Retirement is something to look forward to for many Americans, but it can also be a stressful time that comes with major financial decisions and uncertainty given the lack of a stable paycheck from full-time employment. With recent volatility in the stock market and a new administration in power, making those retirement planning decisions gets even more difficult.
For example, millions of Americans who receive Social Security benefits are concerned over cuts to the Social Security Administration, a result of actions taken in the first few months of Donald Trump’s presidency. The agency recently announced plans to close 60% of its regional offices and to cut 7,000 jobs, which represents 12% of staff. If these cuts were to impact the timing or accuracy of payments, it’s no small matter to the large percentage of Americans who rely on Social Security to fund their lifestyle.
Of course, way retirees can manage a reduced income in retirement is a choice to downsize, and in the process many are likely to relocate. When choosing a location, several factors are considered, including relatable communities, proximity to family and grandkids, safe neighborhoods, and access to good healthcare. Affordability is also key, as retirees generally have a strict budget. Aside from these important qualities, retirees often prioritize a mild climate so they can enjoy evening walks alongside other outdoor activities.
When it comes to favorable climates, there are no better locations than Sunbelt States. These sunny states with warm temperatures offer near year-round beautiful weather. These climates often have the effect of inspiring outdoor activities, like hiking, golfing, and beach-going. Plenty of engagement outside has the added benefit of promoting a healthy lifestyle, which is critical in advanced years. Due to the nature of these gorgeous states, they are also home to several retirement communities, ensuring retirees are surrounded by other retirees to socialize with in their Golden Years.
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.
(This article was updated on March 17, 2025 to reflect recent Social Security Administration cuts.)
Why It Matters
Retirees or those nearing retirement age may be looking ahead and planning where to relocate. It may benefit them to do in-depth research, including looking into areas that other retirees prefer. Since only a few dozen U.S. counties reported growing by more than 5,000 retirement-age adults in 2022, we urge those doing their due-diligence to focus on these destinations as a possible future homebase.
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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