- Median household income: $67,623
- Median home value: $317,800
- Top places to live: Balfour (A), Flat Rock (A), Valley Hill (A-)
#5. Pamlico County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 12,315
- Median household income: $61,624
- Median home value: $209,800
- Top places to live: Grantsboro Township (B+), Grantsboro (B+), Hobucken Township (B)
#4. Brunswick County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 145,889
- Median household income: $74,034
- Median home value: $314,700
- Top places to live: St. James (A), Sunset Beach (B+), Oak Island (B+)
#3. Polk County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 19,689
- Median household income: $61,005
- Median home value: $281,100
- Top places to live: Tryon (A-), Saluda Township (A-), Tryon Township (A-)
#2. Moore County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 102,840
- Median household income: $82,837
- Median home value: $315,300
- Top places to live: Pinehurst (A+), Southern Pines (A), Aberdeen (A-)
#1. Carteret County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A+), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 68,652
- Median household income: $70,235
- Median home value: $304,200
- Top places to live: Emerald Isle (A-), Pine Knoll Shores (A-), Cedar Point (A-)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
