Pinehurst for military retirees

There’s a reason the Sandhills are thick with retired colonels and senior NCOs. North Carolina stopped taxing 20-year military pensions, Fort Liberty sits 40 minutes south, and the golf is the best in the Carolinas. For a military retiree, Pinehurst checks boxes few retirement destinations can.

The tax piece: NC exempts 20-year military retirement

North Carolina allows a deduction that fully exempts military retirement pay from state income tax for retirees with 20 or more years of service (or those medically retired), regardless of when they vested. Combined with NC’s full Social Security exemption, a married military couple living on a pension plus Social Security can owe little or no North Carolina income tax — while still enjoying a flat, falling rate (4.25% in 2025, 3.99% in 2026) on any 401(k) or IRA draws.

Fort Liberty: 40 minutes of practical value

Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) is roughly a 40-minute drive southeast, and that proximity is a tangible retirement asset, not just nostalgia:

• Base access — commissary, exchange, and MWR facilities for eligible retirees.
• Healthcare — access to military medical resources in the region, alongside strong civilian care: FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital is right in Pinehurst, and the broader area is served by VA facilities in Fayetteville.
• Community — a dense network of fellow retirees, veteran organizations, and the social familiarity of a military town nearby without living on top of the post.

Why retirees keep choosing the Sandhills

Many service members pass through Fort Bragg/Liberty during their careers, fall for the Sandhills, and come back to retire. The draw is consistent: year-round golf on dozens of courses, a mild four-season climate, an easy pace, and a genuine veteran community. It’s also well-positioned — Raleigh-Durham International is about 80–90 minutes away, and the towns are walkable and low-stress.

Practical buying notes for veterans

• Disabled-veteran property tax exclusion: NC excludes $45,000 of appraised value for veterans rated 100% permanently and totally service-connected disabled — with no income test (most other senior property-tax relief here is income-capped). Details on the Moore County property tax guide.
• VA loan: usable on a primary residence here as anywhere; useful if you’re buying rather than paying cash.
• Golf without a club: you don’t need a private membership — many veterans buy in a 55+ community and play public/resort courses. See do you have to join a golf club.