[FriscoKid]

Gen Xers Moving to Retirement Areas, Out of Cities Like New York - Business Insider
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An interesting article that put some numbers around a phenomenon that I have observed in my southern area of The Villages.

A few highlights:

“Forget New York: Gen X is following boomers to retirement-friendly places like Florida

Gen Xers are living like they're 20 years older — or at least moving to the favored locales of their retiree counterparts.

An exclusive analysis of Census data for BI from the University of Virginia demographer Hamilton Lombard reveals the areas in the US that Gen Xers have left behind and where they went.”

A little later it goes on:

“Between 2020 and 2023, counties in Florida and Texas, many of which are retirement havens, experienced the largest increases in their Gen X populations — defined as those who were between 45 and 54 years old in 2023 — per the analysis.

The analysis also found that the population of that demographic in "retirement destination" counties rose by 5.1% between 2020 and 2023, over three times as fast as the country's 1.6% growth rate in the same period. The USDA defined those counties as having at least a 15% increase in their populations age 60 and up from net migration between 2000 and 2010.”

“Lee County, Florida, home to Fort Myers and Cape Coral, saw the largest change between 2020 and 2023, with a net increase of over 10,500 Gen Xers. Meanwhile, over 9,700 net residents moved to Polk County, in central Florida, to the east of Tampa. Another nearly 8,500 net residents relocated to Pasco County on Florida's western coast.”

“Another popular destination for Gen Xers: The Villages in Florida, often thought of as the Disney World of retirement. Sumter County, Florida, which contains The Villages, gained nearly 2,000 members of that generation from 2020 to 2023, bringing the population to about 9,800.

Gen Xers may have been drawn to the ample amenities — and unique golf cart culture — that the area offers. The median age in Sumter County has fallen slightly from 68.9 in 2019 to 68.2 in 2023, per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.”
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[frayedends]

I am at the older end of Gen X. I’m only part time but I’ll be there full time this fall. I’m 55. My 50 year old friend had no interest. I was hooked from day 1 taking the golf cart out on my lifestyle visit. Noticed that 80s music is becoming more and more popular in the squares.

[Michael 61]

I’m at the tail end of the baby boom generation (born in the 60s), and feel a closer bond with Gen Xers than I do to many boom boomers, as many are closer to my parents’ age. It’s great to see all the GenXers begin to move to The Villages, especially here south of 44. Welcome Gen Xers!

[Bill14564]

Is it somehow strange that 55 year olds eyeing retirement would be moving to 55+ retirement communities?

If anything, it is a credit to the communities that they have kept up with the changing times and are desirable to the younger retirees.

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Is it somehow strange that 55 year olds eyeing retirement would be moving to 55+ retirement communities?

If anything, it is a credit to the communities that they have kept up with the changing times and are desirable to the younger retirees.

Yes. It appears The Villages will continue to grow, evolve, and thrive in the coming years with the influx of GenXers. I have a good friend from Colorado who is 53, and though he will continue to work from home, will be purchasing a new home and moving here this summer, in anticipation of his early retirement in a few years.

[Ham_and_Cheese]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I’m at the tail end of the baby boom generation (born in the 60s), and feel a closer bond with Gen Xers than I do to many boomers

I was going to say something similar - the youngest 'boomers' are very close in age to the oldest GenX-ers

I'm almost as old as a GenX-er can be and my wife is technically a boomer, though neither of us think of her as such
.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Yeah it's a pretty tone-deaf article. Generation X starts at 1965. The oldest GenXers are 60 years old and around 1/3 of them are over 55. Some of them have been living here for several years already.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Twenty years ago, we moved here in our early 50’s. We consider ourselves lucky to have been able to live here and get a jump on home ownership for retirement while we could afford it. Younger people are most likely following the jobs market which has grown more plentiful as the villages grew. We worked for a few years after becoming full time residents to offset insurance premiums until we were old enough for Medicare.

[CybrSage]

Yep, active retirement is attractive to GenX. As is working remotely.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by CybrSage

Yep, active retirement is attractive to GenX. As is working remotely.

Working

[Switter]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I’m at the tail end of the baby boom generation (born in the 60s), and feel a closer bond with Gen Xers than I do to many boom boomers, as many are closer to my parents’ age. It’s great to see all the GenXers begin to move to The Villages, especially here south of 44. Welcome Gen Xers!

I am the very start of Gen X, born in 65. I actually have more affinity towards millennials than I do GenX, and have almost no affinity to baby boomers (nothing personal). My sisters are very young baby boomers and as much as I love them, I'm more apt to hang out with their (millennial) kids, lol. I am not exactly sure why that is.

Kind of off-topic, but when I first came here, I stayed in an Airbnb while looking for a house in the Ocala area. I got completely lured in by all the amenities and ended up buying a place here. In hindsight though, I miss living in a neighborhood with a more diverse age demographic. I also think another factor is that everyone here is on permanent vacation while I am still working full-time (remotely). It's a mindset that I have nothing in common with and I'm not even sure I ever will.

The villages is an amazing place but I am increasingly thinking it's not really for me.

I know I am probably an outlier here.

[Lisanp@aol.com]

Generation X is generally defined as people born from 1965 to 1980, so we are over 55! Why would it be confusing that we are moving to a 55+ community. What I find confusing is the Boomers and beyond that think that "we don't belong" here. Look around! There is less 40s and 50s music on the squares and more 80s music. The bands that are booked into The Tracy are from my college years. The demographic has shifted to the next "generation", and Generation X is that Villager.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Switter

I am the very start of Gen X, born in 65. I actually have more affinity towards millennials than I do GenX, and have almost no affinity to baby boomers (nothing personal). My sisters are very young baby boomers and as much as I love them, I'm more apt to hang out with their (millennial) kids, lol. I am not exactly sure why that is.

Kind of off-topic, but when I first came here, I stayed in an Airbnb while looking for a house in the Ocala area. I got completely lured in by all the amenities and ended up buying a place here. In hindsight though, I miss living in a neighborhood with a more diverse age demographic. I also think another factor is that everyone here is on permanent vacation while I am still working full-time (remotely). It's a mindset that I have nothing in common with and I'm not even sure I ever will.

The villages is an amazing place but I am increasingly thinking it's not really for me.

I know I am probably an outlier here.

The Villages isn't for everyone for many reasons. But you're in your 60's and in a blink will be in your 80's. I encourage you to get moving to your happy place, the older you get the more difficult it is to make that move.

[Switter]

Originally Posted by Aces4

The Villages isn't for everyone for many reasons. But you're in your 60's and in a blink will be in your 80's. I encourage you to get moving to your happy place, the older you get the more difficult it is to make that move.

Sage advice. I definitely wanna be in Florida, it's just a matter of where. Now that I'm here I can take time and start looking at different areas.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Switter

Sage advice. I definitely wanna be in Florida, it's just a matter of where. Now that I'm here I can take time and start looking at different areas.

Just remember that in a few short years, you'll be of the age where the people you WANT to hang out with - are starting to move to The Villages.

You might be better off learning to enjoy what you have, and welcoming the people you want, when it's their turn.