This Quaint Southern Village Is One of the Safest Places to Retire in the U.S.

Choosing the right place to spend your golden years depends on several factors, such as affordability, access to quality healthcare, proximity to family, and climate. Another very important consideration is safety since the elderly are more vulnerable to crime and exploitation. 

Recently, the financial website GoBankingRates.com ranked the 25 safest and most affordable places in the country for retirees, and a small community in North Carolina topped the list. Pinehurst, a village in the Sandhills Region of the Tar Heel State, had some of the lowest rates for violent and property crimes.

“The cost of living is more than reasonable and the crime rates are good enough to crown it as the number one place to feel safe in your retirement,” GoBankingRates.com states, noting that the annual cost of living is $68,516. And according to Zillow, the median home value is $500,000.

The publication also points out another benefit to retiring in Pinehurst—the village has a sizeable senior population. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, more than a third of its residents are aged 60 or over, and the median age in the community is 60.3 years. 

Pinehurst sits about two hours from North Carolina’s Atlantic coastline, three hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a little over an hour from a major airport, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). Its mild climate and many parks and green spaces make it an ideal place to live an active lifestyle. 

But Pinehurst’s claim to fame is being “Home of American Golf.” The region’s golfing history dates back to the beginning of the 20th century when the Pinehurst Golf Club was established in Pinehurst Resort. The property has hosted many PGA events throughout the decades, while the region now has over 40 golf courses. 

Second on GoBankingRates.com’s list is Rockport, Massachusetts, a quaint coastal town about an hour north of Boston. While Rockport’s crime rates are similar to Pinehurst’s, the town has a significantly higher cost of living ($95,952) and median home values ($814,715).

And if affordable housing is at the top of your list, then consider Frankfort, Kentucky, which ranked third. GoBankingRates.com reports that the town earned a high livability score from its residents and has an annual cost of living below $60,000. According to Zillow, the median home value is just below $223,000.

You can see the full ranking of the safest and most affordable places to retire at nasdaq.com.