10 Prettiest Retirement Towns in the Carolinas
Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
April 9, 2019 — The Carolinas are extremely popular retirement states, with good reason. Their winters are warmer than in the midwest and northeast, taxes and the cost of living are agreeable, and there are many great retirement towns. Here are some of our favorite retirement towns in Carolina, based on how attractive they are. The competition for prettiest retirement town in the Carolinas is pretty stiff, in fact you probably have some of your own favorites. Please share your suggestions in the Comments section at the end.
Beaufort, SC. The Old South lives on in the quaint seaside charm of this town, pronounced b’yoofurt. Known as the “Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands”, the Spanish came here in 1514 and it was chartered by the British in 1711. It lies in the Sea Islands or “Low Country” area of South Carolina near Hilton Head.
Comments on "10 Prettiest Retirement Towns in the Carolinas"
Jasmine says:
North Carolina is definitely a beautiful state to retire in. Asheville is lovely with blue ridge mountains and expensive houses. It is popular with young people for its new breweries downtown. Asheville is friendly and pleasant. Southport is a very lovely, small town with a nuclear power plant. Wilmington is a wonderful town but we found it too beach oriented as they have several fantastic beaches. Chapel Hill was pleasant with its university town vibe. North Carolina is an amazing state fir retirement. I am personally extremely fond of Asheville but it does get quite cold during winter.
Robin says:
I’d like to know what it would be like in the Carolinas for a mixed race couple. Is racism alive and well there or better than in the past?
Editor's comment: Yours is certainly an important question as it relates to your future happiness. Our advice is the same we would give on almost any topic like this - you need to visit the places you might be considering and see for yourself. You can look at cities/towns for their racial and political composition to do some prep work, as well as look online for how other people in your situation like where they live. Racism can be anywhere, sad to say. But it is very hard to generalize, certainly on the state level and the local areas as well, many towns and neighborhoods in the Carolinas will be welcoming, and there are probably others not so much. University and college towns might be a good place to start, as well as the cities. Good luck!
Jean says:
Robin, In the year we lived in Myrtle Beach we met several mixed race couples and observed many mixed race young couples (dating?) and groups of teens enjoying the Broadway At the Beach area. In visiting different cities and town in both NC and SC over the years I see them to me much MORE fully integrated than places in the Northeast where you find towns and cities that are not.
Bob says:
Hmm, the Spanish discovered Beaufort in 1514? I thought we have gotten past thinking Europeans had discovered anything seeing as how there were people living here already.
Editor's comment: Better to say: the Spanish came here in 1514.
ella says:
Robin, You didn't ask about Tennessee, but i thought i'd tell you about my closest friends who are a mixed race couple. They've been in Greeneville TN (NE corner of the state) for about 13 years. They are well-loved by all who know them and are well-integrated into the community. Mike is on the board of directors for a local ballet and appears in the community theatre. Likewise, their children are in mixed race marriages. There has been no bigotry or discrimination that i know of. No one bothers with their skin color. They are simply accepted as individuals just like anyone else. Basically, they are well loved because they are friendly, interesting, welcoming people!
Just wanted you to know. Hope you find your happy place!
Patty MacDuff says:
I think you forgot to look at Hendersonville, NC . . .
Colonel Mike says:
Robin, I have lived in NC most of my life. I think even the more rural areas like where i live are very accepting if you are very accepting. What i mean by that if your accepting of how people live here that most people will be just as accepting of you. I go to church with a mixed race couple and their children and they fit right in with everyone else . As it is a small Baptist church in a rural area the stereotype would be that we aren't accepting but we are. On the other hand if you are, perhaps subconsciously the type person who is easily offended where people intend to offend or not, it might not be the place for you. People that see things they dont like and start talking about how ignorant people around here and how it is so much better in ( fill in the blank) probably aren't a good match. If a Confederate flag on someones private property property offends you, just keep that to yourself but it is their property and their right . People will treat you with just as much respect as you treat them.
Admin says:
One town on my list for prettiest in Edenton, NC. Strikingly beautiful village on the water with very nice downtown.
Editor's note: Thanks Erik! See our article on Edenton, it is a gem! "A Town So Pretty It Hurts" (with lots of great photos)