Charlotte Area 55+ Retirement Communities

Charlotte, North Carolina has quickly emerged as a top retirement destination for active retirees. Active adult communities in the Charlotte area offer dynamic lifestyles in a four-season climate with generally mild winters. Many second chance retirees who originally moved to Arizona or Florida later relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina s age-restricted communities.

Climate & Geography

Because of its location on the Gulf of Mexico jet stream, Charlotte retirement communities enjoy a humid subtropical climate warmer than most places at comparable latitude. Average yearly daytime temperatures are comfortably in the 70s. Summers are warm and humid, with summer daytime temperatures commonly reaching the high 80s. Only in January do the nighttime temperatures regularly dip just below freezing, although in December and February you may see occasional snow and ice.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

Charlotte s sunny weather means that outdoor activities are many and diverse. If the many golf courses in the area do not suffice, Myrtle Beach, the Golf Capital of the World, is just an hour away. The sun-soaked beaches of Hilton Head Island are also within an easy drive. Other popular outdoor activities in Charlotte include tennis, sailing, biking, horseback riding, and hiking in the Blue Ridge or Great Smoky Mountains.

Cost of Living & Taxes

Residents of the Charlotte area enjoy a cost of living index that is 90.7% of the national average. North Carolina income tax is collected at a flat rate of 5.8% and in 2015 it will lower to 5.75% with the possibility of further reductions in subsequent years. Retirees living in Charlotte s active adult communities do not have their Social Security income taxed nor does the state collect an estate tax. Real estate taxes are collected by the county.

Health Care

Continuing an active working lifestyle is just part of the high quality of life Charlotte has to offer older adults. Many who move here are not quite ready to hang up the office tie just yet. Charlotte s strong, diverse economy makes it easy for active adults to find jobs in a wide range of fields. Charlotte also has nearly a dozen high quality hospitals and healthcare facilities. Duke Medical Center is consistently ranked among the top ten healthcare organizations in the country and many active adult communities are located nearby.