Baby boomers cool on taxes and warm on climate, survey finds

A survey of baby boomers indicates that many of them are looking for retirement locations where taxes and housing costs are low, the climate is good and quality health care is readily available.

The survey was sponsored by the Consumer Federation of the Southeast and conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research.Its findings include:

• 96 percent of respondents said top-quality health care services were “very” or “somewhat” important in considering a relocation destination.
• Affordable housing ranked second, with nearly 92 percent saying that was a “very” or “somewhat” important criterion.
• A warm, welcoming year-round climate was “very” or “somewhat” important to 85.5 percent—but a strong plurality of this group wanted warm summers to be paired with a few cooler months.
• Low local taxes were “very” or “somewhat” important to 81.1 percent.
• Eight out of 10 relocating boomers said they were looking for affordable recreational opportunities in a relocation destination.

Also important to relocating Boomers are the size of the community (seven in 10 prefer a mid-size city or small town); arts and cultural opportunities (very or somewhat important to three in four); beaches or ocean nearby (very or somewhat important to about six in 10), and about half are seeking access to life-long learning educational opportunities. About half say a community that welcomes diversity is very or somewhat important.

• A large university is a plus for four in 10 boomers.
• And, 58 percent plan to buy a house in their retirement relocation destination.