The 13 Best Quiet, Affordable 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, scoring every town on all of these at once. #1 is Red Oak, NC.

1. 13Jamestown, North Carolina

   Retirement: 76th percentile · Quiet: 59th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 75th percentile

   Jamestown is a town of 3,668 people in Guilford County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $326,800 against household income of $104,844; January lows average 32°F.

   3,668 people · Guilford County · median home $326,800 · income $104,844 · Jan low 32°F · 2 in snow

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

2. 12River Bend, North Carolina

   Retirement: 83rd percentile · Quiet: 80th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 52nd percentile

   River Bend is a town of 2,902 people in Craven County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $266,100 against household income of $71,824; January lows average 35°F.

   2,902 people · Craven County · median home $266,100 · income $71,824 · Jan low 35°F · 2 in snow

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

3. 11Carthage, North Carolina

   Retirement: 55th percentile · Quiet: 74th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

   Carthage is a town of 2,775 people in Moore County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $208,200 against household income of $82,695; January lows average 31°F.

   2,775 people · Moore County · median home $208,200 · income $82,695 · Jan low 31°F · 1 in snow

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

4. 10Midway, North Carolina

   Retirement: 61st percentile · Quiet: 90th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 69th percentile

   

   Midway is a town of 4,742 people in Davidson County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $274,100 against household income of $83,446; January lows average 28°F.

   4,742 people · Davidson County · median home $274,100 · income $83,446 · Jan low 28°F · 3 in snow

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

5. 9Williamston, North Carolina

   Retirement: 61st percentile · Quiet: 76th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 85th percentile

   Williamston is a town of 5,248 people in Martin County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $107,100 against household income of $38,738; January lows average 33°F.

   5,248 people · Martin County · median home $107,100 · income $38,738 · Jan low 33°F · 1 in snow

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

6. 8Troy, North Carolina

   Retirement: 74th percentile · Quiet: 74th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 75th percentile

   Troy is a town of 2,850 people in Montgomery County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $160,100 against household income of $51,731; January lows average 33°F.

   2,850 people · Montgomery County · median home $160,100 · income $51,731 · Jan low 33°F · 2 in snow

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

7. 7Lowesville, North Carolina

   Retirement: 83rd percentile · Quiet: 89th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 57th percentile

   Lowesville is a community of 3,281 people in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $406,500 against household income of $113,510; January lows average 31°F.

   3,281 people · Lincoln County · median home $406,500 · income $113,510 · Jan low 31°F · 3 in snow

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

8. 6Forest Oaks, North Carolina

   Retirement: 91st percentile · Quiet: 78th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 72nd percentile

   Forest Oaks is a community of 4,209 people in Guilford County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $349,300 against household income of $107,604; January lows average 30°F.

   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 →

9. 5Lake Royale, North Carolina

   Retirement: 80th percentile · Quiet: 74th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 88th percentile

   Lake Royale is a community of 3,392 people in Franklin County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $280,400 against household income of $107,806; January lows average 28°F.

   3,392 people · Franklin County · median home $280,400 · income $107,806 · Jan low 28°F · 2 in snow

   Full Lake Royale, North Carolina profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 4Wentworth, North Carolina

    Retirement: 69th percentile · Quiet: 96th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

    Wentworth is a town of 2,662 people in Rockingham County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $170,300 against household income of $68,500; January lows average 29°F.

    2,662 people · Rockingham County · median home $170,300 · income $68,500 · Jan low 29°F · 7 in snow

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

11. 3Windsor, North Carolina

    Retirement: 69th percentile · Quiet: 96th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 91st percentile

    Windsor is a town of 3,582 people in Bertie County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $102,700 against household income of $40,714; January lows average 33°F.

    3,582 people · Bertie County · median home $102,700 · income $40,714 · Jan low 33°F · 1 in snow

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

12. 2Trent Woods, North Carolina

    Retirement: 98th percentile · Quiet: 86th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 72nd percentile

    Trent Woods is a town of 4,074 people in Craven County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $343,100 against household income of $107,802; January lows average 35°F.

    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 →

13. 1Red Oak, North Carolina

    Retirement: 93rd percentile · Quiet: 97th percentile · Home value ÷ income: 80th percentile

    

    Red Oak is a town of 3,342 people in Nash County, North Carolina. Homes have a median value of $271,800 against household income of $90,214; January lows average 31°F.

    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 →

Price vs ranking

More North Carolina rankings

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• 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
• 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

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