These 2 Carolina Cities Are Among The Most Aging-Friendly Cities In The U.S.

With the baby boomer generation starting to age, many of this large demographic will be looking to downsize their homes in the next several years. According to data from Opendoor the generation owns approximately 32 million homes across the country.

The desire to downside can be motivated by numerous factors such as moving closer to family or more favorable weather. Or perhaps an easier-to-maintain or more accessible home. And that last one is important. US Census Bureau data suggests that only around 40% of US homes have features that are considered "aging-ready".

This term refers to features like an entryway without steps as well as bedrooms and full bathrooms on the first floor. And if your home doesn't have these aging-ready updates it can be costly to renovate.

This led to Opendoor analyzing which housing markets were the top aging-friendly cities in the US. The cities considered for this list have "a high percentage of homes available with features that are beneficial to an aging community, including single-story homes, newly built homes, and homes with accessible layouts like living quarters on the first floor."

Both Charleston, SC, and Charlotte, NC made the cut representing the Carolinas. Which is great news for those of us in the Queen City! So perhaps tell your parents this is the place to relocate!

And if you can handle the heat and humidity who wouldn't want to live in Charleston? However, those historic downtown homes are most likely not aging-friendly (and are way out of my price range).

Methodology: Opendoor identified the top aging-friendly cities in the U.S. by analyzing which markets had the highest number of homes available with features beneficial to the 55+ community, including single-story homes, newly built homes, and homes with bedrooms on the first floor. With that market data, Opendoor identified the varying degrees of importance and identified the top ten markets based on that weight.

You can read the full study here. Thanks to our friends at Opendoor for sharing their research with us.

If you're looking for a great place to retire look no further than North Carolina. The state offers affordable homes with mild winter temperatures. Additionally, easy access to the coast and mountains makes the state attractive to retirees. Retiring in North Carolina gives you the option of choosing a coastal area, bustling metro area, or college town. The experts over at US News and World Report ranked the top 5 cities to retire in North Carolina. This has me asking how can I be one of those people who retire in their 30s? #goals.

If your retirement dreams include moving to a quaint town full of relaxation, amenities, and activities then you’re in luck. There are some fantastic places to retire in North Carolina. Whether you want to golf, relax on the beach, revel in small-town living, or be closer to the city you won’t be bored in these cities and towns! Some offer various activities perfect for the retiree who wants an active lifestyle. Others are ideal for those looking to fully kick back and relax.

Read the full US News article here or keep reading to see where the top 5 cities to retire in North Carolina are.

Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,195
Median monthly rent: $846

Greensboro is much more affordable than the other large metro areas of the state but it's still a short drive from all those cities have to offer.

Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,419
Median monthly rent: $1,073

The largest city in the state has a lot to offer retirees and many others. And while the cost of living is higher than other areas of the state it's cheaper than many parts of the country.

Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,048
Median monthly rent: $708

Hickory keeps popping up on lists among the top cities in North Carolina, and in this case placing higher than Charlotte. It's lower cost of living is a large factor in those rankings.

Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,178
Median monthly rent: $790

A quieter city in the Triad and with easy access to the popular Yadkin Valley, Charlotte, lakes, and other resources makes Winston a fantastic place to retire.

Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,602
Median monthly rent: $1,162

The triangle gives residents all the benefits of a large city and a metro of the state's most prominent college towns.

Median monthly mortgage cost: $1,357
Median monthly rent: $953

While it has a significant cost of living, if you can afford to retire in Asheville then its money well spent to spend your time in the beautiful mountains.