A retirement in the American South comes with all sorts of perks: balmy weather, mild winters, a handful of states with no income tax (Florida, Tennessee and Texas) and plenty of outdoor recreational activities (hiking areas, golf courses and beaches). Nearly any Southern city offers at least some of those things; however, it takes a unique metropolis to provide all of the above and be one of the safest and wealthiest locations in the South.
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Retiring with wealth is every prospective retiree’s dream, and knowing where to spend that retirement income while living safely is crucial to making that dream come true. That’s why GOBankingRates recently launched a study to find the safest and wealthiest retirement towns. GOBankingRates consulted the U.S. Census Bureau to build a list of over 100 American cities in which retirees made up at least 20% of the population. From that list, Southern-based cities with extremely low crime rates were crossed-referenced against locations with relatively high median income levels.
With that information, GOBankingRates was able to create a list of the 17 safest and wealthiest Southern retirement towns. These are places where you can enjoy both a wealthy retirement and the comfort of knowing your golden years will be safe ones.
1. Pinehurst, North Carolina
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.59
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 2.78
- Average retirement income: $51,767
- Average home value: $558,340
- Livability score: 73
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2. Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.88
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 1.89
- Average retirement income: $38,668
- Average home value: $302,785
- Livability score: 66
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3. Leland, North Carolina
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.96
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 9.83
- Average retirement income: $43,945
- Average home value: $377,268
- Livability score: 66
4. Bella Vista, Arkansas
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 0.96
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 4.89
- Average retirement income: $31,198
- Average home value: $352,671
- Livability score: 65
5. Georgetown, Texas
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.91
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.70
- Average retirement income: $50,471
- Average home value: $434,280
- Livability score: 83
6. Germantown, Tennessee
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.68
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 11.77
- Average retirement income: $51,024
- Average home value: $486,172
- Livability score: 68
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7. Foley, Alabama
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 1.93
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 15.29
- Average retirement income: $37,952
- Average home value: $313,537
- Livability score: 61
8. North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.61
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 32.23
- Average retirement income: $44,091
- Average home value: $483,626
- Livability score: 69
9. Aiken, South Carolina
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 5.69
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 39.58
- Average retirement income: $42,757
- Average home value: $264,669
- Livability score: 68
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10. Charleston, West Virginia
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 5.43
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 31.20
- Average retirement income: $39,561
- Average home value: $160,576
- Livability score: 82
11. New Bern, North Carolina
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.63
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.16
- Average retirement income: $51,829
- Average home value: $275,477
- Livability score: 69
12. Kingsport, Tennessee
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 4.41
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 29.60
- Average retirement income: $28,767
- Average home value: $255,846
- Livability score: 69
13. Galveston, Texas
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 5.37
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 23.80
- Average retirement income: $31,946
- Average home value: $340,601
- Livability score: 77
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14. Danville, Virginia
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 3.65
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 28.34
- Average retirement income: $20,487
- Average home value: $158,436
- Livability score: 77
15. Rocky Mount, North Carolina
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 7.65
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 39.80
- Average retirement income: $39,509
- Average home value: $185,930
- Livability score: 71
16. Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 5.34
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 41.63
- Average retirement income: $30,277
- Average home value: $242,661
- Livability score: 64
17. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Violent crime per 1,000 residents: 11.12
- Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 56.56
- Average retirement income: $37,505
- Average home value: $369,417
- Livability score: 67
Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.
Methodology: Crime data was sourced from the FBI. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes. Average retirement income was sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 5-Year American Community Survey. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. The percentage of households that spend under 30% of household income on selected monthly owner costs was scored and weighted at 1.00, the percentage of homes with retirement income was scored and weighted at 1.00, the average retirement income for households that receive it was scored and weighted at 1.00, the property crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the violent crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the safest and wealthiest retirement towns. All data was collected on Oct. 2, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 17 Safest and Wealthiest Southern Retirement Towns
