Forget everything you thought you knew about retirement migration. Baby Boomers are changing the game—and data from Polco is helping us understand how.
While the Silent Generation flocked to sunshine states and golf communities, Baby Boomers are seeking something different: purpose, connection, and vibrancy. These modern retirees are embracing what you might call “amenity migration”—moving not just for affordability, but for walkability, wellness, culture, and opportunities for meaningful work.
In a recent LinkedIn article by Alex Pedersen, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Polco, we get a fascinating look at how Boomers are relocating—and how their preferences could reshape American communities for years to come.
Using U.S. Census migration data layered with Polco's unique community performance and public input datasets, Alex and the Polco team mapped out the top destinations attracting older adults in 2023.
The results paint a new picture of retirement in America:
Small cities like Castle Rock, CO, and Frisco, TX are gaining traction for their amenities and modern infrastructure.
Large metros like Port St. Lucie and Wildwood, FL remain popular, but not just for their weather—these places are investing in health care, recreation, and cultural life.
Walkable suburbs with access to nature and part-time work opportunities are becoming increasingly attractive to this generation.
This generation isn’t simply chasing warm weather and low costs. They’re choosing places where they can thrive—communities that support aging with dignity, opportunity, and joy.
Amenity migration refers to the relocation of people—especially older adults or remote workers—to places that offer desirable lifestyle features rather than just low cost of living or employment.
Boomers are increasingly becoming amenity migrants, seeking:
Walkable neighborhoods and vibrant downtowns
Access to nature and outdoor recreation
High-quality healthcare infrastructure
Cultural opportunities (music, arts, dining)
Community engagement and volunteer options
Flexibility for part-time work or encore careers
By choosing places that enrich their lives rather than simply extend their savings, Boomers are redefining what it means to retire—and reshaping the future of American cities in the process.
Thanks to Polco’s Track and Assess tools, cities can now go beyond speculation. With access to segmented data for older adults, local leaders can see how retirees feel about everything from safety and health care to community engagement and mobility.
Some highlights from Polco’s community data dashboards and benchmark surveys:
Health & Wellness and Inclusivity & Engagement are among the top-rated priorities for older adults.
CASOA (Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults) allows communities to compare their performance against national benchmarks and similar-sized cities.
The newly launched Older Adult dashboards in Polco’s Track platform provide a focused lens on this population’s needs and preferences.
By combining this localized insight with national migration trends, Polco helps communities anticipate demographic shifts and design age-friendly strategies that attract—and retain—residents seeking more than just sunshine.
If you’re in local government, here’s what you should be thinking about:
Are we building walkable, wellness-focused neighborhoods?
Do we offer lifelong learning, cultural access, and volunteer or work opportunities?
Are we measuring satisfaction among our older adult residents?
With tools like Polco’s Engage platform and Track Dashboards, cities can gather statistically valid feedback, compare against benchmarks, and adjust strategies based on real-time input.
This generation is large, vocal, and active. If you’re not planning for them, you’re falling behind.
At Polco, our mission is to empower community leaders with accurate, actionable insights. By integrating public sentiment with performance metrics, we give governments a holistic view of what residents need today—and tomorrow.
Whether you’re using our Community Livability Snapshot, launching a CASOA survey, or customizing a Track dashboard for older adults, we help you stay ahead of trends like these.
This is just the first of a generational series. Stay tuned as we follow up with where Millennials are heading next—and what their migration might mean for affordability, housing, and digital infrastructure across the U.S.
Baby Boomers are rewriting retirement—and your community has the opportunity to meet them where they are. Explore how Polco’s data tools, including the Older Adult Solutions suite, can help you create vibrant, age-friendly places that attract and retain today’s amenity migrants.
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