6 Most Comfortable North Carolina Towns For Seniors For 2025

If retirement is around the corner, look no further than North Carolina, where seniors can settle into charming small towns, enjoy a gentle pace of life, and stay connected to nature, culture, and community in welcoming small towns like Pinehurst, Beaufort, and Tarboro. According to the Zillow Home Values Index, the average home value is $330,565, which is lower than the US average of $360,727 in November 2025.

The Tar Heel State is moderately tax-friendly when it comes to retirees, where all Social Security retirement benefits from income taxes are exempt, and there’s no state estate tax. Finally, because you’re never too old to learn new tricks, residents 65 and older can audit classes tuition-free at the 17 campuses of the University of North Carolina, as well as the state’s community colleges.

Pinehurst

Pinehurst is one of the safest and most retirement-friendly towns in south central North Carolina, where seniors can look forward to mild weather, beautiful neighborhoods, abundant recreation opportunities (especially golf), and strong community support. It was established in 1895, after a Boston soda fountain magnate purchased 5,500 acres in an area known as “the Sandhills,” with dreams of creating a health resort. Thanks to design elements that included generous green spaces, pine forests, and curving roadways, the village resembled a spacious golf course. It quickly became synonymous with golf after the first course was laid out in 1897 and 1898.

Today, Pinehurst still offers a resort-like atmosphere, home to the swanky Pinehurst Resort and the famous Pinehurst No. 2 golf course and provides excellent healthcare through FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital for its almost 19,000 residents. Forbes.com recently listed the Village of Pinehurst as one of the “25 Best Places to Enjoy Retirement in 2025.” Beyond the greens, enjoy wandering through the shops in the historic district (designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996), like the Pinehurst Brewing Company in the village’s former steam plant, learn about the town’s history at the Given Memorial Library and Tufts Archives, and visit the themed gardens at Sandhills Horticultural Gardens.

Hendersonville

A charming small town of less than 16,000 residents in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hendersonville has a very pedestrian-friendly downtown, a vibrant arts and music scene, and access to quality care at AdventHealth, which received its 18th consecutive “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit group dedicated to patient safety. Hendersonville is only 25 miles from its cosmopolitan cousin, Asheville, making day trips a breeze. Housing in Hendersonville is generally more affordable than in Asheville, with average home values of $403,000.

Active seniors who enjoy hiking will love the proximity to Laurel Park or Bearwallow Mountain, which sits at 4,232 feet above sea level and is accessible via an easy-to-moderate two-mile round-trip trail to a historic fire tower offering 360-degree views of Mt. Mitchell and Mt. Pisgah. For cultural events, the nearby Flat Rock Playhouse, designated the State Theater of North Carolina, presents professional productions of Broadway favorites such as “Mamma Mia!,” “West Side Story,” and “South Pacific.” Finally, wine enthusiasts can discover North Carolina’s newest wine region, known as the Crest of the Blue Ridge, at wineries like Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, Burntshirt Vineyards, and Sawyer Springs Vineyard & Winery.

New Bern

Once the capital of North Carolina from 1770 to 1792, New Bern is the second-oldest European-settled colonial town in the state. With a population of 35,000, the historic, friendly city on the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers offers a relaxed waterfront lifestyle without the pricey real estate of coastal towns like Wilmington or Wrightsville Beach, with typical home values in New Bern hovering around $276,000.

Ideal for history buffs or anyone who loves colonial history, historic homes, museums, and walking tours, New Bern invites seniors to discover its more than 300 years of history with more than 164 homes and buildings within easy walking distance of the waterfront, according to the Visit New Bern website. Must-see sites include the 18th-century Tryon Palace, which has been restored with lavish interiors and landscaped gardens, the North Carolina History Center, and the nearby New Bern Academy in the heart of New Bern’s historic residential district, which served as a hospital in the Civil War, later becoming part of the New Bern grade school system until 1971.

Beaufort

A peaceful coastal village of 5,000 residents, Beaufort is known for its ocean breezes, maritime charm, and walkable streets, making it ideal for seniors who love waterfront strolls, sailing culture, and coastal history. Discover all things maritime, including shipwrecks and tales about pirates like the infamous Blackbeard and his flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Explore the historic seaport town’s Old Burying Ground (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) to learn more about its 300-year-old history on a guided tour led by an experienced guide in period costume, one of many tours offered by the Beaufort Historic Site.

Sometimes called “Beaufort-by-the-Sea,” there are plenty of opportunities to spend time on the water kayaking, cruising, or taking an eco-tour to the Rachel Carson North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, a group of small barrier islands across Taylor’s Creek from the Beaufort waterfront. Enjoy birding, photography, and wildlife observation on the islands, including river otters, gray foxes, and the famous herd of wild horses. According to the Zillow Home Values Index, the average home value in Beaufort is $423,000.

Brevard

Seniors who appreciate nature, waterfalls, and wildlife like its famous population of white squirrels will enjoy settling down in the “Waterfall Capital of North Carolina,” Brevard. Home to over 250 waterfalls, the community even hosts a directory of waterfalls for trip planning around Transylvania County. Active seniors who want to spend time chasing waterfalls can’t miss Looking Glass Falls, one of the most viewed waterfalls in the US, and the numerous waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest, like Triple Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

Downtown Brevard is full of cafes, art galleries, and one-of-a-kind shops, where seniors can stroll through its friendly Social District and enjoy a drink from the Brevard Brewing Company thanks to the town’s open-container policy. With home values around $466,000, quality healthcare at Transylvania Regional Hospital, and its reputation as an outdoor adventure hub surrounded by national and state forests, including the massive 500,000-acre Pisgah National Forest, Brevard is a good choice for seniors who want to keep fit and active in a charming small town with about 8,000 neighbors.

Weaverville

Weaverville is a small, artsy community with a population of 5,000. About 10 minutes north of Asheville, its location makes it a gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway, where seniors can easily access scenic drives, overlooks, and trails, such as the rhododendron-lined paths at Craggy Gardens and Blue Ridge Pinnacle, as well as the stunning landscapes of Mount Mitchell State Park.

Downtown Weaverville is a shopper’s paradise with art galleries and unique shops lining the streets, like Honey & Hive, which has everything seniors need to take up beekeeping in their free time. Weaverville is also perfect for dog lovers, home of one of Wagbar’s popular locations, which combines the elements of an off-leash dog park with a pub, creating a fun social scene for seniors and their four-legged companions. Giving seniors the best of both worlds, combining small-town charm with quick access to the bigger city of Asheville, home values in Weaverville are slightly higher at $474,000.

North Carolina is full of senior-friendly small towns, each with its own charm, from Pinehurst’s resort-like atmosphere to Hendersonville’s walkable downtown, mountain views, and cultural attractions. Coastal Beaufort provides maritime history and easy access to wildlife-rich islands, while historic New Bern blends colonial landmarks with an affordable riverside lifestyle. Nature lovers will appreciate Brevard, the “Waterfall Capital of North Carolina,” surrounded by forests and outdoor recreation, and artsy Weaverville, just minutes from Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway. There’s someone for everyone to love in any of the six most comfortable towns for seniors in 2025.