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Which NC cities are best to retire in? Here’s how they rank

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

December 4, 2025

A new WalletHub listing takes a look at the top 182 US cities to retire in. NC cities didn’t fare too well.

A recent study from WalletHub ranked North Carolina cities among a list of 182 cities in the U.S. for how suitable the locations were for retirees.

WalletHub, a personal finance company that provides consumers with tools to improve credit scores, compare credit card offers and personal loans, latest study took a look at 182 U.S. cities to find which were the best places to retire.

This time, North Carolina didn’t do well.

Read More: 7 big reasons NC is so expensive right now

To determine which cities were best for retirement, WalletHub compared the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state, across four categories, including affordability, activities, quality of life and healthcare.

Here’s what the WalletHub study found about retiring to North Carolina cities.

Is North Carolina a good place to retire? Wallethub rankings

Unfortunately for North Carolina residents (or people looking to move here), no cities in the Tar Heel State made the top 50 best cities for retirement in the nation. Here’s where North Carolina cities ranked on the list:

  • Raleigh – No. 53 of 182 cities
  • Durham – No. 57
  • Charlotte – No. 115
  • Winston-Salem – No. 121
  • Fayetteville – No. 150
  • Greensboro – No. 160
Best NC cities to retire in

The Triad city of Winston-Salem, NC, ranked on WalletHub’s list of best cities to retire in. (Shutterstock)

Best places to retire in the U.S.

The top 10 cities for retirement in the U.S., according to WalletHub, include:

  • Orlando, Florida – No. 1
  • Scottsdale, Arizona – No. 2
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota – No. 3
  • Miami, Fla. – No. 4
  • Tampa, Fla. – No. 5
  • Atlanta, Georgia – No. 6
  • Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – No. 7
  • Cincinnati, Ohio – No. 8
  • Madison, Wisconsin – No. 9
  • Casper, Wyoming – No. 10

Worst places to retire in the U.S.

The bottom 10 cities for retirement in the U.S. according to WalletHub included:

  • Bridgeport, Connecticut – No. 173
  • Salem, Oregon – No. 174
  • Pearl City, Hawaii – No. 175
  • Fontana, California – No. 176
  • Fresno, Cali. – No. 177
  • Newark, New Jersey – No. 178
  • Bakersfield, Cali. – No. 179
  • Rancho Cucamonga, Cali. – No. 180
  • Stockton, Cali. – No. 181
  • San Bernardino, Cali. – No. 182

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Reporting by Iris Seaton, Asheville Citizen Times / Asheville Citizen Times

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CATEGORIES: LOCAL CULTURE
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