The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 188 towns of 500–10,000 people in North Carolina. #1 is Fearrington Village, NC.

1. 25Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

   Better for retirees than 85% of North Carolina towns

   Kitty Hawk is a town of 3,689 people in Dare County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 95% of North Carolina towns.

   3,689 people · Dare County · median home $535,000 · income $94,450 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

   Full Kitty Hawk, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Nags Head, North Carolina

   Better for retirees than 86% of North Carolina towns

   Nags Head is a town of 3,168 people in Dare County, North Carolina. It also ranks quieter than 98% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 95% of North Carolina towns.

   3,168 people · Dare County · median home $490,800 · income $91,264 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

   Full Nags Head, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Mountain Home, North Carolina

   Better for retirees than 86% of North Carolina towns

   Mountain Home is a community of 3,490 people in Henderson County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 92% of North Carolina towns and more of a college town than 86% of North Carolina towns.

   3,490 people · Henderson County · median home $400,000 · income $83,083 · Jan low 27°F · 7 in snow

   Full Mountain Home, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Southport, North Carolina

   Better for retirees than 87% of North Carolina towns

   Southport is a city of 3,971 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks quieter than 92% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 91% of North Carolina towns.

   3,971 people · Brunswick County · median home $437,700 · income $87,641 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

   Full Southport, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Oak Island, North Carolina

   Better for retirees than 89% of North Carolina towns

   Oak Island is a town of 8,396 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 93% of North Carolina towns.

   8,396 people · Brunswick County · median home $456,500 · income $85,872 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

   Full Oak Island, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Sunset Beach, North Carolina

   Better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns

   Sunset Beach is a town of 4,175 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 93% of North Carolina towns.

   4,175 people · Brunswick County · median home $410,900 · income $81,976 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

   Full Sunset Beach, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Edenton, North Carolina

   Better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns

   Edenton is a town of 4,460 people in Chowan County, North Carolina. It also ranks hipper than 100% of North Carolina towns and more seaside character than 100% of North Carolina towns.

   4,460 people · Chowan County · median home $274,100 · income $38,417 · Jan low 34°F · 2 in snow

   Full Edenton, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Mills River, North Carolina

   Better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns

   Mills River is a town of 7,078 people in Henderson County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns and better for cycling than 88% of North Carolina towns.

   7,078 people · Henderson County · median home $436,100 · income $105,398 · Jan low 27°F · 9 in snow

   Full Mills River, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Forest Oaks, North Carolina

   Better for retirees than 91% of North Carolina towns

   Forest Oaks is a community of 4,209 people in Guilford County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 95% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 94% of North Carolina towns.

   4,209 people · Guilford County · median home $349,300 · income $107,604 · Jan low 30°F · 4 in snow

   Full Forest Oaks, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Beaufort, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 91% of North Carolina towns

    Beaufort is a town of 4,464 people in Carteret County, North Carolina. It also ranks more seaside character than 99% of North Carolina towns and better for cycling than 99% of North Carolina towns.

    4,464 people · Carteret County · median home $354,900 · income $53,321 · Jan low 38°F · 1 in snow

    Full Beaufort, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Lake Norman of Catawba, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 91% of North Carolina towns

    Lake Norman of Catawba is a community of 8,658 people in Catawba County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of North Carolina towns and better for families than 88% of North Carolina towns.

    8,658 people · Catawba County · median home $492,600 · income $112,656 · Jan low 31°F · 5 in snow

    Full Lake Norman of Catawba, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Fairfield Harbour, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 93% of North Carolina towns

    Fairfield Harbour is a community of 2,767 people in Craven County, North Carolina. It also ranks more of a college town than 97% of North Carolina towns and better for cycling than 94% of North Carolina towns.

    2,767 people · Craven County · median home $300,600 · income $72,583 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full Fairfield Harbour, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Red Oak, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 93% of North Carolina towns

    

    Red Oak is a town of 3,342 people in Nash County, North Carolina. It also ranks quieter than 97% of North Carolina towns and better for families than 91% of North Carolina towns.

    3,342 people · Nash County · median home $271,800 · income $90,214 · Jan low 31°F · 1 in snow

    Full Red Oak, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Brevard, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 93% of North Carolina towns

    Brevard is a city of 7,744 people in Transylvania County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for cycling than 97% of North Carolina towns and hipper than 96% of North Carolina towns.

    7,744 people · Transylvania County · median home $450,000 · income $54,103 · Jan low 25°F · 7 in snow

    Full Brevard, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Flat Rock, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 94% of North Carolina towns

    Flat Rock is a village of 3,486 people in Henderson County, North Carolina. It also ranks better transit than 95% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 92% of North Carolina towns.

    3,486 people · Henderson County · median home $601,700 · income $95,098 · Jan low 27°F · 7 in snow

    Full Flat Rock, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Seven Lakes, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 94% of North Carolina towns

    Seven Lakes is a community of 4,900 people in Moore County, North Carolina. It also ranks quieter than 95% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 88% of North Carolina towns.

    4,900 people · Moore County · median home $394,500 · income $91,085 · Jan low 33°F · 3 in snow

    Full Seven Lakes, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Porters Neck, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 94% of North Carolina towns

    Porters Neck is a community of 7,397 people in New Hanover County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 98% of North Carolina towns and better for families than 93% of North Carolina towns.

    7,397 people · New Hanover County · median home $569,700 · income $119,979 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full Porters Neck, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Weaverville, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 95% of North Carolina towns

    Weaverville is a town of 4,567 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for young professionals than 91% of North Carolina towns and hipper than 91% of North Carolina towns.

    4,567 people · Buncombe County · median home $463,700 · income $88,221 · Jan low 29°F · 12 in snow

    Full Weaverville, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Etowah, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 95% of North Carolina towns

    Etowah is a community of 7,642 people in Henderson County, North Carolina. It also ranks quieter than 88% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 88% of North Carolina towns.

    7,642 people · Henderson County · median home $338,100 · income $72,596 · Jan low 26°F · 7 in snow

    Full Etowah, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Southern Shores, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 96% of North Carolina towns

    Southern Shores is a town of 3,090 people in Dare County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 97% of North Carolina towns.

    3,090 people · Dare County · median home $712,300 · income $131,429 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full Southern Shores, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Fairview, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 97% of North Carolina towns

    Fairview is a community of 2,771 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for young professionals than 93% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 87% of North Carolina towns.

    2,771 people · Buncombe County · median home $439,600 · income $92,132 · Jan low 25°F · 29 in snow

    Full Fairview, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4St. James, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 97% of North Carolina towns

    St. James is a town of 6,529 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina. It also ranks quieter than 99% of North Carolina towns and better for a vacation home than 96% of North Carolina towns.

    6,529 people · Brunswick County · median home $636,800 · income $116,383 · Jan low 36°F · 1 in snow

    Full St. James, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Trent Woods, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 98% of North Carolina towns

    Trent Woods is a town of 4,074 people in Craven County, North Carolina. It also ranks better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns and more upscale than 96% of North Carolina towns.

    4,074 people · Craven County · median home $343,100 · income $107,802 · Jan low 35°F · 2 in snow

    Full Trent Woods, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Black Mountain, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 98% of North Carolina towns

    Black Mountain is a town of 8,426 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina. It also ranks hipper than 96% of North Carolina towns and better for cycling than 91% of North Carolina towns.

    8,426 people · Buncombe County · median home $358,900 · income $77,042 · Jan low 28°F · 2 in snow

    Full Black Mountain, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Fearrington Village, North Carolina

    Better for retirees than 100% of North Carolina towns

    Fearrington Village is a community of 2,557 people in Chatham County, North Carolina. It also ranks more upscale than 100% of North Carolina towns and better for young professionals than 92% of North Carolina towns.

    2,557 people · Chatham County · median home $472,600 · income $86,116 · Jan low 30°F · 3 in snow

    Full Fearrington Village, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More North Carolina rankings

• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in North Carolina
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in North Carolina
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in North Carolina
• The 13 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina
• 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in North Carolina
• 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in North Carolina
• The 20 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in North Carolina

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New York
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Texas
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in New Jersey
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Florida
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Wisconsin
• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Ohio