What Cities Are Attracting California Baby Boomers?

Baby boomers are moving to dense, walkable areas and downsizing, but in California, baby boomer populations are growing in a wide-range of markets. According to a new report from Yardi’s Rent Café, San Francisco has the largest population of baby boomers, followed by Anaheim and then Riverside. Irvine, however, has the fastest growing population of baby boomers, followed by San Jose.

“Along with the go-to retirement states like Florida, California and Arizona, baby boomers seem to also be drawn to zips in big, lively cities such as Las Vegas and New York,” Florentina Sarac of Rent Café, tells GlobeSt.com. “Attracted by a nice, warm climate, plenty of entertainment options, and numerous other benefits targeted at them, seniors are finding comfort in the big city life. They want to stay active and enjoy the perks that come with living in or close to bustling hotspots. Some zips that made it to the top are known to boast many medical assistance facilities, besides the wide range of activities available, so this might also be a factor they take into consideration when deciding to move to a certain place.”

In Irvine’s 92618 zip code, the baby boomer population grew by 49% in the last five years. While Irvine is a suburb, it offers the density and amenities that baby boomers want in an active lifestyle. “Irvine, as well as the other suburbs that made the list, meets the needs of baby boomers and is great in terms of leading an active life as it provides numerous amenities,” says Sarac. “As is the case with big cities, these suburbs offer a wide variety of social services and entertainment options.”

The markets with a high concentration of baby boomers are also seeing an increase of resort-style living options. “The fact that more baby boomers are moving to these top zip codes is bound to impact the housing market in some way,” says Sarac. “Given their particular needs, which include affordability, comfort, and security as far as housing goes, developers need to take this into consideration when planning new construction. Baby boomers are looking for resort-style amenities when choosing to rent or buy, such as fitness centers, indoor heated pools, and plenty of social activities to ensure a vibrant and active lifestyle.”

Sarac expects baby boomers populations will continue to grow in dense markets with access to amenities. “The current trend shows that baby boomers are increasingly more interested in bustling cities, so we might expect to keep seeing them head to areas that are abundant in outdoor activities, have a nice climate, and where there’s an affordable cost of living,” she says. “States like Florida and Texas will still probably continue to be winners among baby boomers, given their low taxes on retirees and warm climate.”