From Virginia to Pinehurst

Virginia and the Sandhills share a lot — mid-Atlantic seasons, a deep military culture, an easy drive between them. For VA retirees, especially military and DC-area federal retirees, Pinehurst is a modest tax upgrade and a lifestyle reset that keeps you close to home.

The military-retiree advantage

This is the cleanest win. North Carolina fully exempts military retirement pay for 20-year retirees. Virginia has been phasing in a military retirement subtraction (a capped deduction for older veterans), but NC’s full exemption is simpler and, for many, more generous. Pair that with NC’s full Social Security exemption and the Sandhills become a natural fit for the many Virginia service members and Pentagon-adjacent retirees who already know the region. See the military retiree guide.

Income tax: a modest edge to North Carolina

Virginia taxes income on a graduated scale topping out at 5.75%, exempts Social Security, and offers an income-tested age deduction for older filers. North Carolina uses a flat 4.25% (3.99% in 2026), exempts Social Security, and taxes 401(k)/IRA and private pensions at that flat rate. For a retiree drawing meaningful income from retirement accounts, NC’s flat low rate is typically a small winover Virginia’s top brackets — and a clear win if military pension is in the mix. Details on the NC retirement tax guide.

Property tax and cost of living

Virginia property taxes vary widely by locality but generally run higher than Moore County’s ~0.57% effective rate, particularly in the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads corridors where many retirees are leaving. Combined with generally lower home prices in the Sandhills than in NoVA or the VA suburbs, the cost-of-living shift usually favors the move. See the Moore County property tax guide.

Proximity: the underrated factor

Pinehurst is roughly a 3–4 hour drive from much of Virginia — close enough to keep grandkids, doctors, and old friends in easy reach, far enough to genuinely change your climate, pace, and tax picture. For retirees who want a real move without cutting ties to the mid-Atlantic, that distance is a feature, not a compromise. RDU airport (~80–90 minutes) and the Southern Pines Amtrak station make the trip back even easier.