New Bern : North carolina

New Bern, North Carolina is a historic town located where 2 rivers join to meet the Pamlico Sound on the Southeastern coast of North Carolina. The population is 30,000, with 22% aged 65 or older. It has a 56 square block tree lined historic district that appeals to many active adults who would like to live in or near a real town. The city, originally settled by Swiss and Germans, is the second oldest town in North Carolina and also one of its fastest growing. It is known as a particularly friendly and welcoming place with a lower than average cost of living. New Bern is located in Craven County.

New Bern was named a "Certified Retirement Community" by the State of North Carolina in 2015. There is ample retail shopping in New Bern with malls, large department stores, as well as specialty shops and boutiques. It is a pleasure to walk around the charming downtown where there are many excellent restaurants and shops.  On a recent visit by Topretirements there was a full-blown festival going on downtown that was thronged with happy strollers.
For a list of profiles on over 1,000 cities and towns go to best reviews of retirement communities; here is a retirement guide to North Carolina.

Watch this short Youtube video prepared by City of New Bern:

Many of the Federal and Georgian style homes in the historic district have been lovingly restored by people who have moved here in retirement, and there are many others that are waiting to be brought back to their former glory. Other, more modest neighborhoods such as Village Woods and Derby Park are also available in town. Outside of town there are many active adult developments to choose from (see New Bern Active Communities link at right). They offer every type of amenity from golf to tennis to marinas. For those who need more assistance in their daily living there are many assisted living and retirement homes to choose from.
Cost-of-living and property taxes in New Bern are lower than the national average. As in much of the country, home prices have been changing fast in New Bern. In mid-2021, the median home value was $186,927, up about 10% over the past year, according to Zillow.

For those looking for a big city, it is not. The crime rate is above average although not in the neighborhoods most retirees would be living in.

Boaters, golfers, and antiquers will like New Bern's milder climate and the charming, relaxed setting of a historic town. Some of the people who live here are half-backs- northerners who migrated first to Florida and have now moved halfway back. Use this link for a page that explains the various types of retirement communities.

Construction, education, public administration, services. Unemployment rate was 8.2% in 2012, which is lower than the NC average.

The New Bern Civic Theatre features plays and other entertainment. The Bank of the Arts, the New Bern Academy Museum, and the Craven Dance Arts Council and Gallery also provide cultural enjoyment. The Crystal Coast Civic Center is another active venue. Craven Community College is here and provides cultural opportunities. The library is part of the Craven/Pamlico/Carteret Regional Library system. There are frequent festivals that bring many people the charming downtown area that has several interesting restaurants.