2024 Best Places to Retire in the Asheville Area

Current Resident: Tryon is not a bad place to live, but there are not many job opportunities in the area and you have to know somebody who knows somebody to get any real estate in the area. Meaning it is very small town oriented.... Read 8 reviews

Current Resident: Lived here all my life since I was born and it is awesome, I live within a forest that is fun to explore. It is safe and fun, plus it isn't a mess. I see no trash. Neighbours are friendly also. Besides for the drug dealers, I don't interact with them and I live a bit away from them tho.... Read 10 reviews

Current Resident: Beautiful Mountain town, with safe neighborhoods. Wonderful exercise path around the lake which is accessible for bike riding, running, or walking. Quiet town, friendly neighbors. Parks for children to play in, and multiple activities for the whole family during the summer. Night life is non-existent, most restaurants close at 9pm or 10pm during the week. Local breweries are wonderful, and several coffee shops are a great place to go and hang out by the creeks and meet with locals or travelers. Home to the International Folk Moot Festival, and a wonderful Apple Festival.... Read 1 review

Nearby Resident: It is a great place to live in with the beautiful view of the mountains and the extraordinary nice people who live there, with great work ethics and amazing stores and restaurants.... Read 21 reviews

Current Resident: I like it here in Royal Pines because it's close to my college by commute, it's not too far from grocery stores, fast food places, and it's along a bus route since I cannot drive. Even though I live here with my aunt, it's pretty nice here, and quiet and the neighbors are friendly.... Read 1 review

Current Resident: I enjoy the small town atmosphere and the distance from central areas. If you are looking for a small southern town Etowah is the place. 20 minutes from the Pisgah Forest, Hendersonville, Fletcher, and 30 minutes from Asheville.... Read 12 reviews

Current Resident: I really like this town. It’s got a lot of nice shops and restaurants. It feels pretty safe to live here and I’ve never felt in danger before. Not much to do at night. Lots of great views of the mountains and trails to go hiking on. Very picturesque. Seems like a pretty good community as well. Lots of neighbors willing to help each other out. This town is also near to other good towns and cities including Asheville where you’ll find more to do. Just a small commute of 15 minutes or so.... Read 17 reviews

Niche User: Little to no crime in my neighborhood.... Read 2 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Fletcher for probably 18 or 19 out of my 20 years of living. I was born on Long Island, but I moved to a house in Haw Creek, East Asheville, when I was maybe 1 year old. We didn't live there long, and moved to Fletcher when I was maybe 3. Fletcher is a pretty cool place- it's pretty small but is not too far from Asheville or Hendersonville, two of our bigger, more populated cities. I went to elementary, middle and high school here, and have had no complaints since then. Since it is so small, I am glad to have moved to college in a larger city (Charleston, SC), but Fletcher is a great town to grow up in, there is a lot to do as a kid.... Read 16 reviews

Former Resident: My family and I moved to Brevard from Florida back in 2017. We spent 4 years there and now we live just 2 towns away. Brevard's a great place to be, though it's changed a lot in the past 4-5 years with a big influx of new folks. The political scene is pretty mixed, and I might even say there are more liberals than conservatives now. Even with more traffic, an inflated real estate market, and a bunch of new personalities to get used to, crime is still low, the local economy is doing well, the schools are solid, and the natural beauty around Brevard is just stunning. If you love biking, hiking, and being outdoors, it's the perfect place to call home.... Read 40 reviews

Current Resident: Hendersonville is a small town with lots of personality. The downtown area has grown significantly in the past couple decades, and there are many fun restaurants, coffee shops, a science museum, an aquarium, and a lively local dance scene! Still, many parts of the city remain very rural, so if you are looking to get away from the chaos of Asheville and want to live the farm life, this is a great place to settle down.... Read 67 reviews

Current Resident: We've lived in Woodfin since 2005.What of the great things about Woodfin is it is inbetween Asheville and Weaverville. Woodfin residences get the cache of having an Asheville address without city taxes (one of the reasons I chose Woodfin). We are less than six miles from downtown. It is quiet, too. The main road to downtown Asheville - Merrimon/Weaverville - takes you to Aldi's, Ingles, Publix to the north; Trader Joe's, Ingle's, the local Blue Ridge Farmer's market, Harris Teeter - just 4 miles away. If you want to drop tons of money at restaurants catering to the tourists, it's convenient to downtown for sure. Access to I26 to east and west is easy peasy too. We rarely go there anymore as it's a money trap for mediocre food. Woodfin has a few pubs that cater to the locals; there's no "nightlife" which is fine. You can go to Asheville. One thing that is being built is a WhiteWater Rafting complex that will be state-of-the-art. Being in the middle is a great place to be.... Read 3 reviews

Niche User: I love the area I live in, the mountains of North Carolina are absolutely beautiful and I am going to miss them when I move away for college. I have enjoyed countless hours of hiking, biking and running through the trails of DuPont State forest. Hendersonville, NC is only about 30 minutes away from Asheville and 45 minutes away from Greenville and both offer a beautiful drive to go into the cities and enjoy a nice night out. Although we would be considered a small town by some, we are growing very rapidly and the demographic is starting to change to a younger group of people. We have a huge range of cultures from all around the world mixing in with locals who have been here since before the Revolutionary War. The only down side I would say there is, is the lack of things there are to night around here at night. Once 5:00 rolls around everything is shut down besides a few restaurants that will stay open because they have a pub inside. Other than that this a perfect little niche in the mountains.... Read 1 review

Current Resident: Mills River is a beautiful town outside of Asheville and located near Hendersonville NC. It provides a small-town feel while being located close to a city. Most roads are freshly paved and provide for easy and comfortable transportation. Perfectly placed in the mountains, Mills River has many awe inspiring natural views!... Read 9 reviews

Current Resident: I have enjoyed my time growing up in Wayneville. It is a safe and family-friendly place, with abundant natural beauty and close access to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I also appreciate the laid-back small-town feel. However, I believe there is room for improvement in entertainment, amenities, and public transportation areas. The limited options for entertainment, shopping centers, and dining choices, compared to bigger cities, can be a downside for those who enjoy a bustling social scene. Additionally, the Public transportation options are very limited which is a concern as the Waynesville population continues to grow. It is almost necessary to have a car for most errands and I would like to see that change in this area.... Read 31 reviews

Current Resident: I enjoy the variety of shops, restaurants, and activities Asheville has to offer. The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most popular activities here, with several different entry points. Asheville food ranges from burgers to noodle shops, so there is always something new to try. The only downside to Asheville is the consistent road construction which causes traffic to just get worse.... Read 441 reviews

Niche User: I think this is a great area to live in. There are people who prefer to be in the calm areas and others in the city. Here you can choose a city like style in nearby Asheville, or be in a more laid back place in the surrounding areas. No matter which area is picked you always have a great atmosphere and great landscape. There are many things to do and places to explore. If I could do it all over I would definitely live here again, but perhaps this time try a different nearby area as my main home.... Read 2 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived in Mars Hill for most of my life so I know no different. It's an old and small little college town, with the university taking up most of the town now. Like any other small town, there are only a few places to go and hang out, eat, shop, etc but you can really tell there is a sense of community. Everybody knows somebody and is willing to help if someone is in need.... Read 6 reviews

Current Resident: Very beautiful and quiet place to live, I have lived here for years and I honestly think that if you don’t mind not being right in the center of everything then Clyde is the perfect place to grow up and learn so many new things, the amazing views that we have is just the icing on top of the cake.... Read 4 reviews