Regional retirement migration: the case of Cape Cod

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Migration Studies

Background:

• Understanding retirement migration patterns is crucial for regional planning and resource allocation.
• Older adults' migration decisions are influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including proximity and familiarity.
• Regional retirement migration presents unique challenges and opportunities compared to long-distance moves.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the primary reasons for regional retirement migration to destinations like Cape Cod.
• To identify key differences among various groups of regional retirement migrants.
• To examine the role of migration distance in maintaining continuity for older adults.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of microlevel data from the Cape Cod Retirement Migration Study.
• Qualitative and quantitative assessment of migrant motivations and destination attributes.
• Comparative analysis of intrastate versus interstate regional migrants.

Main Results:

• Cape Cod attracts older migrants due to familiarity, proximity to amenities, and nearness to previous residences.
• Regional moves facilitate life continuity, with intrastate migrants experiencing greater continuity than interstate migrants.
• Migration distance is a significant factor in the retirement migration process for older individuals.

Conclusions:

• Familiarity, amenity access, and proximity to former residences are key drivers of regional retirement migration.
• Regional migration, particularly intrastate, enables older adults to maintain continuity in their lives.
• The distance of migration is a critical variable for understanding older adult mobility patterns.