It’s no surprise that many retirees like to settle down in the South, especially in our Triangle cities and towns. The warmer weather, good cost of living, and close proximity to the beach and mountains draw them to our area. Our hospitable culture quickly captures their hearts and the Triangle becomes the place they decide to call home.
In fact, according to a recent study conducted by Southern Living, the Triangle ranks among the 15 Best Places to Retire in the South. The national magazine spotlighted three of our Triangle destinations including Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill reporting:
“When it comes to North Carolina’s Triangle cities, it’s hard to choose just one — Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill have a lot to offer retirees. Each city takes full advantage of the beautiful rolling hills of the Carolinas: Walking trails, bike paths, and hiking opportunities are everywhere.
Nature lovers enjoy living near the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the beach is just a day trip away. The Triangle still offers a low cost of living, its foodie scene is thriving, and the cities are adding new cultural amenities and events every day. Continue your learning with world-class educational opportunities at Duke’s Durham campus or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — sports lovers will revel in their spirited rivalry. You’ll never lack for music, theater and festival choices in the Triangle, and transit is simple, since anyone 65 and older can take a Triangle Transit bus for free. The Raleigh-Durham airport makes travel convenient and quick.”
This recognition is right in line with Forbes’ February 2016 report touting the steady uptick in Raleigh’s senior population, which increased 18.1 percent from 2010 to 2014. The rise in the Capital City’s senior share and its popularity among retirees and empty nesters landed it in second place among the nation’s metro areas with the biggest senior gains.
“Our Relocation Division has seen a significant increase in inquiries from retirees over the past couple of years,” said Nancy Harner, senior vice president of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston’s Relocation and Corporate Real Estate Services. “Quite often these couples are moving to the Triangle to be closer to their children who graduated from local universities and stayed in the area to start their careers and families.”