Retirement Facts
Would you prefer to visit or retire to Edenton? You can do both?
A significant portion of Edenton’s population moved here to enjoy this lifestyle and environment. Why?
Retirees selecting Edenton and Chowan County came from as far away as Vermont or Florida to find this idyllic place. They include: former top executives of international corporations, federal workers, military retirees, teachers, doctors, nurses, college professors, staff refugees from Congress and about every background in between.
Retiring to Edenton means not having to feel like you are living in an old folks home or retirement village. You get as involved as you want but don’t have the hassles of traffic, noise, high costs and impersonal surroundings.
~ Mary Q.
Some were motivated by the small town environment, by the beautiful waters of the Albemarle Sound and the nine rivers flowing into it, others for the fishing, golf or the strong, friendly feeling of community. Some had previous connections to the area, but the majority chose a new experience in southern living in one of the “Prettiest Town in America,” according to Forbes.com.
No two experiences are alike, but most have in common a desire to live a more peaceful lifestyle, where you can be as involved as you like and contribute your time to worthy purposes knowing it is a meaningful involvement. In fact, newcomers frequently find themselves being asked to serve on local boards and as key volunteers.
Today, Edenton remains a small waterfront town where everyone is welcome and engaged in the community. It is home to high tech boat building, peanut process, and a great little airport. It is also a North Carolina Certified Retirement Community, one of only 18 such designated places in the state.
The North Carolina General Assembly established the N.C. Certified Retirement Community Program (S.B. 1627) as a vehicle to designate communities that offer unprecedented, quality of living that is sought by the mature community. To gain certification, a local government must submit an application for consideration.
Edenton was one of the first towns in North Carolina to be certified. To learn more about the criteria Edenton meets and exceeds, review the state’s criteria.
Why Some Should NOT Retire to Edenton?
For some, retiring to an idyllic spot like Edenton just does not make sense. Why?
- They thrive on the hustle, bustle and noise of a big town.
- They prefer to be alone and not bothered by friendly neighbors interested in their lives.
- They get a kick out of long commutes, like to hear the honking of horns and the smell of exhaust fumes.
- They really do like to go to the Opera or Symphony weekly and think that a periodic trip to Norfolk or Raleigh for such cultural entertainment would be too much hassle.
- They want their designer shopping needs met down the street, as opposed to a seasonal trip to Raleigh, Norfolk, Washington (DC), New York, Paris or London, which a number of Edentonians are known to make.