The U.S. population is aging rapidly. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 17.3% of the population — about 57.8 million people in total — are over the age of 64.
In 30 years, the number of Americans in this age group is projected to reach 84 million, accounting for 23% of the population. Many within the rapidly growing demographic group are geographically mobile, and every year, millions of Americans aged 65 and older pack up and move to a different part of the country.
Estimates from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey show that nearly 41 million Americans relocated to a new home in 2022 — and according to the Census’ American Community Survey, nearly 3.2 million of them were senior citizens.
While the largest shares of Americans who move do so for reasons related to housing, family, or employment, older Americans are often motivated by different factors. Many Americans over the age of 64 who moved in 2022 did so to live in a warmer climate or in a walkable community with reliable public transit. Additionally, because a significant share of retirees in the U.S. are living off of savings and Social Security, areas with lower taxes or a below average cost of living are also popular destinations.
Using five-year data from the 2022 ACS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the U.S. counties retirement age Americans are flocking to. Counties are ranked by the number of adults 65 and older who moved there in 2022 from a different county, a different state, or from abroad. To focus on places older Americans are moving to, relocations to a new home within a given county were not considered in this ranking.
Every county on this list reported an influx of at least 5,000 retirement age adults in 2022. One of these places drew in more than 27,000 adults over the age of 64 that year. Major cities are typically well equipped to accommodate large influxes of new residents, and every county on this list is part of a major metropolitan area. (Here is a look at the factors to consider when buying a home for retirement.)
The vast majority of counties on this list — 39 out of 45 — are located in Sun Belt states, places that offer warm climates for much of the year. These counties include 16 in Florida, eight in Texas, and one in Nevada. Many retirees are drawn to Sun Belt states due to a mix of nice climate, cost-of-living advantages, and retiree-friendly tax laws. Warm winters and tons of sunshine offer an appealing contrast to snowy northern states, making places like Florida and Arizona especially popular. Some Sun Belt states also offer no or very low state income tax and beneficial exclusions for retirement income, which can help stretch fixed savings. Additionally, many of these states provide a wide variety of medical-care facilities and active lifestyle communities.
Several counties outside of the Sun Belt, like Cook County, Illinois, home to the city of Chicago, King County, Washington, home to the city of Seattle, as well as two counties in New York City, are largely walkable places with expansive and reliable public transportation networks.
The popularity of many of these places among older Americans is nothing new, as many counties on this list are already home to large populations of adults in retirement age. (Here is a look at America’s 15 most luxurious retirement communities.)
Why It Matters
Nearly 3.2 million Americans aged 65 and older moved to a new home in 2022. While retirement age adults are spread across the country, retirees who have the means to relocate have some clear preferences on where to live. There are only 45 counties nationwide that reported an influx of more than 5,000 adults over the age of 64 in 2022.
10. Harris County, Texas
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 11,340 (0.2% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 41.9% from different county in state; 32.2% from a different state; 25.9% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 521,651 (11.2% of population)
- Median age in county: 34.5 years old
- Location: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro area
9. Broward County, Florida
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 11,671 (0.6% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 32.9% from different county in state; 37.7% from a different state; 29.4% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 335,342 (17.5% of population)
- Median age in county: 41.3 years old
- Location: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area
8. San Diego County, California
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 11,732 (0.4% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 46.6% from different county in state; 37.0% from a different state; 16.4% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 481,993 (14.8% of population)
- Median age in county: 37.1 years old
- Location: San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro area
7. Orange County, California
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 11,930 (0.4% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 54.4% from different county in state; 24.6% from a different state; 21.0% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 488,359 (15.5% of population)
- Median age in county: 39.1 years old
- Location: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
6. Lee County, Florida
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 12,395 (1.6% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 16.4% from different county in state; 71.8% from a different state; 11.8% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 223,302 (29.2% of population)
- Median age in county: 49.5 years old
- Location: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL metro area
5. Clark County, Nevada
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 13,483 (0.6% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 2.5% from different county in state; 87.3% from a different state; 10.2% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 343,754 (15.3% of population)
- Median age in county: 38.2 years old
- Location: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV metro area
4. Los Angeles County, California
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 14,755 (0.1% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 38.4% from different county in state; 32.8% from a different state; 28.8% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 1,415,856 (14.4% of population)
- Median age in county: 37.7 years old
- Location: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
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3. Palm Beach County, Florida
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 14,910 (1.0% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 25.7% from different county in state; 56.1% from a different state; 18.2% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 365,029 (24.6% of population)
- Median age in county: 45.6 years old
- Location: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area
2. Riverside County, California
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 16,117 (0.7% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 58.3% from different county in state; 27.4% from a different state; 14.3% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 359,162 (14.9% of population)
- Median age in county: 36.7 years old
- Location: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area
1. Maricopa County, Arizona
- Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 27,630 (0.6% of current population)
- Origin of new retirement age residents: 12.5% from different county in state; 73.5% from a different state; 14.0% from abroad
- Total number of retirement age residents: 692,770 (15.8% of population)
- Median age in county: 37.5 years old
- Location: Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metro area
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