Health and money concerns are inspiring aging retirees to leave their cheap, sunny retirement spots and boomerang back to the snowy states they once abandoned. The number of individuals 70 or older moving from popular retirement states like Florida, Arizona, and the Carolinas increased by 45 percent between 2012 and 2014, according to Stateline. Over that time, almost 54,000 retirees left Sun Belt states for colder ones that traditionally lose retirees, such as New York, Illinois, or Michigan.
In particular, the number of older folks leaving Florida for New York doubled over that time. And while retirees tend to move out of California for Arizona, which has cheaper homes and a lower cost of living, the number of moves in the opposite direction increased by 80 percent between 2012 and 2014.
So why would retirees move back to states with higher costs of living and more expensive housing?
Researchers surmise that many of the moves could be motivated by money and medical issues—prompting some retirees to move closer to family who can offer care and financial support. Others might have longed to reunite with their friends or to spend more time with grandchildren.
Generous state medical care might be another enticement for older retirees to return to New York and New Jersey, especially if they’re running low on cash. Check out the full story this way.
- Can You Go Home Again? Some Older Retirees Say Yes [Stateline]