Flocking to Florida: Why so Many Retirees are Moving to 

the Sunshine State 

BY Kevin Gehl
 

SILVER SPRING, Md.-- While many people dream of living in a place with palm trees, beaches, and endless

sunshine, some lucky people actually get to realize that dream: retiring seniors. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau

reported that in 2014, the net migration for people over 60 moving to Florida was 57,274. That number more

than triples the next closest state. But is the weather the primary reason seniors choose to relocate to this

southeastern peninsula famous for crazy people and crocodiles? And does this dreamland live up to the reality

of those who have worked their entire lives in order to afford the move to paradise?

Certainly the weather is a big draw for seniors moving to the aptly-nicknamed “sunshine state.” In

Florida, the weather ranges from warm to hot, whereas the rest of the country has to experience the treacheries

of cold and brisk weather. The warmer weather is ideal for those who have lived their entire lives fighting snow

for a third of the year and simply want a location where they can live their lives year round. Also, the warm

weather is ideal for many hobbies that retirees enjoy, such as gardening and golf. Tom and Loreen Gehl, both

Iowa natives and recent retirees, moved to the Orlando area in 2015. Tom loves the opportunities that the warm

weather presents in regards to following his passions. “Golf is my favorite activity. I enjoy the social aspect of

playing with friends and meeting new friends and the opportunity to consistently challenge myself to improve

my game.” However, more importantly, the lack of snow and ice is a big safety feature for seniors. A slip on ice

can mean a broken hip, spelling much more trouble than a surgery or two. One in three people who are 50 years

and older die within a year after suffering such an injury. Laura Gehl, who had two parents who never left the

Northeast, was always scared about her parents slipping and falling on the ice. “My dad used to go out on the

deck with the ice rake to clear ice off the roof,” she said. “It gave me nightmares, thinking about him falling out
there.” For pleasure and for safety, the climate in Florida is a leading factor in why retirees migrate to the

sunshine state.

Another reason that retirees flock to Florida is the general living conditions. This entails a variety of

different things. Primarily, the opportunity to be around others of the same age is appealing. There are many age

restricted communities in Florida with relatively cheap house prices and prime real estate. This allows seniors to

go about their lives in proximity with people who have similar behaviors and patterns, something that most

people strive to find when searching for a place to live. As Tom remarks, “Our Florida community is an eclectic

mix of geographic and cultural interests which makes for a fascinating social environment.” Surrounding

oneself with other retirees provides a chance to spend time hanging out with friends. As Loreen, Tom's wife,

puts it, “We look forward to doing puzzles and playing with cards with our Floridian friends.” As well, the

multitude of cities in Florida provides for lots of different activities that retirees may find enjoyable. Since there

is already a large population of seniors in Florida, businesses cater to the older age group, which in turn

provides many services in the area for seniors. An example of this is the large amount of theme parks in the

Orlando area. During peak times, these parks are busy tourist traps. However, for much of the year retirees and

their families can hang out at these parks. Ryan Gehl, the son of Tom and Loreen, loves taking his kids down to

Florida to visit his parents. “We used to love spending the holidays in Nebraska with my family, but visiting

them in Florida is much better.” The living conditions that Florida can provide seniors are improving by the day,

and are a driving force behind the mass migration to Florida.

Another thing to keep in mind while evaluating why retirees flock to Florida is the lack of a state income

tax. Seven states in the U.S. don’t impose an income tax on residents, and Florida is certainly the most

appealing out of them. To be a resident of Florida, the law requires that one lives there for a minimum of 6

months per year, which is an easy mark to hit for snowbirds and full time residents alike. For some retirees, the

lack of an income tax in Florida can make the move a profitable decision, which for all intents and purposes is

more than enough to make the move. For others, it’s at least a bonus. Either way, tax cuts are a big enough

reason alone to look at Florida as a place to retire.

 There are certainly some drawbacks to the living conditions in Florida, especially for seniors. Florida is

a violent state with no shortage of crazy drug users and criminals. In 2018, 1,107 murders occured in Florida,

which was 3rd highest in the nation. There are also major infrastructure problems throughout the state. Some

attribute the issues to poor planning and execution while others attribute them to a lack of income tax. As Tom

remarks, “The lack of good infrastructure in Florida is not a cause of a lack of funds, there is plenty of money

generated from tourism. The highways are so bad because of the planning.” The road situation is a nightmare.

There is one major interstate in Florida, I-4, and it was named the most dangerous highway in America by a

GPS company called Teletrac Navman. Using federal data, the GPS company found out that I-4 is a deadly road

that has 1.25 fatalities per mile. This can be extremely problematic for seniors that may have moved to Florida

mainly for safety from weather. As Loreen attests, “The traffic on I-4 is miserable year round.” Florida isn’t all

sunshine and rainbows, but it seems like the drawbacks don’t seem to affect the amount of retirees moving to

Florida every day.

Tom and Loreen seem content about their decision. “We love it down here,” Tom remarks. “Every day is

a beautiful day in the sunshine state.” Loreen seems equally happy. “I get to work out every day, and the

weather is almost always perfect.” For these retirees, the decision to move to Florida was a quick one that

yielded joy for themselves, joy for their family, and some always welcome tax benefits. If the state of Florida

remains this enjoyable for retirees, there’s no telling how many of them will continue to move to the peninsula.