Nearly one million people ages 60 and over in the U.S. crossed state lines to make a new home in 2023, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau. With a lower risk tolerance for market fluctuations, retirees may seek other ways to maximize their income and make the most out of life, including moving to places that better suit their budget, tax, and lifestyle needs. In addition to seeking fulfilling and financially secure retirements, wider trends in migration among this demographic have potential implications for the local tax base, housing market, and business environment.
With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 164 of the largest U.S. cities and all 50 states based on the net number of retirees — assumed to be people ages 60 and over — moving in.
Key Findings
Southwestern cities are the most popular destinations for retirees. Mesa, AZ gained the most retirees studywide with a net gain of 2,044. In Nevada, North Las Vegas (+1,420); Paradise (+1,416); Spring Valley (+1,312); Henderson (+1,194) also made the top 10 cities retirees are flocking to, along with Scottsdale, AZ (+904).
Despite a preference for Southwestern cities, Florida and North Carolina are the most popular states for retirees. Florida gained the most retirees over one year at a net of +44,504. North Carolina ranked second at the state level with a net gain of 20,369. Arizona was neck and neck with North Carolina at +20,203.
Retirees are steering clear of New York City. In just one year, a net 17,084 retirees moved out of The Big Apple, after 23,874 individuals aged 60 and over moved out compared to only 6,790 moving in. Relative to population size, Ann Arbor, MI (-889) is losing retirees at the fastest rate.
At the state level, California lost the most retirees. A net of 56,858 people aged 60 and over left California in 2023. In particular, Los Angeles (-3,187) and San Diego (-2,604) had large net losses, second and third only to New York City.
SmartAsset
Cities Where Retirees Are Moving
Cities are ranked based on the net migration of people aged 60 and over in 2023.
1. Mesa, Arizona
Net migration: 2,044
Retirees who moved in: 4,941
Retirees who moved out: 2,897
Total population, all ages: 511,624
Total population aged 60+: 131,562
North Las Vegas, Nevada
Net migration: 1,420
Retirees who moved in: 2,443
Retirees who moved out: 1,023
Total population, all ages: 284,772
Total population aged 60+: 52,082
Paradise, Nevada
Net migration: 1,416
Retirees who moved in: 2,054
Retirees who moved out: 638
Total population, all ages: 177,413
Total population aged 60+: 37,849
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Net migration: 1,314
Retirees who moved in: 2,599
Retirees who moved out: 1,285
Total population, all ages: 702,654
Total population aged 60+: 132,318
Spring Valley, Nevada
Net migration: 1,312
Retirees who moved in: 1,421
Retirees who moved out: 109
Total population, all ages: 198,326
Total population aged 60+: 47,754
Henderson, Nevada
Net migration: 1,194
Retirees who moved in: 3,578
Retirees who moved out: 2,384
Total population, all ages: 337,280
Total population aged 60+: 90,764
Durham, North Carolina
Net migration: 1,117
Retirees who moved in: 1,406
Retirees who moved out: 289
Total population, all ages: 295,845
Total population aged 60+: 55,904
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Net migration: 1,054
Retirees who moved in: 2,163
Retirees who moved out: 1,109
Total population, all ages: 425,142
Total population aged 60+: 70,151
St. Petersburg, Florida
Net migration: 981
Retirees who moved in: 2,294
Retirees who moved out: 1,313
Total population, all ages: 263,546
Total population aged 60+: 79,785
Scottsdale, Arizona
Net migration: 904
Retirees who moved in: 2,519
Retirees who moved out: 1,615
Total population, all ages: 244,421
Total population aged 60+: 87,179
Top 10 Cities Retirees Are Moving Out Of
Cities are ranked based on the net migration of people aged 60 and over in 2023.
New York, New York
Net migration: -17,084
Retirees who moved in: 6,790
Retirees who moved out: 23,874
Total population, all ages: 8,258,035
Total population aged 60+: 1,940,556
Los Angeles, California
Net migration: -3,187
Retirees who moved in: 4,196
Retirees who moved out: 7,383
Total population, all ages: 3,820,963
Total population aged 60+: 763,361
San Diego, California
Net migration: -2,604
Retirees who moved in: 1,541
Retirees who moved out: 4,145
Total population, all ages: 1,388,312
Total population aged 60+: 273,581
Washington, District of Columbia
Net migration: -2,434
Retirees who moved in: 2,710
Retirees who moved out: 5,144
Total population, all ages: 678,972
Total population aged 60+: 120,177
Denver, Colorado
Net migration: -2,286
Retirees who moved in: 1,801
Retirees who moved out: 4,087
Total population, all ages: 716,577
Total population aged 60+: 125,676
Oakland, California
Net migration: -2,016
Retirees who moved in: 379
Retirees who moved out: 2,395
Total population, all ages: 436,508
Total population aged 60+: 88,080
Arlington, Virginia
Net migration: -1,703
Retirees who moved in: 771
Retirees who moved out: 2,474
Total population, all ages: 234,162
Total population aged 60+: 40,434
Chicago, Illinois
Net migration: -1,699
Retirees who moved in: 3,612
Retirees who moved out: 5,311
Total population, all ages: 2,664,454
Total population aged 60+: 533,029
San Jose, California
Net migration: -1,668
Retirees who moved in: 656
Retirees who moved out: 2,324
Total population, all ages: 969,615
Total population aged 60+: 200,684
Anchorage, Alaska
Net migration: -1,413
Retirees who moved in: 355
Retirees who moved out: 1,768
Total population, all ages: 286,075
Total population aged 60+: 53,946
SmartAsset
Top 10 States Where Retirees Are Moving
States are ranked based on the net migration of people aged 60 and over in 2023.
Florida
Net migration: 44,504
Retirees who moved in: 143,378
Retirees who moved out: 98,874
Total population, all ages: 22,610,726
Total population aged 60+: 6,515,453
North Carolina
Net migration: 20,369
Retirees who moved in: 45,803
Retirees who moved out: 25,434
Total population, all ages: 10,835,491
Total population aged 60+: 2,610,422
Arizona
Net migration: 20,203
Retirees who moved in: 54,045
Retirees who moved out: 33,842
Total population, all ages: 7,431,344
Total population aged 60+: 1,905,562
South Carolina
Net migration: 14,676
Retirees who moved in: 34,738
Retirees who moved out: 20,062
Total population, all ages: 5,373,555
Total population aged 60+: 1,408,424
Georgia
Net migration: 13,789
Retirees who moved in: 37,145
Retirees who moved out: 23,356
Total population, all ages: 11,029,227
Total population aged 60+: 2,370,455
Texas
Net migration: 10,050
Retirees who moved in: 60,245
Retirees who moved out: 50,195
Total population, all ages: 30,503,301
Total population aged 60+: 5,889,582
Nevada
Net migration: 5,782
Retirees who moved in: 22,036
Retirees who moved out: 16,254
Total population, all ages: 3,194,176
Total population aged 60+: 757,348
Idaho
Net migration: 5,182
Retirees who moved in: 13,665
Retirees who moved out: 8,483
Total population, all ages: 1,964,726
Total population aged 60+: 463,084
Oklahoma
Net migration: 4,940
Retirees who moved in: 13,021
Retirees who moved out: 8,081
Total population, all ages: 4,053,824
Total population aged 60+: 925,676
Delaware
Net migration: 4,519
Retirees who moved in: 8,718
Retirees who moved out: 4,199
Total population, all ages: 1,031,890
Total population aged 60+: 296,881
Top 10 States Retirees Are Moving Out of
Cities are ranked based on the net migration of people aged 60 and over in 2023.
California
Net migration: -56,858
Retirees who moved in: 40,749
Retirees who moved out: 97,607
Total population, all ages: 38,965,193
Total population aged 60+: 8,651,346
New York
Net migration: -39,123
Retirees who moved in: 26,092
Retirees who moved out: 65,215
Total population, all ages: 19,571,216
Total population aged 60+: 4,950,701
New Jersey
Net migration: -15,151
Retirees who moved in: 17,097
Retirees who moved out: 32,248
Total population, all ages: 9,290,841
Total population aged 60+: 2,279,626
Illinois
Net migration: -14,207
Retirees who moved in: 22,260
Retirees who moved out: 36,467
Total population, all ages: 12,549,689
Total population aged 60+: 3,031,809
Maryland
Net migration: -6,118
Retirees who moved in: 17,243
Retirees who moved out: 23,361
Total population, all ages: 6,180,253
Total population aged 60+: 1,481,299
Pennsylvania
Net migration: -4,829
Retirees who moved in: 27,647
Retirees who moved out: 32,476
Total population, all ages: 12,961,683
Total population aged 60+: 3,499,469
Colorado
Net migration: -4,648
Retirees who moved in: 23,199
Retirees who moved out: 27,847
Total population, all ages: 5,877,610
Total population aged 60+: 1,301,867
Massachusetts
Net migration: -4,544
Retirees who moved in: 15,093
Retirees who moved out: 19,637
Total population, all ages: 7,001,399
Total population aged 60+: 1,782,008
Michigan
Net migration: -4,161
Retirees who moved in: 22,848
Retirees who moved out: 27,009
Total population, all ages: 10,037,261
Total population aged 60+: 2,629,520
Washington
Net migration: -3,807
Retirees who moved in: 21,417
Retirees who moved out: 25,224
Total population, all ages: 7,812,880
Total population aged 60+: 1,822,469
Data and Methodology
To find both the states and cities where retirees are moving, SmartAsset analyzed data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 one-year American Community Survey.
This SmartAsset study considers the populations aged 60 and older (for these purposes, retirees) in 164 of the largest cities in the U.S. for which data was available, as well as all 50 states. Net migration for each city was determined by subtracting the number of retirees who moved out of the city or state from the number of people in that demographic who moved into the city or state. Cities were ranked by the highest net migration.
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