If you are a baby boomer and want to live among peers, considering rolling the dice and moving to Las Vegas. Or, take a bite out of the Big Apple by settling in New York City.
Those two cities are among the most popular places for baby boomers to live, according to a RENTCafé analysis of U.S. Census data for the 250 largest U.S. cities.
However, if you are a more traditional older worker or retiree, you will probably end up in Florida or Arizona. Those Sunbelt states remain a huge draw for older people, as they have for many decades.
The study by RENTCafé — a nationwide internet listing service that helps renters find homes — found that the ZIP codes with the largest share of baby boomers are:
- 85266 (Scottsdale, Arizona) — 35%
- 85739 (Tucson, Arizona) — 30%
- 79121 (Amarillo, Texas) — 30%
- 33062 (Pompano Beach, Florida) — 30%
- 33308 (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) — 30%
However, for sheer numbers of baby boomers, New York City — the nation’s largest city by population — reigns supreme. Eight of the 10 U.S. ZIP codes with the largest number of boomers are in the Big Apple boroughs of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.
Finally, some cities are attracting more boomers in recent years. The ZIP codes with the highest increase in boomers over a five-year period are:
- 89138 (Las Vegas) — 79% increase
- 78754 (Austin, Texas) — 74% increase
- 85212 (Mesa, Arizona) — 66% increase
Finding your best place to retire
If you are a boomer — or a Generation Xer looking ahead a few years — now might be the best time to zero in on where you want to live in retirement.
For some people, that might be one of the places mentioned above. However, you shouldn’t blindly follow such lists. As we explain in “Don’t Retire Until You Answer These 4 Questions“:
“You shouldn’t rely on such lists when deciding where to retire. Your own best-of list has to take your own life and particular needs into account. That is something no one but you can do.”
If you’ve already retired and moved, how do you feel about your choice? If you’re having second thoughts, check out “11 Signs That You Chose a Bad Place to Retire.” It might help you clarify whether it’s time to pick up stakes and try again to find your new forever home.
Where have you chosen to retire? Let us know in comments below or on our Facebook page.
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