Many
baby boomers, born from 1946-1964, will find themselves suddenly single in
retirement, typically because they are widowed or divorced. Almost a third of
men (31%) and more than half of women (55%) are unmarried at age 65 or older,
most often due to the death of a spouse, according to Census Bureau data.
When
choosing a location to settle down for retirement, you’ll want to consider a
variety of factors.
“Cost of
living, weather conditions, local community, and access to quality health care
are just some of the main factors to consider when it comes to choosing the
best spot for your well-deserved retirement years," says Mercedes Zach,
travel expert at ASAP Tickets. "This decision is especially important for
single senior citizens who are looking to find new hobbies and people to spend
their time with as well as cut on daily expenses," she adds.
Single baby
boomers might put more emphasis on communities and opt for more populated
cities than the traditional beach retirement towns. Here's a look at the 12
cities with the most seniors who are currently single:
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Miami
- Philadelphia
- Dallas.
- Washington, D.C.
- Boston
- Detroit
- Houston
- Atlanta
- San Francisco
New York - The New York metro area, which
includes Newark and Jersey City, is home to more single
people age 65 and older than any other city. There are more than 1 million
older residents who are currently unmarried. Some 61% of women and 33% of men
age 65 and older are single. New York has an unusually high
proportion of people who have never married, but many older residents are also
widowed or divorced. The biggest downside of retirement in New York is the high housing
costs. However, the city's extensive public transportation system can help
those who live outside Manhattan to visit new places and
meet new people.
Los Angeles - Retirement in Los Angeles brings the excitement
of living near the movie industry, prolific sunny weather, and
pleasant California temperatures. The
area's top-ranked medical centers also draw people to LA. Many people age 65
and older, including 59% of women and 33% of men, are currently single, often
due to widowhood or divorce. About 9% of older people in the Los Angeles metro area, which
includes Long Beach and Anaheim, have never been
married. The high home prices can make it difficult to relocate to the area,
but many people find the Mediterranean beaches and big city pleasures to be
worth the cost.
Chicago - You will need to
bundle up against Chicago's winter chills, but
there's still plenty of opportunity to meet new people. Some 58% of women and
33% of men age 65 and older in Chicago are single. Many people
in Chicago are unmarried due to
the death of a spouse, including 32% of older women and 12% of older men.
Divorce is also a common reason to be single at age 65 or older, including 11%
of men and 16% of women. About 8% of seniors in Chicago have never been
married.
Miami - Retirees are often
drawn to Miami's beaches and warm winter climate. There
are also plenty of single retirees in Florida. “The No. 1 location
that comes to mind when thinking of the most popular retirement destinations in
the U.S. is Florida. With its favorable
weather conditions and thriving social life, the sunshine state makes the
perfect place for a forever home,” says Zach.
In the Miami metro area, which
includes Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, 62% of women and 35%
of men are unmarried. Many Miami seniors are widows
(34%) and widowers (11%), and 19% of women and 14% of men are divorced. Some 8%
of people age 65 and older in Miami have never been
married.
Many
people relocate to Florida for retirement, so you
may be able to connect with other people who are new to the area. But if Miami is not your speed, Clearwater, Tampa, and St. Petersburg top Zach’s list of
midsized Florida cities for retirees.
Philadelphia - Pennsylvania's largest city can be a
great place to meet other retirees. More than half of women (58%) and almost a
third of men (33%) age 65 and older are currently single. Some retirees are
single due to divorce, including 16% of women and 12% of men. A third of older
women and 12% of older men are widows or widowers. About 8% of the retirees in Philadelphia have never been
married. You may be able to meet other retirees by volunteering at the area's
many historic sites and museums. Located on the train line between New York and Washington, D.C., Philadelphia is considerably more
affordable than these larger cities.
Dallas - Rapidly growing
cities can be great places to meet new people. “Single boomers are going to be
on the younger end of the retiree set and will definitely benefit from retiring
to bustling cities with plenty of things to do and plenty of people to meet,”
Ann Martin, director of operations at CreditDonkey, says.
Dallas is among the
fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and has attracted
145,915 new residents over the past decade. Single women often outnumber single
men in older age groups, and in Dallas, the proportion of
single women (55%) is twice that of single men (28%) among those age 65 and
older. The Dallas metro area, which also
includes Fort Worth, has an unusually low
proportion of seniors who have never been married (5%). Most older residents
are single due to divorce or widowhood.
Washington, D.C. - The nation's capital
attracts residents and visitors from throughout the world, many of whom are
hoping to make a difference. Retirees may continue to play a role in politics
or policy or get involved at the area's historic sites or museums. More than
half of older women (57%) and more than a quarter of older men (29%) in Washington, D.C., are single. While 30%
of older women have experienced the death of a spouse, only 9% of older men are
widowers in the metro area. Due to divorce, 17% of women and 10% of men are
single. Some 8% to 9% of seniors in the District of Columbia have never married.
Boston - Boston's many colleges and
universities hold many benefits for retirees, including the ability to attend
classes and events and take advantage of medical care and scientific research. More
than half of women (58%) and 32% of men age 65 and older are not currently
married. However, only 10% of women and 8% of men in Boston have never been
married. Many older women are widows (31%) or divorced (15%). Smaller
proportions of men are divorced (12%) or widowers (10%).
Detroit - Detroit's live music scene
provides excellent opportunities for a memorable night out. Many retirees in Detroit are currently single,
including 60% of women and 34% of men. About 7% of people age 65 and older have
never been married. Older men are often single because they are divorced (13%)
or widowers (12%). Over a third (34%) of older women are widows and 18%
are divorced.
Houston - Houston is the second-fastest
growing city in the U.S. after Phoenix, and it has added
224,751 new residents over the past decade. While many people come to Houston for job
opportunities, it can also be an attractive place to retire with an affordable
cost of living. “Houston is the best place for
single boomers to retire,” Lillian Dodd, lead publisher and travel editor at
The Hobby Kraze says. “I recommend Houston because it is a
desirable spot to retire. You can live in a large city with a low cost of living.
Also, there are various attractive sights, especially for elderly people.” Among
people age 65 and older, 54% of women and 29% of men are currently single. Far
more women (32%) than men (9%) are single due to the death of a spouse. In
addition, 16% of women and 13% of men are divorced. About 5% of seniors in Houston have never been
married.
Atlanta - Atlanta is one of the
fastest-growing cities in the South. Among people age 65 and older, 57% of
women and 31% of men are currently single. Most older women in Atlanta are single due to
widowhood (30%) or divorce (19%). Men age 65 and older are more likely to be
divorced (13%) than widowers (11%). Only 5% of men and 6% of women in Atlanta have never been
married. “(Atlanta) offers many of the same weather-related advantages as
Florida and Arizona for retirees, and the Atlanta metro's huge variety of
suburbs means that there's going to be a living situation perfect for anyone,
whether they're looking for convenient urban living, natural beauty or a
well-established and insular retirement community,” says Ann Martin.
San Francisco - You'll find plenty of
single retirees in the City by the Bay. More than half of women (56%) and
almost a third of men (32%) age 65 and older in San Francisco are currently single.
The San
Francisco metro area, which includes Oakland and Berkeley, has an unusually high
number of older people who have never married. Single older women are often
widows (29%) or divorced (17%). Older men are slightly more likely to be
divorced (13%) than widowers (9%). San Francisco's high-paying tech jobs
draw many people to the area, but the astronomical housing prices can make it
difficult to relocate on a budget.
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Source: Copyright 2023 U.S. News & World Report
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