U.S. News: Here’s How NC Cities Rank For Retirees

U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 list of the best places to retire evaluated five metropolitan areas in North Carolina. The rankings look at the 125 largest metro areas in the United States based on how well they meet expectations for retirement.

Florida, the state that is somewhat synonymous with retirement, has three of the top five spots on the list: Fort Myers, Tampa Bay and Port St. Lucie.

Here’s how North Carolina’s metros performed on U.S. News’ list:

• No. 4 — Asheville, N.C.
• No. 7 — Winston-Salem, N.C.
• No. 28 — Raleigh & Durham
• No. 32 — Charlotte
• No. 37 — Greensboro

Asheville’s location along the Blue Ridge Parkway and between the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests underscores its reputation for an outdoor-friendly culture, U.S. News said.

“Asheville's proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has propelled this relatively small metro area to the top of many travelers' must-visit lists,” the magazine said. “As a result, cultural attractions that cater to visitors have flourished in the region – much to the benefit of residents. With more than 25 art galleries, studios and museums within a half-mile radius of the downtown area, Asheville tends to draw creative types. The area's sidewalks become an impromptu stage for musicians and performers, and public art is scattered throughout the metro area. Meanwhile, the region is overflowing with craft breweries and farm-to-table restaurants.”

Winston-Salem is on an “upward trajectory,” said US News. “Although the city is traditionally Southern in its friendliness, it has an international feel. The metro area celebrates its diversity during an array of festivals and through a variety of cuisines. You'll find restaurants serving everything from traditional North Carolina barbecue to Indian curries and Greek pastries.
Unlike many of North Carolina's other larger metro areas, such as Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham, Winston has not seen a huge population boom over the years.”

Here’s what US News said about the Charlotte metro:

“Charlotte is a region that's equal parts old-fashioned southern charm and high-energy cosmopolitan bustle. You'll still hear "y'all" dropped into casual conversation, but Charlotte is a metro area on the rise, and has its own culture, culinary sophistication and unique feel that's making it a more enticing place for people from all over the world to settle down. This melting pot effect makes Charlotte an easy area to break into.”

“Deciding where to retire is an important part of your life plan,” Emily Brandon, senior editor for Retirement at U.S. News, said in a press release. “When considering potential retirement spots, you should look for an affordable cost of living, proximity to health care services and a strong economy, especially if you plan to work part-time. The Best Places to Retire includes information about housing affordability, access to quality hospitals and job market strength that can help you find a retirement spot that will meet your needs.”

Each metro area in the rankings gets a score based on a weighted average of six indexes U.S. News considers: housing affordability, happiness, desirability, retiree taxes, job market and health care quality. (See the full methodology here.)

See the full list via U.S. News.