15 Cities with the Most Baby Boomer Homeowners

It’s estimated that baby boomers own around 38% of homes in the U.S. housing market, despite comprising just 20% of the population, according to Construction Coverage.

But you might be surprised to find that these boomers — who are between the ages of 58 and 76 — don’t always engage in common homeowner money moves, such as moving to Florida or Arizona for retirement.

In fact, many boomers live in other places. Here are the housing markets that have the biggest percentage of baby boomer owners, according to a Construction Coverage analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

All home price figures are from Redfin and refer to July values.

Baby boomer owners: 38.1%

Some baby boomers are staying where they are rather than selling their homes and moving to new locations.

That may be the case with Boston, where more than one-third of boomers are staying put instead of looking for a warmer place to spend their golden years.

Baby boomer owners: 38.2%

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that baby boomers are flocking to California’s capital city. While some are looking to buy homes there, others appear happy to rent an apartment, according to the data.

Baby boomer owners: 38.3%

One advantage Jacksonville has over other cities in Florida is its housing costs. The median sale price of a home in Jacksonville is $310,000 compared to the median sale price of $409,700 for the state as a whole.

Baby boomer owners: 38.5%

More than 20% of the population in Memphis is over the age of 60. Local reports have noted that many of these boomers plan to stay in their homes as long as they can.

Baby boomer owners: 38.5%

The New York City housing market is one of the most expensive in the U.S., but that hasn’t deterred boomers from deepening their roots in the city.

Baby boomer owners: 38.5%

A home in Providence sells for a median price of $503,500, which is well above the national average. Yet, the market remains an attractive place for boomers to call home.

Baby boomer owners: 38.5%

Cleveland is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and plenty of boomers appear content to rock out their retirement years in the city.

Baby boomer owners: 38.7%

New Orleans is famous for its party lifestyle. And while such revelry is traditionally associated with younger folks, boomers may be breaking the mold by calling The Big Easy home.

Baby boomer owners: 38.9%

Traditionally, retirees have headed south to Florida in big numbers. That is still the case, but it’s becoming more expensive to do so.

The median sale price for a home in Miami is $615,000 while a Fort Lauderdale home costs $544,500.

Baby boomer owners: 39%

There may be sun and sand, but living in the Los Angeles area can be challenging for boomers on tight budgets.

Anaheim, for example, has a median home sale price of $950,000, which is much higher than the national sale price.

Baby boomer owners: 39%

Prices are rising in the Buffalo market, but they are still attractive to boomers.

The city’s median sale price was $235,000 in July, a 23% increase in sale price compared to a year earlier. Despite the rise in costs, that is still far below the national median.

Baby boomer owners: 40%

The Tampa area has seen a surge in newly built 55-plus communities, which could be a great option for older residents who want to buy a home in a place that caters to boomers.

Baby boomer owners: 40%

It may be surprising to see a cold-weather city like Rochester make the list of cities with the most baby boomer homeowners. The city averages around 70 to 90 inches of snowfall annually, making it the opposite of a traditional Florida retirement.

Baby boomer owners: 40%

Pittsburgh is just one city in Pennsylvania that is home to many boomers. The Keystone State ranks No. 12 among places with the most baby boomer homeowners, with almost 40% of the homes in the state owned by boomers.

Baby boomer owners: 41.8%

Arizona has traditionally been a major magnet for retirees, and Tucson appears to appeal to many boomers.

Local reports also suggest that Tucson is popular with millennials, giving Tucson a good mix of homeowners from different generations.

If you know where you want to live retirement, start saving money now so you can realize your dreams.

Think about ways to build wealth and create an estimated budget that includes things such as housing costs, as well as travel and car costs and other retirement expenses.