Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Surf City, North Carolina
Once a Pirate Hideout, Popular Surf City Sits on Topsail Island on the Southern North Carolina Coast and Boasts Boardwalks, Oceanfront Homes and Miles of White Sand Beaches
Twenty six-mile long Topsail ("Topsl") Island is a barrier island along the southern North Carolina coast, and popular, laid back Surf City is in the center of it. Once a favorite pirate haunt, these days Surf City is is known for its miles of white sand beaches.
Surf City straddles two counties and is the largest and oldest of Topsail's three towns. It also has the island's only traffic stoplights and is connected to the mainland via a busy causeway. The beautiful beaches can be accessed from 39 different points, and the long pier bustles with activity. Surf City is also home to most of the island's services, shops and open-air restaurants. Homes sit between maritime forests and the water, with many residences backing to either a canal or the beach and boasting walls of windows for unimpeded ocean views. Charters, guides, and pirate excursions are all available, and marinas are clustered along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Locals enjoy a community center and three parks, two of which have attractive boardwalks. The annual Christmas Flotilla features festively decorated boats and attracts a lively crowd. Nearby Permuda Island Reserve is shorebird sanctuary. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is 15 miles north.
Surf City has 5,000 residents, with 55% of them age 45 or better. Nearly 45% of locals hold a four-year college degree. The population has nearly doubled during the last 10 years. People move to warmer spots in the winter, leaving roughly 1,000 year-round residents.
The cost of living is 28% above the national average, and the median home price is around $625,000. Real estate prices have increased 15% from a year ago.
Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures in the 80s and 90s, while winters are mild, ranging from the 40s to 60s. The town averages about 56 inches of rain annually. Hurricanes are always a possibility.
There is no local hospital; the closest one is Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmingotn, 25 miles away. Surf City has a public library but no public transportation. The crime rate meets the national average. Politics lean to the right.
Coastal North Carolina is known for its long stretches of sandy beaches, barrier islands, and laid-back seaside towns that attract both vacationers and retirees.
The Outer Banks offer dramatic dunes, historic lighthouses, and opportunities for fishing and boating, while towns like Wilmington, Beaufort, and New Bern combine coastal charm with rich history and vibrant arts scenes.
The region has a humid subtropical climate, bringing hot summers, mild winters, and the ever-present possibility of hurricanes.
Its natural beauty, maritime heritage, and slower pace of life make coastal North Carolina a popular destination for those seeking a relaxed retirement by the water.
The state is somewhat tax friendly for retirement.
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