5 Cities Baby Boomers Love That You Should Consider in Retirement
Baby boomers are the main homebuyers in America. While no longer the largest generation, they do have the most wealth, and these resources are playing a crucial role in the housing market.
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This is why studying the real estate roulette of retirement aged people is important because it can indicate where housing costs will fluctuate. Over the last few years, there has been a general migration toward cities located in the Sun Belt, and boomers are no exception.
Check out the following five cities that are becoming popular with retired boomers and see if they could be a good fit for your golden years.
Las Vegas
Average home value: $423,942, up 5.9% over the past year
More boomers are relocating to Las Vegas than anywhere else in the country, and for good reason. Sin City offers a lot to retirees.
As noted by Del Webb, there are countless 55-plus adult communities with endless amenities. The city is also centrally located, making it easy to travel to see friends and family. It is also in a tax-friendly state, meaning retirees can save big by not having to pay things like state income taxes.
Unfortunately, there are some negatives to retiring in Las Vegas. Foremost, the city is hot. Temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months. Retirees will have to budget for higher utility bills to compensate for the oppressive heat.
It is also expensive to live there in general. As reported by Best Places, the city’s cost of living is around 11% over the average in the U.S.
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Phoenix
Average home value: $414,977, up 0.5% over the past year
Phoenix is another popular destination for baby boomers. The warm climate and reasonable taxes have boomers flocking to the Arizona city. Phoenix offers retirees tons of things to do and has numerous senior communities.
There are, however, a few downsides for boomers to consider. Phoenix, like Vegas, is hot. Very, very hot. Again, retirees will need to budget for high electricity bills during the summer. The heat might also make it more difficult to get outside when the temperature is over 100 degrees.
The cost of living in Phoenix is 8.7% higher than the average in the U.S., making it affordable but not cheap.
Tampa, Florida
Average home value: $375,818, up 0.2% over the past year
For decades, Florida has been the go-to retirement destination for seniors. The coastal city offers warm weather and lots of things to keep active retirees busy. It has a very reasonable cost of living at just 3.7% higher than the average in the United States. Moreover, Florida, like Nevada, does not have state income taxes, making it even more affordable.
After making the move to Tampa, retirees should consider whether they can handle the humidity. The city can be downright uncomfortable at times. It is quite congested in some areas and there’s only limited public transportation, according to 55Places.com.
Orlando, Florida
Average home value: $380,216, up 1.6% over the past year
Another potentially affordable option for retirees in Florida is Orlando. The city has a cost of living that is only 3.3% higher than the average in the U.S. Houses are reasonably priced, and you’ll never be lacking for entertainment.
Unfortunately, the city can get miserably hot. There also can be a lot of traffic, and it is almost always teeming with tourists.
Austin, Texas
Average home value: $513,622, down 4.0% over the past year
The final destination for baby boomers is Austin. The Texas city has become the hottest thing on the market since the pandemic, though now is showing signs of a plateauing or even cooling in many markets.
Retirees certainly will never be bored in the city. It has a world-famous music scene and is known for its eclectic food. It has favorable taxes and offers a plethora of retirement communities to choose from.
Austin, like the other cities listed above, can get very hot during the summer months potentially causing retirees on fixed incomes to struggle with high electric bills. It also has a cost of living that is 29.4% higher than the average in the U.S. It simply isn’t cheap to live in the city. Houses are expensive, with the average housing cost coming in over $500,000.
Luckily, there are more reasonable areas near the Texas capital that offer the same amenities without the high price tag.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Cities Baby Boomers Love That You Should Consider in Retirement
