Baby Boomers are increasingly trading suburban lawns and driveways for city skylines and sidewalks. Across the United States, many adults in their late 50s, 60s and beyond are selling the big family home and moving to urban cores – a trend that urban planners and demographers say is reshaping downtown demographics and real estate markets.
“There is a generational shift going on where both millennials who are starting their careers, and Baby Boomers who are downsizing, are moving to urban cores looking for a walkable 24/7 lifestyle,” observes Brandon Jenkins, COO of a real estate investment firm.3
While not an overwhelming wave, this back-to-the-city movement among Boomers is noticeable enough to remake neighborhoods, from Florida to the Midwest, and it’s sparking lively discussions among housing experts and on social media.
Trading Yards for City Amenities
For decades, the archetypal American retiree dream involved a sunny suburb or a quiet rural retreat. But a growing segment of Boomers is instead drawn to the energy and convenience of city life. Empty nesters cite walkability, cultural amenities, and freedom from home maintenance as prime motivators.
“It’s such an easy lifestyle,” says Mike Cleary, a 70-year-old finance executive who gave up his suburban house and has rented in downtown Milwaukee since 2006.4
The Philadelphia Story
In Philadelphia, Paul and Kathy Knese made a similar leap: “The suburbs aren’t always as friendly as you see on some of the sitcoms,” Kathy says, noting they moved from New Jersey to Philly’s urban core once their kids were grown.5 The spontaneity of city living was a revelation – “This is stuff that someone from Marlton would plan a weekend to do,” Paul adds, recalling a recent impromptu night out downtown. “We made that decision in five minutes.”5
What Seniors Want
Boomers making this move often seek a “live, work, play” environment long associated with younger professionals. Susan Pollay of Ann Arbor’s Downtown Development Authority says downtowns offer older adults much the same attractions they do youths: “Activities like book readings, performances, [and] poetry slams – everybody wants the same things, they just want them at different times of day. They all want safe, clean, walkable downtowns with affordable housing and the ability to join up with friends in a comfortable environment.”6
In other words, many Boomers desire the urban amenities their own children enjoy – from trendy restaurants to theaters – once they no longer need to prioritize school districts or large backyards. “For many boomers, downtown is an alternative to the suburbs,” Pollay explains.6
Improved Quality of Life
Quality of life improvements are frequently reported by these urban transplants. After relocating from a house in Voorhees, N.J. to a Center City Philadelphia apartment, 57-year-old Bella Levine gushes about her new routine: “Philadelphia is an easy city to live in… we push ourselves more to do stuff in the city, whether it’s just going to a movie or getting something to eat. We don’t keep ourselves closed up.”5
Like many peers, the Levines downsized (from a 3,500 sq. ft. house to a 1,400 sq. ft. apartment) and shed the burdens of mowing lawns or replacing roofs. “The wear and tear on our house was beginning to show… and we thought, ‘The kids are out of the house and this is a good time to move… Might as well have a new adventure,'” Bella tells us.5
That sense of adventure – and relief – is common. “Our quality of life went up while our expenses went down,” notes Paul Knese, adding that city life cut his driving mileage in half and even boosted their home’s value.5
Boomers Boosting Downtown Markets
Urban planners and real estate analysts are taking note of this “silver migration” into city centers. “Boomers are such a large population that even if only a small sub-segment move to downtown, it is still significant,” says William Frey, a demographer with the Brookings Institution.2
The Numbers Tell the Story
In fact, those small percentages translate to big numbers. According to an analysis by online brokerage Redfin, over one million Baby Boomers moved within 5 miles of downtown in America’s 50 largest cities between 2000 and 2010 – roughly the same number of Boomers who moved far out to exurban areas in that period.1
More recent data suggest the trend is accelerating in select areas. A Center City District report in Philadelphia found “substantial, positive growth” in the 55-to-69 population downtown from 2000 to 2013, with the number of 60–64 year-olds nearly doubling.5 And in Fort Worth, Texas, officials say downtown’s population is now roughly 50% Boomers and 50% Millennials – an unprecedented demographic mix.2
Real Estate Impact
This Boomer urban influx is having tangible market impacts, especially in housing. Developers of city condos and apartments increasingly court downsizing seniors. One of the nation’s largest homebuilders, Toll Brothers, reported that anywhere from 25% to 75% of units in its new urban high-rises have sold to Baby Boomers, a trend the company admits it “finds surprising.”2
Housing analysts, too, foresee lasting effects. “Boomers could well drive the sale of downtown condos going forward,” according to Robert Rulla of Fitch Ratings, who spoke to The Wall Street Journal.2 In some cities, builders are adding age-friendly design touches (like single-floor living and elevators) to appeal to older buyers attracted to city conveniences.
Economic Impact
Economic ripples follow these transplants. Urban empty-nesters often arrive with equity and spending power from selling long-time homes. “They’ve raised their kids… [and] have more disposable income on hand than their younger counterparts,” notes LoriWard, a downtown development director in Michigan.6
That means new patrons for restaurants, shops and theaters. City officials welcome the boost: “When the Boomers decide they want something… they can make it happen. In this case, they have decided they want an urban existence with good wine stores and fresh flowers,” writes real estate consultant David Allison, who dubs the phenomenon the “boomerful” city.2
Where the Trend Is Hottest
The Baby Boomer urban trend isn’t uniform across the country – it’s concentrated in specific states and metro areas. Two main patterns have emerged: one in large Sun Belt metros where many Boomers relocate for retirement, and another in revitalized downtowns of Rust Belt and Northeastern cities.
Florida and the Southwest
According to a 2024 SmartAsset study of Census data, Florida dominates Boomer relocations. Seven of the top 10 U.S. cities with the highest influx of 55+ residents were in Florida, including Palm Coast (where incoming Boomers in one year equaled 3.7% of the total population), Cape Coral (3.1%), Pompano Beach (3.0%), and Clearwater (3.8%).7
Arizona and Nevada are close behind – retirement-friendly spots like Scottsdale, AZ and Reno, NV each saw over 8,000 Boomers move in during 2022.7 These migrants are often seeking warm weather, lower taxes, or cheaper housing, and they tend to settle in condo communities or walkable suburban “downtowns” of those areas.
Northern Urban Cores
Meanwhile, in cooler climates, urban cores from Milwaukee to Philadelphia are also drawing local Boomers in significant numbers. “We see a lot of [Boomers] from the Main Line selling and moving to town,” says Stephanie Biello, a Philadelphia real estate broker, referring to affluent suburbanites downsizing into the city.5
Popular city neighborhoods for this group often include established, amenity-rich districts – think Rittenhouse Square in Philly or the Third Ward in Milwaukee – where empty nesters can find high-end condos. “People from the burbs want the city lifestyle and to walk to all the things they like to do… that’s why you’re seeing them move into Center City,” explains Noah Ostroff, a Philadelphia developer, who expects “even more of an increase in [Boomer interest] in the next five years.“5
A Nuanced Demographic Shift
Despite the high-profile examples, experts caution that not all Boomers are rushing to cities – far from it. “The big increase in renting and apartment living for this age group has not been in urban cores,” writes economist Jed Kolko, noting that many Boomers are opting for “urban lifestyles in suburban settings,” such as town-center developments closer in or senior communities that mimic city amenities.9
The Counter-Perspective
In fact, a New York Times analysis dubbed “The Myth of the Urban Boomer” found that Baby Boomers are actually less likely to live in urban neighborhoods than previous generations of seniors were at the same age.9 Census data show that from 1990 to 2018, the share of Americans age 54 to 72 living in cities fell from 21.6% to 17.8%.9 Most Boomers still age in place in the suburbs or move closer to family rather than downtown.
Enough to Change Urban Landscapes
Those who do embrace city life are enough to change the urban fabric, even if they don’t represent the majority of their generation. Urban economist Joe Cortright notes that because the Baby Boom generation is so large (over 70 million people), even a small percentage choosing downtowns can make a visible dent in city populations.2
And cities, for their part, are increasingly adapting to an older populace downtown – adding benches, improving transit accessibility, and expanding healthcare and senior services in urban neighborhoods to accommodate their new residents.
Multi-Generational Benefits
There’s also a growing recognition that what seniors want in a city – safety, walkability, and community – benefits all ages. “There are obvious health benefits of walkable neighborhoods for seniors, but dense neighborhoods can benefit from the presence of seniors who can reduce traffic and stress on local services,” notes Larry Gerber, a senior housing developer, adding that multi-generational urban communities are generally more sustainable.11
Changing Skylines and Perspectives
The sight of gray-haired “zoomers” (zealous boomers) in city dog parks and rooftop bars is likely to become more common. Real estate agents report that in some hot markets, downsizing Boomers are even outbidding Millennials for desirable downtown condos.
his generational convergence in urban areas – Millennials coming for jobs and nightlife, Boomers for retirement and convenience – is creating new “age mixes” in city neighborhoods that hadn’t seen many seniors in decades. In downtown Milwaukee, for example, one development project noted half its renters were under 35 and a quarter were over 60 – two groups that rarely rubbed shoulders in the same ZIP code before.4
On social media and community forums, the reactions are mixed. Many city leaders celebrate the trend as a triumph of downtown revitalization and diversity. Younger residents sometimes appreciate the stability and wisdom older neighbors bring – though not everyone is thrilled about competing with retirees for restaurant reservations or parking spots.
A New Urban Tapestry
The overall tone is one of acceptance that American cities are no longer just the domain of the young. As the massive Boomer generation ages, their choices are redefining “senior living.” Many are proving that life after 60 can include high-rise apartments, food halls, art festivals, and volunteer committees in the heart of downtown. And as they do, they are weaving a new multi-generational tapestry into the urban landscape – one where boomers and millennials ride the same subway and walk the same streets, each for their own reasons, but both enriching the city they call home.
References:
- Keates, Nancy. Hip, Urban, Middle-Aged The Wall Street Journal, 8 Aug. 2013.
- Allison, David. Urban centres will be boomerful RENX – Real Estate News Exchange, 5 May 2015.
- Jenkins, Brandon (interview). Real Estate Investing Better Than Wall Street Business Insider, 2 Sep. 2015.
- Bauter, Alison. Downtown apartments are ‘booming,’ but not for the reason you’ve heard Milwaukee Business Journal, 4 Sep. 2015.
- Newbold, Kevin. To the burbs and back: Could Philadelphia be a match for Baby Boomers? PhillyVoice, 29 July 2015.
- Gallagher, John. Downtowns Become Boomertowns Second Wave Media, 13 Dec. 2007.
- DeJohn, Jaclyn. Where Baby Boomers Are Moving – 2024 Study SmartAsset/Nasdaq, 12 Dec. 2024.
- Penley, Taylor. Baby boomers flock to fastest-growing city known as the ‘cruise ship on land’ FOX 10 Phoenix, 10 July 2024.
- Kolko, Jed. The Myth of the Urban Boomer The New York Times, 24 Jan. 2020.
- Howe, Neil. No, Boomers Aren’t Moving Into Metro Areas Hedgeye Demography, 20 Feb. 2020.
- Gerber, Larry. Will 75 Million Baby Boomers’ Desire for Walkability Impact City Planning? Markets Insider, 18 Jul. 2018.
