Raleigh-Durham Area 55+ Retirement Communities

Popular active adult communities have been springing up throughout the Raleigh-Durham area, also known as the Research Triangle region. Active adult communities in Raleigh-Durham attract active adults due to the area's strong economy, laidback lifestyle, and four-season climate that still offers generally mild winters. Many second chance retirees who originally moved to Arizona or Florida later relocate to active lifestyle communities in the Raleigh-Durham region. With so many active retirement options to choose from, you can be certain to find the right 55+ community in Central North Carolina perfect for you.

Climate & Geography

Its location on the Gulf of Mexico jet stream gives Raleigh 55+ communities and its surrounding regions a humid subtropical climate, with gentle, lingering springs and average yearly daytime temperatures comfortably in the 70s. Summers are warm and humid, with summer daytime temperatures commonly reaching the high 80s. Only in January and February do the nighttime temperatures regularly dip just below freezing with the occasional bout of snow or ice, due to the higher altitudes of the Piedmont region.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

Raleigh-Durham'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 a short drive away. The sun-soaked beaches of the Atlantic Coast are also within an easy drive from the Raleigh-Durham age-restricted communities, as is Orientals Intracoastal Waterway. Other popular outdoor activities that active adults will find in the Raleigh region include tennis, biking, horseback riding, and hiking in the Piedmont.

Cost of Living & Taxes

The cost of living within a Raleigh or Durham, North Carolina active adult community is average for the United States as a whole. North Carolina is tax-friendly to retirees because they have a flat rate of 5.8% and in 2015 it will lower to 5.75% with the possibility of further reductions in subsequent years. North Carolina does not tax Social Security income nor does it have an estate tax. The counties of North Carolina tax real estate independently.

Health Care

The Raleigh-Durham area counts 46 hospitals within a 30-mile radius of Raleigh, including six hospitals belonging to the Duke University Health System, considered among the top healthcare organizations in the country. Continuing an active lifestyle is just part of the high quality of life the Raleigh-Durham area has to offer the active seniors. Many who move to North Carolina 55+ communities are not quite ready to hang up the office tie just yet. Central North Carolina s highly diverse economy makes it easy for active seniors to find jobs in a wide range of fields.