Wilmington- Sports fans are familiar with the concept of a “Cinderella.” We find inspiration in watching a team come from seemingly out of nowhere to take on the big boys.
But sports do not have a monopoly on the Cinderella concept. The underdog story can be found in any walk of life, including in the competition between states fighting over retirees.
Every state wants people to relocate in their direction. These are folks moving in with disposable income that will boost the economy. And statistically speaking, (at least between the ages of 62 to 85,) they really aren’t much of a burden on a state budget. They don’t need schools, or public transportation, or housing. Every time a retiree relocates it’s a big win/win for their new state.
And in this competition, in 2023, North Carolina was home to America’s Cinderella story.
Numbers released this month from the US Department of Commerce rank the Tarheel State as the second most popular destination for retirees.
You already know what state finished on the top. For decades now Florida has dominated the retirement game. You can probably even guess some of the other states that ranked high on the list. If you said Arizona, Georgia, Texas and Alabama, you’d be correct.
But few people would have guessed North Carolina. Just two years ago in 2020 the state didn’t even rank in the top 15 most popular retirement destinations. It edged into the top ten in 2021, and jumped all the way to second highest spot last year.
In all 234,000 retirees relocated to a new state in 2022. Of those 11.9% moved to Florida, 9.6% moved to North Carolina. Michigan, Arizona and Georgia round out the top 5 with each of those states gaining roughly 6%. Check out the entire rankings here.
The study doesn’t break down exactly where in North Carolina the retirees moved to, but a similar study last year found almost an even split between locations in the mountains and those near the Carolina Coast.
If you’re looking for a retirement destination and North Carolina is on your list, last year we published a report on some of the most popular cities and towns in the state where people are moving. JFB and our relocation experts would love to help you in adventure.