How Many Move after They Retire?

What percentage of older Americans move after they retire? According to a Transamerica survey, a substantial 39 percent moved. The single biggest reason retirees moved was to downsize (34 percent), followed by to reduce expenses (29 percent), to start a new chapter in life (28 percent), and to be closer to family and friends (27 percent). Multiple responses to this question were allowed.

Among workers aged 50 or older, expectations about moving in retirement are in line with the experiences of retirees. The 57 percent majority of workers aged 50-plus would prefer to stay in their current home when they retire, 26 percent would like to move and 17 percent are unsure.

Source: Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, The Current State of Retirement: Pre-Retiree Expectations and Retiree Realities

When Did You Move Into Your House?

This is when, according to the 2015 American Community Survey...

Year householder moved into current house
2000 or later: 71.4%
   2015 or later: 7.4%
   2010–2014: 35.8%
   2000–2009: 28.2%
Before 2000: 28.6%
   1990–1999: 14.0%
   1980–1989: 6.8%
   Before 1980: 7.8%

Source: Census Bureau, 2015 American Community Survey