State Magnets for Different Elderly "Migrant Types"

This study identified a number of elderly "migrant types" using census data information on State of birth and State of residence prior to the 1985-90 migration period. This typology is useful because it points up significant socio-demographic profiles associated with each migrant type with distinct impacts on elderly "magnet States." States that serve as Classic Retirement Magnets (e.g., Florida, Arizona) and Second Tier Retirement Magnets (e.g., North Carolina, Nevada) benefit the most from elderly inter-State migration. Other States (e.g., California) are becoming ìRevolving Door Elderly Mgration States that both attract well-off elderly migrants but also lose large numbers making corrective moves. Based on specially prepared migration tabulations, we list largest gaining and largest losing States for different elderly "migrant types."

Dataset(s): 1990 US Census migration tabulations prepared from 5% PUMS and 3% PUMS-O files.