Retire in Raleigh? Region ranks 7th in US

RALEIGH – The City of Oaks is among the nation’s best places to retire, according to a new analysis conducted by Zumper.

And that’s due to the region’s outdoor recreation amenities, quality of life, weather and environment, and other measures of satisfaction, including housing affordability.

“As the capital of North Carolina, Raleigh continues to be an enticing city for prospective residents,” a blog post released with the analysis reads. “With Southern charm and favorable weather, retirees will find that other residents in their age group are greatly satisfied with living in Raleigh. Above-average scores for air quality, weather satisfaction, and outdoor recreation satisfaction also contribute to Raleigh’s overall draw. Early retirees with investments should take note of the state income tax in North Carolina, coming in at 4.99 percent.”

The study looked specifically at cities that were the best place to retire, for those retirees who might consider renting, including the median price of one-bedroom apartments in each location, which accounted for one quarter of each city’s overall score.

Still, one in four Wake County households are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of household income on costs associated with shelter. And even more renters, nearly half, face unaffordable housing costs, the data show.

And Raleigh rent growth remains the highest in the nation, as well.

Nevertheless, Raleigh ranked seventh overall, trailing Columbus, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky, Spokane, Washington, Detroit, Michigan, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and San Antonio, Texas.

Other factors included data from a satisfaction survey conducted by Zumper from renters that it reached during the survey period.

Housing crunch: Whether buying or renting, rising costs hammer Wake households

Retirees are moving to North Carolina and the Triangle

The region is also among those in the nation that are attracting new residents, with North Carolina attracting the third-most migration of any U.S. state, according to a recent study conducted by the National Association of REALTORS.

And these relocating people, whether for retirement or to take new or existing jobs in the region, are active in housing markets across the Triangle.

Such movement, said Tony Fink, a licensed real estate agent with Linda Craft Team REALTORS in Raleigh, “substantiates the health of the Triangle economy.”