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SCENE CHANGE

Big Cities That Have Attracted Retirees, Mapped

A look at the Census Bureau's recent ACS data shows which big cities are losing its older generation of residents, and where some of them are headed.

1 year ago · 325.9k reads ·

SmartAsset analyzed the Census Bureau's 2021 one-year American Community Survey to take a look at the most popular new destination for retirees in the US, and the areas where they're moving out of the most. They considered their cohort to be above the age of 60, and scanned America's 146 largest cities to see their migration patterns.

Their analysis does acknowledge its limitations: not everyone above 60 is retired and it overlooks migration within the same state, or people who live in multiple locations.

Key Takeaways:

In 2021, New York CIty lost the highest number of people ages 60 and older (-19,884), followed by Los Angeles (-7,199) and Chicago (-4,081).
Cities that gained the highest number of people in 2021 were Mesa (3,629), Henderson (1,602) and San Antonio (1,164).
The net migration of people was negligible in Montgomery (2), Reno (-6) and Knoxville (-9).
Florida gained over 78,000 people aged 60 and over in 2021, whereas California lost nearly the same amount with just over 71,000 leaving.

And here's a look at how much retirement would cost if you wanted to settle down somewhere outside the US.

Via SmartAsset.

[Photo by Nguyen Thu Hoai on Unsplash]

Comments

Christine Binder (St... 1 year ago

Good luck to all of you, you each sound miserable. This is coming from a happy old lady in Canada who is watching your country implode over social issues we long ago agreed to disagree on and move on to more important issues. You could not pay me enough to retire in your country.
Leslie Lukasik 1 year ago

Beg to differ! We left Washington State for Tennessee in 2021 because of the political insanity...975 days of one man rule by the Governor, imposition of an unconstitutional capital tax, huge wokeness push into schools and daily life, massive increases in all manner of state-imposed fees, etc etc.

Tennessee gets far colder weather than we ever had in western WA but we gladly bundle up in lieu of living in the Socialist Republic of Washington State!!
OOooMoment 1 year ago

These retirees are moving for one reason. Warmth and lower heating bills. No one moves because roads are bad. It has nothing to do with what party has the majority control of the state house. Wish it was that simple. Basically, when people get older 60+ their bodies begin to fail and they prefer to live in a warmer climate. Haven't you ever noticed that older people are most often bundled up while younger folks are still in short sleeves and shorts. DUH. Everything isn't politically driven. If that was the case there would be mass exodus from places like Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky which as some of the poorest states with the highest crime rates, highest poverty rates, highest unemployment rates, etc. Oh, by the way those states all red states for decades!
1. sandy smith 1 year ago
  
  You obviously are totally ignorant why seniors move.
  Good luck to you and any family you might have.
James Beyer 1 year ago

Leaving Democratic Crime Run States by the Thousands. Michigan, is another Dem run, is a Beautiful State, but Horrible Roads, terrible Crime, Heat & Electricity, Insurance, etc, have all Increased Skyrocketed, it is Terribly!
1. eternal soul 4 months ago
  
  The homicide rate is 10.3/100k in Texas, 9.7/100k in Florida, and 8.8/100k in California. Which is higher? Of the three states with the overall highest crime rate -- Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee -- all have Republican governors and legislatures. I'm guessing you will now claim the party "in charge" of a state has no bearing on the crime rate, or in spite of the clear evidence you're wrong, you will switch to the claim it's the "Democrat cities" that are the real problem.
2. boileroperator 1 year ago
  
  Oh James, you couldn't help but throw in your pitiful Republican two cents worth. You're on the wrong side of history and in the next few years you'll (hopefully) realize it.
  1. sandy smith 1 year ago
    
    I like how you throw in your pitiful Democratic cents worth!
    You are clueless.
  2. Bob Utter 1 year ago
    
    I live in Michigan and James is dead on with his assessment of our state. It's got nothing to do with being Republican or Democrat, the leadership has failed the state. The roads are crap, car insurance is outrageous, and Lansing, Detroit, Flint, and Benton Harbor are considered some of the most dangerous cities in the country. It's a great place on the path to destruction.
    1. sandy smith 1 year ago
      
      Due to leadership !
Pattie Covert 1 year ago

Is dying considered in the "moving" cohort?
Bruce Jill 1 year ago

Seems odd that I don't see The Villages, FL where more than 5,000 people move in on a yearly basis - what's up with that? They should be #1 on the list and aren't even listed. I'm curious what your source of information is?
1. Matt Carey 1 year ago
  
  The category is big cities.
2. Steve Hayes 1 year ago
  
  Because the Villages are full of nut-bags and psychos. I should know … I sell blinds to those people every day. I promise you they are some of the craziest people I’ve ever met. Absolute bonkers.
  1. Mm Morris 1 year ago
    
    So your World of Blinds business insults 81,000+ people who live in The Villages. Nice attitude. Good luck.
3. Daniel O'Neil 1 year ago
  
  Here's a link to the Villages local news source:
  https://www.villages-news.com/2022/04/28/population-surging-in-the-villages-thanks-to-new-homes-at-the-southern-end/