• Members of Generation X are relocating to popular retirement destinations seeking improved housing options, more affordable prices, and warmer climates.
• Recent Census statistics indicate an increase in Gen X migration to Florida, central Texas, northern Georgia, and Tennessee.
• Those who moved shared with Business Insider that they were looking for lower living costs and tax benefits, yet encountered high utility and insurance fees.

Working Generation X individuals are making the leap to sought-after retirement locations.

Rather than stepping back from their careers, individuals aged 45 to 60 are increasingly relocating their families to warmer areas to benefit from a surplus of available housing, enjoyable weather, and lower tax rates.

Matt Hickman aspired to find a location with convenient ocean access, favorable weather, and a laid-back atmosphere reminiscent of California. In April 2020, he and his family relocated to Orlando, where they found housing costs more manageable compared to their previous home in Colorado, with a five-bedroom house priced around $90 per square foot.

“I thought to myself, ‘If we relocate now in our forties, we can have our mortgage just about halfway paid off as we approach retirement. Plus, we will have gotten ahead of all the baby boomers moving down to Florida and driving the prices up,'” Hickman remarked.

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Analyzing Census data from 2020 to 2023, University of Virginia demographer Hamilton Lombard found that many southern counties experienced significant net increases in movers aged 45 to 54, especially in Florida, central Texas, northern Georgia, and Tennessee, with similar trends in parts of New England, Missouri, and Idaho. Meanwhile, many regions in California, the Midwest, and parts of the Deep South—such as Louisiana and Mississippi—saw population declines.

Notably, Gen X populations moved toward areas with higher numbers of retirees, as these “retirement destination” counties saw a net increase of 5.1% in this age group between 2020 and 2023, significantly above the national growth rate of 1.6%. Lombard attributes this shift to the availability of affordable housing and increasing savings among this generation.

Interviews with several Gen Xers who migrated south indicated that they appreciated the lower living expenses, more leisurely lifestyle, and employment opportunities available. However, some voiced concerns about weather difficulties, high insurance costs, and unsatisfactory political climates.

While initially enjoying their time in Florida, Hickman and his family experienced challenges with humidity, rising homeowners’ insurance costing $3,500 annually, skyrocketing property taxes, and paying hundreds monthly for utilities. As living expenses grew, they decided to make another move.

Hickman’s family eventually relocated to Atlanta, where they found a younger demographic and more affordable utility and insurance costs.

Seeking affordability in the south, but not everything is budget-friendly

Numerous respondents expressed to Business Insider that their move south was motivated by the desire to prepare financially for retirement, yet they found that living expenses in some areas were considerably higher than expected.

Randy Foster, a music promoter who has lived up and down the East Coast, sought a change after moving to Seattle in 2015. Faced with escalating costs and frequent overcast skies, he wanted to head south.

Following a recent divorce, the 55-year-old chose to settle in the Bradenton-Sarasota area of Florida in 2022, enjoying a dramatic reduction in his living costs. While he now owns a car in Florida, he estimates his expenses have decreased by about 30% compared to his time in Seattle.

“I decided that Florida provided more opportunities and freedom,” Foster outlined. “My rent and all my bills are significantly cheaper now than they were in Seattle.”

In Seattle, Foster paid $3,000 monthly for a three-bedroom apartment. Now in Florida, he pays around $2,000 for a four-bedroom home with a yard, although his electric bill increased by about 50% while other utilities remained consistent.

With an annual salary of $160,000 and no state income tax, Foster feels optimistic about saving more in Florida, even if he’s just beginning to focus on retirement planning.

Fleeing high taxes

Many movers mentioned seeking southern states that offer lower tax burdens and more favorable business climates.

Tracy Rockney, 57, who previously worked in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, considered numerous southern states before deciding to leave Illinois. Although Florida seemed uninviting due to its humidity and hurricanes, she was encouraged by her husband’s old college friend to explore Dallas-Fort Worth.

“We prefer to live in a community with a diverse mix of races, cultures, and age groups,” Rockney noted.

In 2020, she relocated to a Dallas suburb with her retired husband and youngest daughter to reduce her tax burden because Texas has no state income tax while also enhancing her daughter’s education opportunities. She sold her Illinois home for $795,000 and purchased her current Texas home for roughly $1.1 million.

Rockney discovered that healthcare options in Texas are better, and overall prices are generally lower than those in Illinois. After selling her business in August 2022, she exited her last role as an executive vice president in late 2024.

While she benefited from lower grocery prices, her water bill did increase significantly to $150 per month. Additionally, maintaining her landscape has become costly, prompting her to budget between $5,000 and $10,000 annually.

Rockney enjoys Texas’ variety of outdoor activities, remarking that her husband is the youngest member of his skydiving group. With Texas’s business-friendly environment, she anticipates it will support her in launching future enterprises.

“We often say we wish we had made this move earlier,” she added. “I probably should’ve done this when I started my business back in 2015.”

Embracing remote work opportunities

Some recent movers shared with Business Insider that they left bustling, high-cost urban areas for more tranquil regions while maintaining their remote work lifestyles.

Elisa Suetake, 51, finds herself balancing between working and planning for retirement.

Having spent six years in San Jose, where they frequently visited Hawaii, she and her husband once thought remote work in Hawaii would be impossible without feeling confined. However, the pandemic changed that perspective. In July 2021, they moved to Maui, acquiring a property that tripled their space for just $250,000 more than their San Jose home.

Their new residence includes a five-bedroom main house with an attached ADU, plus an additional smaller three-bedroom structure. They plan to renovate and rent out the smaller unit while reserving the apartment for guests.

Neither Suetake nor her husband aspires to a conventional sense of retirement; rather, they aim to continue working, but on their terms.

“We’re always engaged and learning,” Suetake expressed. “We just don’t rely on a consistent paycheck from an employer.”