22 Carolina cities recently made the list of 100 Most Popular Places to Retire put out by our friends at TopRetirements.com.
The Carolina cities on this year’s list include Asheville, Beaufort (both the NC and SC Beaufort’s made it), Charleston, Myrtle Beach, New Bern, Brevard, Bluffton, Murphy, Summerville, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Aiken, Southport, Clemson, Greenville (both the NC and SC Greenville’s made it), Hilton Head, Mt. Airy, Hayesville, Hendersonville, and Lake Keowee.
How the List is Determined
According to TopRetirements, while most of the “Best Places” lists are either the subjective opinions of the authors or a ranking from various criteria, this list is different. It is based strictly on the number of online visitors from the 1000+ cities reviewed at TopRetirements during the last 6 months.
Here’s what TopRetirements had to say about each place:
2. Asheville, NC
“Asheville is a prosperous small city of just over 75,000 in the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina. The downtown is filled with cafes, restaurants, and art deco buildings.”
6. Beaufort, SC
“The Old South lives on in the quaint seaside charm of Beaufort, Known as the “Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands”. Horse-drawn carriages roll along streets in the town’s charming historic district that are overhung with Spanish moss.”
7. Charleston, SC
““The Holy City” is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S. as well as being one of its top tourist attractions. Located on the coast of South Carolina, until the mid 1800’s it was one of the 10 largest cities in North America.”
11. Myrtle Beach, SC
“Myrtle Beach is a favorite beach and golf resort community as it is home to The Grand Strand – one of the world’s longest sections of perfect beach, and boasts over 120 golf courses. It also has a reputation as a hot spot for live family entertainment, music, and celebrity concerts.”
14. New Bern, NC
“This city of over 30,000 grew by 30% from 2000 to 2013. It has a 56 square block tree lined historic district and a charming downtown. New Bern was named a “Certified Retirement Community” by the State of North Carolina in 2015.”
18. Brevard, NC
“The town of Brevard, surrounded by the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, consistently ranks near the top of popular lists of “best retirement communities” and “best places to live, work, and play”.”
Read: Bluffton, Brevard, and Mount Airy Make Forbes 2016 Best Places to Retire List
22. Bluffton, SC
“Bluffton, located near Hilton Head Island and the coast, is a charming, walkable, old town on the May River.”
Read: Bluffton, Brevard, and Mount Airy Make Forbes 2016 Best Places to Retire List
25. Murphy, NC
“Murphy is a great place for retirement particularly if you are interested in a quiet and rural environment. The climate is mild and the scenery is breathtaking with mountains and lakes.”
26. Summerville, SC
“Summerville, “The Flower Town in the Pines”, has a charming downtown with many restaurants and unusual shops. Tourists flock to the area to see its azaleas in season.”
28. Chapel Hill, NC
“Chapel Hill is a particularly beautiful college town in the gentle hills of central North Carolina. The University of North Carolina is the centerpiece of this charming small town with a cosmopolitan flair that makes it appealing as a retirement community.”
37. Charlotte, NC
“Charlotte is a prosperous, very fast growing city. It is so big and diverse that there is probably some part of Charlotte that could appeal to about anyone.”
48. Beaufort, NC
“Beaufort is a charming and friendly small town of 4,200 by the sea. This old seaport has an interesting history and beautiful housing – many homes sport historic plaques.”
49. Aiken, SC
“This town of almost 30,000 in western South Carolina is known as the “Winter Colony”, and has always been popular with the horsy set for fox hunting, steeplechase, and polo horses.”
52. Southport, NC
“Southport was an active seaport in colonial times and remains one of the few active fishing villages in North Carolina. Its picturesque location features over 28 miles of sandy beaches and a number of lighthouses.”
54. Clemson, SC
“This town of 13,000 is nestled in the extreme Northwestern corner of South Carolina. Clemson University and its 17,000 students have a major impact as the university is the cultural center of the city.”
60. Greenville, SC
“Greenville has an interesting downtown and several great neighborhoods. It is also home to a number of colleges and is a thriving community for the arts.”
69. Hilton Head, SC
“Known for its beautiful beaches and fabulous golf courses, the area tends to be quite exclusive and most of it comprised of planned developments.”
Read: Spotlight on Hilton Head
Read: Where to Eat, Stay, and Play on Hilton Head
Read: Hilton Head Retirement Community Profiles
73. Mt. Airy, NC
“Mount Airy has a vital downtown that attracts tourists and retirees. In 2013, it was designated by the State of North Carolina as an official North Carolina Retirement Destination.”
Read: Bluffton, Brevard, and Mount Airy Make Forbes 2016 Best Places to Retire List
80. Hayesville, NC
“Hayesville is a beautiful and friendly, but very small town that combines small-town charm with the beauty of mountains, lakes, rivers and streams. Opportunities for camping, golf, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and water sports are plentiful.”
81. Greenville, NC
“Greenville was recognized as “Sportstown USA” by Sports Illustrated and the National Parks and Recreation Association. The recognition came for its commitment to providing sporting opportunities for residents.”
85. Hendersonville, NC
“This southern town is located in what is called the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area of western North Carolina, and has an exceptionally beautifully and revitalized downtown area.”
96. Lake Keowee, SC
“Lake Keowee is a very large reservoir in north-central South Carolina, just west of Greenville. It is not a town, but a beautiful region which is a relatively unspoiled area with plenty of water and parks for recreation.”
Once again, you can see the entire List of Most Popular Places to Retire here.