Florida has a well-established reputation as the state for whiling away one’s golden years, but now one town is attracting a younger crowd too — millennials.
Zonda recently released its latest annual Baby Chaser Index, and Orlando jumped from its No. 3 spot last year to bump Austin out of the way and take the No. 1 spot. The ranking is unique in that tracks cities that attract both millennials and baby boomers, as well as the housing trends that draw them in.
Year after year, the research finds that when one group moves, the other often follows. And in many cases, the reason is family ties.
According to the study, millennials aren’t buying homes at the same pace as they used to. Their share of purchases fell to 29% last year. But where they go, housing demand grows, with parents and grandparents close behind.
About 1 in 4 boomers plan to retire near their kids or grandkids, and they accounted for 42% of home purchases in 2024.
It’s an intergenerational migration trend that’s reshaping housing markets in cities across the country.
Top-ranking city Orlando has long been a favorite for retirees, but Zonda says its rapid climb to the top spot is driven by younger households moving in for jobs, space and relative affordability.
The city added more than 29,000 jobs in the past year, according to Zonda’s vice president and Florida expert Susan Heffron, and not just in tourism. Professional services, government and education are all hiring, and that’s pulling in working-age families. Once they settle in, their boomer parents often aren’t far behind.
Housing developers have adjusted, too. More two-story family homes and townhomes are under construction, along with “lagoon communities” — neighborhoods centered around large shared water features and resort-style amenities.
Those details appeal across generations and are helping give Orlando something of a fresh start as a destination.
But Florida isn’t the only hotspot in Zonda’s data. Here are the top 10 cities on the 2025 Baby Chaser Index:
- Orlando
- Austin
- Raleigh
- Houston
- Dallas
- Jacksonville
- Boise
- Charlotte
- Charleston
- San Antonio
Compared to previous years, Texas remained strong, with four of its cities making the top 10. Raleigh cracked the top three thanks to a jump in boomer migration, while Charleston slipped down even though millennial migration remained high but retiree interest cooled.
Jacksonville stayed on the list at No. 6, attracting buyers who want Florida access without Orlando’s congestion.
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