Is Wilmington, NC a good place to retire? That depends on your priorities, so here are the facts. North Carolina doesn’t tax Social Security, and its flat income tax is 3.99% in 2026. The area has a Level II trauma center, a new hospital that opened in July 2026 and several age-restricted 55+ communities. The tradeoffs are rising homeowners insurance, hurricane season and hospital capacity that’s still catching up with growth.
I’m Tabi, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage. A lot of the people I work with are planning a move here for retirement, and their questions are usually practical: What will I pay in taxes? How close is the hospital? Are there 55+ communities, and what’s the difference between those and a regular neighborhood? Here’s what you should know, with sources and dates for every number. I also talked through a lot of this on Episode 009 of my podcast.
North Carolina taxes for retirees
Here’s how North Carolina treats common kinds of retirement income, according to the NC Department of Revenue:
- Social Security: not taxed by North Carolina. If part of your benefit is taxable on your federal return, you deduct it on your state return.
- Income tax rate: a flat 3.99% for 2026. State law allows further cuts starting in 2027 if certain revenue targets are met.
- Government pensions (the Bailey exclusion): state, local, federal and military retirees who had five or more years of creditable service as of August 12, 1989 can exclude those retirement benefits.
- Military retirement pay: deductible for retirees who served at least 20 years or were medically retired, starting with the 2022 tax year. Survivor Benefit Plan payments also qualify.
- Other pensions, IRA and 401(k) withdrawals: generally taxed at the flat rate.
Your situation depends on your income sources, so run the numbers with a tax professional before you move.
Property tax relief for older homeowners
North Carolina offers three property tax relief programs. You apply through your county tax office, and the deadline is June 1 (NCDOR Form AV-9, 2026):
- Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion: for homeowners 65 or older, or totally and permanently disabled, with 2026 income of $38,800 or less. It excludes the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the home’s appraised value.
- Circuit Breaker deferment: caps your property tax at 4% of income (for incomes up to $38,800) or 5% (from $38,800 to $58,200). You have to reapply every year, and the deferred taxes stay attached to the property.
- Disabled Veteran Exclusion: excludes the first $45,000 of appraised value, with no age or income limit.
Your base property tax depends on where the home is. In the City of Wilmington, the combined county and city rate is about 63.75¢ per $100 for FY2026–27. My post on city vs. county taxes explains the differences.
Healthcare access
Healthcare is one of the biggest questions, so here’s the current picture:
- Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington is the only Level II trauma center in southeastern coastal North Carolina (American College of Surgeons verification, 2022).
- Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Center opened to patients on July 2, 2026, on Wilmington’s north side. It has 66 beds, 8 operating rooms and a cardiac cath lab, and it’s the closest hospital if you’re considering Hampstead in Pender County.
- Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center is in Bolivia. In March 2026, the state approved a new 20-bed Novant hospital in Leland and a freestanding emergency department in Carolina Shores. No opening dates had been announced (WilmingtonBiz, March 30, 2026).
- Novant Health Pender Medical Center is in Burgaw, and Dosher Memorial Hospital is an independent hospital in Southport.
- More beds are coming, but not quickly. The state’s medical facilities plan identified a need for 225 more acute-care beds in New Hanover County. Novant, UNC Health and Atrium Health all applied in June 2026, with proposed completion dates from 2030 to 2032. As of September 2026, a decision is pending (WECT, July 2, 2026; WilmingtonBiz, August 12, 2026).
- Veterans: the Wilmington VA Clinic is at 1705 Gardner Road.
If you see particular specialists, check which local practices accept your insurance and how far out they’re booking before you choose a home.
55+ communities vs. regular neighborhoods
Under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act, a community can legally restrict residency to people 55 and older if it meets certain requirements. That’s different from a regular neighborhood that simply has amenities people of any age enjoy. Here’s how several local communities are set up, based on each developer’s or builder’s own information:
- Del Webb Wilmington at Riverlights (Wilmington): age-restricted 55+. More than 500 homes were built from 2016 to 2023, so homes there now come up as resales. It sits inside the larger Riverlights community, which is not age-restricted. See my Riverlights page.
- Del Webb at Mallory Creek (Leland area): age-restricted 55+, with about 800 homes planned. The builder lists homes from $379,990 (September 2026).
- Del Webb Ocean Isle Beach (Shallotte area): age-restricted 55+ and selling new homes, a short drive from the Brunswick County beaches.
- Not age-restricted: Brunswick Forest, Compass Pointe and St. James are open to buyers of any age. Brunswick Forest states this on its own website.
Always confirm a community’s current status, HOA fees and rules in its governing documents. My HOA fees guide covers what to look for.
Life plan communities
If you want a community that includes future care options, the area also has life plan (continuing care) communities:
- Porters Neck Village (formerly Plantation Village), 1200 Porters Neck Road, Wilmington: an entry-fee life plan community.
- Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall, 630 Carolina Bay Drive, Wilmington: a life plan community with no entrance fee.
- Brightmore of Wilmington, 2324 41st Street: independent living, assisted living and memory care.
Contracts and fees at these communities vary a lot. Have an attorney or financial advisor review the agreement.
The real costs to plan for
- Overall cost of living: about 5% below the national average in Wilmington (C2ER index via RentCafe, September 2026).
- Homeowners insurance: this is the cost that surprises people most. Average premiums in Wilmington run roughly $3,400 to $7,200 a year depending on the source and the home, and wind coverage near the beach may come through the state’s Beach Plan. Get quotes on specific homes early.
- Flood insurance: check the flood zone and elevation before you buy. My flood zones guide walks through it.
- Hurricane season: plan for it, from roof type and shutters to where you’ll go if you need to evacuate. The Wilmington hurricane guide covers the basics.
- Water: ask which utility serves the home. My water quality guide explains what each one does about PFAS.
Getting around and staying connected
- Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is served by seven airlines with about 25 nonstop destinations, some of them seasonal (flyILM.com, September 2026). Many longer trips connect through Charlotte or Atlanta.
- Learning and community: UNCW’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers non-credit courses for adults 50 and older.
- Senior services: the Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging (910-395-4553) serves New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Columbus counties. The New Hanover County Senior Resource Center is at 2222 South College Road, and Brunswick Senior Resources runs senior centers in Leland, Southport, Shallotte and other towns.
Planning ahead
A move is a good time to update your estate plan, too. North Carolina’s rules on what happens to a home without a will can surprise people. I covered that on Episode 011.
If you’re thinking about retiring here, I’d love to help you compare homes, HOAs, insurance and taxes side by side. To compare any area on taxes, HOA rules, flood zones and drive times, see how to research a Wilmington neighborhood.
Call or text Tabi: 910-983-8963 · www.makingilmhome.com
Frequently asked questions
Does North Carolina tax Social Security?
No. North Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits. Any amount taxed on your federal return is deducted on your North Carolina return (NC Department of Revenue).
What is North Carolina’s income tax rate for retirees in 2026?
North Carolina has a flat 3.99% income tax rate for 2026. Pensions, IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are generally taxed at that rate, though some government and military retirement income can be excluded.
Is there property tax relief for seniors in North Carolina?
Yes. Homeowners 65 or older with 2026 income of $38,800 or less can apply for the Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion, which excludes the greater of $25,000 or 50% of the home’s appraised value. The Circuit Breaker deferment and Disabled Veteran Exclusion are also available. Apply with your county tax office by June 1.
Are there 55+ communities in Wilmington, NC?
Yes. Del Webb Wilmington at Riverlights is an age-restricted 55+ community in Wilmington, and Del Webb at Mallory Creek near Leland and Del Webb Ocean Isle Beach are age-restricted communities in Brunswick County. Communities like Brunswick Forest, Compass Pointe and St. James are not age-restricted.
What hospitals are near Wilmington, NC?
Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center is the region’s Level II trauma center. Novant Health Scotts Hill Medical Center opened in July 2026 on Wilmington’s north side, and Novant also operates hospitals in Bolivia and Burgaw. Dosher Memorial Hospital is in Southport.
Tabetha Klein, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · 910-983-8963 · www.makingilmhome.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Figures reflect sources available as of September 2026: NC Department of Revenue (Social Security, tax rates, Bailey, military retirement, Form AV-9 for 2026); Novant Health; American College of Surgeons; WilmingtonBiz (March 30 and August 12, 2026); WECT (July 2, 2026); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; builder and developer websites for Del Webb, Brunswick Forest and Compass Pointe; C2ER Cost of Living Index via RentCafe; flyILM.com; Cape Fear Council of Governments; UNCW. Community status, prices, tax rules and programs change. Verify details for any specific property or plan. This article is general information, not legal, tax, insurance or medical advice.
Sources: NCDOR: Social Security · NCDOR: Tax rate schedules · NCDOR: Bailey decision · NCDOR: Military retirement · NCDOR: 2026 Form AV-9 · Novant Health: Scotts Hill Medical Center · WilmingtonBiz: Novant Leland hospital approved · WECT: Three health systems compete for beds · VA: Wilmington VA Clinic · Del Webb Wilmington · Brunswick Forest: age restriction FAQ · flyILM: Airlines · Cape Fear Area Agency on Aging · UNCW OLLI
