May 29, 2026
It's not uncommon for people at retirement age to consider a move or relocate to a new city or state. At that time of life, children are grown and downsizing starts to make more sense from a space perspective as well as cost and budgeting.
According to a recent annual report from HireAHelper.com, a moving services provider, 2.1 million Americans aged 65 and older relocated in 2025 (1). And although Florida recorded the highest number of inbound moves at nearly 46,000, it also saw nearly just as many outbound moves in this age group, dropping the Sunshine State out of the top 10 for net migrations.
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The three states with the highest number of net migrations for the 65+ crowd in 2025 illustrate that retirees appear to be relocating for three consistent reasons: affordability, comfort and long-term livability.
The data from HireAHelper.com's report shows that retirees weren't just looking for fair weather or a smaller home. Sure, a warm climate and a reasonably priced home have appeal, but healthcare availability, social services and having other seniors nearby also impacted where retirees are deciding to relocated (2).
Where did retirees move to in 2025?
Interestingly, the three southern states that topped HireAHelper.com's list for net migration are South Carolina, Texas and North Carolina.
South Carolina had 5,427 net migrations in 2025. With its temperate weather and communities along the coast that attract retirees, The Motley Fool also adds that the state has modest income, property and sales taxes, which could boost the appeal (3). South Carolina also has the eighth lowest personal healthcare expenses per capita across all 50 states at $8,766.
Texas had 5,156 net migrations last year and retirees were drawn to the fact that there are no personal state income taxes, allowing them to net more of their retirement savings for themselves. Housing is affordable too, with the average home value at roughly $295,000 and smaller communities with more reasonable prices that appeal to retirees.
North Carolina came in third for net migrations at 3,202 in 2025. According to The Motley Fool, real estate here is a bit pricier than South Carolina but it has a lower income tax rate, which helps to balance things out. In addition (4), the North Carolina government works hard to draw older Americans with its Certified Retirement Communities that provide "amenities, services and opportunities retirees need to enjoy active and productive lives."
These states all appear to meet the affordability, comfort and long-term livability factors that older Americans are looking for. But, unfortunately, there aren't very many similar options across the country.
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Best states for retirees
Earlier this year, WalletHub released its own ranking of the best and worst states to retire in 2026 (5). The ranking compared criteria like affordability, quality of life and healthcare, using U.S. government data from several sources including the Census Bureau and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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The top three states in WalletHub's ranking were Wyoming, Florida and South Dakota. Surprisingly, South Carolina, Texas and North Carolina didn't even make it into the top 10, illustrating that there is a difference between raw net migration numbers and the features that would really help enrich the lives of older Americans.
U.S. News & World Report also has its own ranking of the 250 best places to retire in the U.S. in 2026, with the top criteria including quality of life, overall value, tax rates and healthcare (6). Out of the top 100 cities in the list, six are in North Carolina, 15 are in Texas and just one is located in South Carolina.
If you're considering relocating in your older years, or if you're an older adult planning to move soon, be sure to take into account your own needs first and foremost. For you, being nearby to family and friends might rank right up there with availability of healthcare and housing affordability.
Starting off fresh in a new city or state in your older years can work out well if you're in the right community, but you also run the risk of feeling lonely and isolated if you're leaving behind those you care about most.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
HireAHelper (1),(2); The Motley Fool (3); Retire NC (4); Business Insider (5); U.S. News & World Report (6).
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Joanna Sinclair holds a B.A. in Professional Writing from York University and has been working in digital media for nearly two decades.
