24/7 Wall St. Insights

• An estimated 28 million Americans relocated to a new home in 2022, and retirement age adults accounted for nearly one in four of those moves. 
• The reasons older Americans decide to move to a new home often differ from the factors that motivate younger age groups — and as a result, certain parts of the country have become magnets for retirees.
• Also: 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

The U.S. population is aging rapidly. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 18% of the population — about 62 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.)

Given some of the common factors that influence retiree moves, it is perhaps not surprising that 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. Each of these states are among the few nationwide that do not levy an income tax.

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.)

Editor’s note: Due to a data processing error, the migration estimates reported in an earlier version of this story were incorrect. These figures have been updated.  

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.

45. Fort Bend County, Texas

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,059 (0.6% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 36.1% from different county in state; 27.7% from a different state; 36.1% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 97,857 (11.9% of population)
• Median age in county: 37.2 years old
• Location: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro area

44. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,072 (0.5% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 31.3% from different county in state; 60.5% from a different state; 8.2% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 129,089 (11.7% of population)
• Median age in county: 35.8 years old
• Location: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area

43. Travis County, Texas

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,092 (0.4% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 43.8% from different county in state; 39.1% from a different state; 17.2% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 133,532 (10.5% of population)
• Median age in county: 35.4 years old
• Location: Austin-Round Rock, TX metro area

42. Sacramento County, California

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,158 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 65.2% from different county in state; 22.3% from a different state; 12.5% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 230,399 (14.7% of population)
• Median age in county: 37.2 years old
• Location: Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA metro area

41. Wake County, North Carolina

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,299 (0.5% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 35.6% from different county in state; 54.9% from a different state; 9.5% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 138,567 (12.4% of population)
• Median age in county: 37.4 years old
• Location: Raleigh, NC metro area

40. Collin County, Texas

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,320 (0.5% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 50.5% from different county in state; 33.6% from a different state; 15.9% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 121,023 (11.3% of population)
• Median age in county: 37.4 years old
• Location: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area

39. Middlesex County, Massachusetts

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,325 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 40.4% from different county in state; 32.8% from a different state; 26.7% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 255,404 (15.9% of population)
• Median age in county: 39.1 years old
• Location: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area

38. Denton County, Texas

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,418 (0.6% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 48.2% from different county in state; 41.0% from a different state; 10.9% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 99,654 (11.0% of population)
• Median age in county: 36.9 years old
• Location: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area

37. Oakland County, Michigan

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,531 (0.4% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 59.7% from different county in state; 23.4% from a different state; 17.0% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 222,540 (17.7% of population)
• Median age in county: 41.6 years old
• Location: Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area

36. Brevard County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,604 (0.9% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 31.2% from different county in state; 61.9% from a different state; 6.9% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 146,692 (24.2% of population)
• Median age in county: 47.4 years old
• Location: Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL metro area

35. Santa Clara County, California

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,669 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 32.8% from different county in state; 18.5% from a different state; 48.7% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 269,943 (14.2% of population)
• Median age in county: 38 years old
• Location: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area

34. Alameda County, California

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,681 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 48.9% from different county in state; 23.9% from a different state; 27.2% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 243,239 (14.8% of population)
• Median age in county: 38.7 years old
• Location: San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area

33. New York County, New York

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,840 (0.4% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 48.2% from different county in state; 34.5% from a different state; 17.3% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 284,256 (17.4% of population)
• Median age in county: 38.8 years old
• Location: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area

32. Queens County, New York

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,884 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 48.1% from different county in state; 9.4% from a different state; 42.5% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 389,399 (16.7% of population)
• Median age in county: 40.2 years old
• Location: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area

31. Bexar County, Texas

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 5,973 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 40.9% from different county in state; 46.7% from a different state; 12.5% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 248,631 (12.5% of population)
• Median age in county: 34.6 years old
• Location: San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area

30. Contra Costa County, California

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 6,006 (0.5% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 62.0% from different county in state; 22.2% from a different state; 15.8% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 190,307 (16.5% of population)
• Median age in county: 40.4 years old
• Location: San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area

29. Marion County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 6,126 (1.6% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 37.4% from different county in state; 58.1% from a different state; 4.5% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 109,251 (29.1% of population)
• Median age in county: 49 years old
• Location: Ocala, FL metro area

28. Pinal County, Arizona

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 6,387 (1.5% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 29.9% from different county in state; 63.1% from a different state; 7.0% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 89,957 (21.0% of population)
• Median age in county: 40.1 years old
• Location: Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metro area

27. Lake County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 6,433 (1.7% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 34.6% from different county in state; 58.0% from a different state; 7.4% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 103,276 (26.9% of population)
• Median age in county: 47.3 years old
• Location: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area

26. San Bernardino County, California

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 6,572 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 67.8% from different county in state; 18.8% from a different state; 13.4% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 259,927 (12.1% of population)
• Median age in county: 34.3 years old
• Location: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area

25. Manatee County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 6,789 (1.7% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 24.5% from different county in state; 64.7% from a different state; 10.9% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 114,243 (28.4% of population)
• Median age in county: 49.7 years old
• Location: North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL metro area

24. Volusia County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 7,000 (1.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 49.4% from different county in state; 44.9% from a different state; 5.7% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 138,757 (25.0% of population)
• Median age in county: 46.9 years old
• Location: Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL metro area

23. Dallas County, Texas

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 7,041 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 52.6% from different county in state; 27.3% from a different state; 20.1% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 290,461 (11.3% of population)
• Median age in county: 34.2 years old
• Location: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area

22. Tarrant County, Texas

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 7,044 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 52.4% from different county in state; 36.5% from a different state; 11.0% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 247,826 (11.9% of population)
• Median age in county: 35.3 years old
• Location: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area

21. Polk County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 7,181 (1.0% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 25.6% from different county in state; 62.8% from a different state; 11.6% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 146,515 (20.1% of population)
• Median age in county: 40.2 years old
• Location: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area

20. Pasco County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 7,228 (1.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 40.9% from different county in state; 45.7% from a different state; 13.3% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 126,195 (22.4% of population)
• Median age in county: 44.2 years old
• Location: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area

19. King County, Washington

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 7,285 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 34.5% from different county in state; 39.5% from a different state; 26.0% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 306,055 (13.7% of population)
• Median age in county: 37.5 years old
• Location: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area

18. Hillsborough County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 7,545 (0.5% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 29.0% from different county in state; 49.5% from a different state; 21.6% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 214,615 (14.8% of population)
• Median age in county: 38 years old
• Location: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area

17. Collier County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 7,738 (2.0% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 13.7% from different county in state; 73.5% from a different state; 12.8% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 124,784 (33.1% of population)
• Median age in county: 52.5 years old
• Location: Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL metro area

16. Miami-Dade County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 7,939 (0.3% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 16.9% from different county in state; 34.2% from a different state; 48.9% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 446,559 (16.8% of population)
• Median age in county: 40.9 years old
• Location: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area

15. Orange County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 8,849 (0.6% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 30.1% from different county in state; 38.9% from a different state; 31.0% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 177,634 (12.6% of population)
• Median age in county: 36.2 years old
• Location: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area

14. Pima County, Arizona

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 9,132 (0.9% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 16.6% from different county in state; 75.1% from a different state; 8.3% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 212,565 (20.6% of population)
• Median age in county: 39.4 years old
• Location: Tucson, AZ metro area

13. Cook County, Illinois

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 9,991 (0.2% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 30.5% from different county in state; 36.4% from a different state; 33.1% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 793,931 (15.4% of population)
• Median age in county: 37.9 years old
• Location: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area

12. Pinellas County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 10,794 (1.1% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 27.4% from different county in state; 57.5% from a different state; 15.0% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 245,332 (25.8% of population)
• Median age in county: 49.1 years old
• Location: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area

11. Sarasota County, Florida

• Retirement age residents who moved in in 2022: 11,058 (2.5% of current population)
• Origin of new retirement age residents: 22.2% from different county in state; 72.6% from a different state; 5.2% from abroad
• Total number of retirement age residents: 163,928 (37.5% of population)
• Median age in county: 57.3 years old
• Location: North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL metro area

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

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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