Where Retirees Are Moving

Nearly one million people aged 60 and over in the U.S. crossed state lines to make a new home in 2023, according to the latest data from the U.S. 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 aged 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.

Top 10 Cities Where Retirees Are Moving

Cities are ranked based on the net migration of people aged 60 and over in 2023.

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

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 1-year American Community Survey.

This 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 to the number of people in that demographic who moved into the city or state. Cities were ranked by the highest net migration.

Questions about our study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com

Photo credit: Grok