Cary, North Carolina

With a low crime rate, an affordable cost of living, and a mild climate that doesn’t sacrifice all the seasons, Cary has a lot to offer retirees.  

It’s close to Research Triangle Park, an economically powerful area, rich in well-developed infrastructure and technology, formed by Duke University in Durham, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. These colleges offer lifelong learning programs that retirees can take advantage of. Through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke or UNC, they can take a class on everything from history to the arts. 

The Research Triangle is also home to prestigious medical centers, like Duke University Hospital and UNC Health, giving seniors many options for their health care. 

As a bike-friendly town with a 200-mile network of greenways and biking facilities, Cary makes it easy for retirees to stay in shape. There are 30 public parks and natural areas to enjoy, as well as community gardens open to volunteers. They can fuel up after a day’s outing at one of Cary’s many farm-to-table restaurants.

Those who appreciate arts and culture will delight in Cary’s many galleries and local theaters, not to mention a visit to the Cary Arts Center or Koka Booth Amphitheatre. 

The senior center, which has been awarded national accreditation for its excellence in senior programming and operations for 2024–29, always has events like book chats or cookie decorating on the schedule as well as a number of fitness classes. It also hosts several clubs for retirees, such as the Granpaparazzi Camera Club or Cary Stitchers.  

North Carolina doesn’t tax Social Security and has a low flat income tax rate of 4.5% that will slowly drop to 3.99% over the next three years.