Fort Mill, SC 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Overview 

A suburb of Charlotte, Fort Mill is on the border of Northwestern South Carolina. Retirees seeking a small-town atmosphere near a larger metropolitan city can find it in Fort Mill: local golf courses, nature preserves, and a tight-knit downtown community, as well as its pleasant seasonal temperatures, make this town an attractive destination for active adults.

Climate & Geography 

Fort Mill experiences all four seasons in a humid, subtropical climate, although the variation between the seasons is not as pronounced as other regions in the U.S. Summers are hot and prone to thunderstorms, while winters can by rainy with occasional snow. Rainfall can occur from tropical storms, but Fort Mill is too far inland to receive damaging winds.

Mountains to the northwest moderate the winter by blocking extremely cold winds, and although the Atlantic Ocean is too far away to cool the summer, it does supply warmth in the winter.

Recreation, Culture, & Entertainment 

Fort Mill is known for its outdoor recreation. Anne Springs Close Greenway is an extensive nature preserve with over 2,100 acres of lakes, forests, and pastures with trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The city also offers three golf courses, with Fort Mill Golf Club in the center of town.

The formerly sleepy Main Street downtown turned into a bustling area, with new restaurants and shops. Craft beer enthusiasts can visit the Amor Artis brewery, and produce lovers can visit the peach orchards and strawberry fields just outside town.

Just 20 miles across the border in North Carolina is Charlotte, with plenty of museums, sporting events, and brand-name shopping.

Cost of Living & Taxes 

The overall cost of living is higher than both the averages for South Carolina and the U.S., and the largest reason for this is the cost of housing. Transportation, utilities, and groceries are all below average, and health care hovers just slightly above. 

Though South Carolina does not tax Social Security, it does tax other forms of retirement income with large deductions. Property taxes are some of the lowest in the country, whereas a 7 percent sales tax is average.

Health Care

The Charlotte metro area scores well on Gallup’s Well-Being Index, ranking in the top 50 communities.

There are no nationally ranked hospitals within Fort Mill, but U.S. News ranks the nearby Carolinas Healthcare System Pineville as high performing and the No. 4 hospital in the Charlotte area. The Piedmont Medical Center is also within 10 miles and ranked as high performing. Within Charlotte, the nationally ranked Carolinas Medical Center is the No. 4 hospital in North Carolina, as well as high performing in four adult specialties and eight procedures and conditions.