Retirement is a major life transition — for many, it’s the perfect time to consider a move and start fresh. Moving for retirement can open the door to new experiences, lower living costs, and offer better access to things like health care, family, and leisure.
But as exciting as that can be, relocating at this stage of life can also present unique challenges and decisions that require thoughtful planning. And it’s not just about where to move after retirement — it’s about considering what you want your daily life to look like for years to come.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key aspects of moving in retirement, including the benefits, the trade-offs, and tips for planning a smooth transition.
Should You Move After Retirement?
As you near retirement, the idea of relocating — whether that means downsizing, moving closer to family, or finding a warmer climate — often becomes more appealing. But if you overlook key considerations before your move, you might end up with some regrets. To help you make an informed decision, make sure to weigh the pros and cons.
Pros of Moving in Retirement
Moving from a high‑cost area to a more affordable one can reduce monthly expenses and help stretch retirement savings.
Without job constraints, you can explore a place that better matches your lifestyle.
Downsizing to a smaller home or moving to a retirement community often means less home maintenance and upkeep.
Moving in retirement allows you to specifically pick a home that’s better suited to your mobility needs (think single‑level, closer to transit options, etc.).
When you move, you get the opportunity to meet new people and explore a new place.
Cons of Moving in Retirement
Moving after retirement can be expensive. When you take into account the logistics of moving, particularly moving out of state, the cost savings might not materialize as expected.
Even if you’re moving to be closer to friends and family, you may feel the emotional cost of leaving your old friends and neighbors behind.
If you move far from your current doctors, you may struggle to build a new health care support network.
A vacation locale might not translate to comfortable everyday living. Weather extremes, cost of insurance, or fewer amenities could affect how you realistically enjoy your new home.
If you’re downsizing in the move, you may have to sacrifice guest space, storage, privacy, or personal room.
Is relocating in retirement a good idea? Ultimately, deciding whether to move in retirement is a personal choice and depends entirely on your priorities and circumstances. What might be an ideal move for one retiree could be a poor fit for another.
To determine if moving after retirement is right for you, start by assessing what matters most in this next chapter of life. Then ask yourself: Does your current home and location support those priorities, or would a different setting better align with your retirement needs?
What To Consider Before Moving in Retirement
Even if you’re fully intent on moving after retirement, make sure you account for these critical factors first.
Tax Rates and Retirement Income
Taxes have the potential to quietly erode your retirement income if you aren’t paying attention. While some states don’t tax retirement income or offer generous exemptions, others tax it heavily.
Before you move, figure out how your pension, Social Security, IRA/401(k) distributions, capital gains, and other income will be taxed (or exempted) in prospective states. If you want to be really prepared and tax-savvy, also look into property, sales, and estate taxes.
Cost of Living
Beyond tax analysis, compare your current costs (housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance) against your potential new home. Try modeling your monthly budget before committing on where to move after retirement.
What is the $1,000 a month rule for retirement? The $1,000 a month rule for retirement provides a quick benchmark for determining how much you might need to save to generate a specific level of monthly income in retirement. Essentially, the rule stipulates that for every $1,000 of monthly income you want, you should have at least $240,000 saved. So, if you want to have $3,000 to spend monthly, you would need a minimum of $720,000 in the bank. |
Climate and Weather
You might imagine spending winter mornings on a sunny porch or evenings in mild breezes — but climate sometimes affects comfort, health, and even costs. If you move somewhere extremely cold, hot, humid — or prone to natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, or floods — you'll want to ask yourself whether you’re comfortable with those tradeoffs. For instance, the town you want to move to might be gorgeous in spring, but brutal mid‑summer or in winter — so it’s wise to visit in multiple seasons before committing.
Access to Health Care
As you age, access to quality health care will likely be a top priority. Before moving for retirement, find out whether Medicare (or your insurance) works in that state or region, whether you’ll need to switch to a new plan, and how close you’ll be to the nearest health care facilities.
Note: Some Medicare Advantage or provider networks are regional and might not accept your old doctors.
Cost of Relocating
Moving isn’t free — there are upfront and ongoing costs. If your current house is fully paid off, you have a big financial cushion, but, as we already touched on, you’ll still face moving costs (packing and moving services, shipping, transport, insurance, labor). Plus, for your new home, you’ll likely have to pay for a deposit, closing costs, new furnishings, and utility hookups, among others.
Quality of Life
Moving in retirement might mean moving closer to the people and places you love — or it could mean being even further away. Regardless, moving will uproot your current schedule, social network, and community.
Once you’ve moved, it’ll take time to settle into new routines, new friendships, and a new sense of normalcy. If you’re moving with a spouse or partner, be sure they’re fully on board with the decision, whatever path you choose.
Deciding Where To Move After Retirement
Perhaps the biggest question of all isn’t whether to move in retirement, but where to go.
Pros and Cons of Moving to a Retirement Community
Moving to a retirement community can be a smart way to simplify your life and align your living situation with your evolving needs — especially if you’re interested in social engagement and maintenance‑free living. Here are some of the pros and cons to keep in mind.
Pros of Moving to a Retirement Community
Many retirement communities offer clubs, fitness programs, outings, and scheduled events that make staying connected easier.
Some communities either include medical services on the premises or have access to health care services close by.
Landscaping, repairs, housekeeping, and tasks that may become more challenging with age are typically handled for you.
Cons of Moving to a Retirement Community
Added costs like entrance fees, monthly dues, long‑term contracts, or deferred payments can add up and may reduce flexibility.
You may feel you’ve given up space, privacy, or freedom of choice regarding how and where you live.
Not all communities or peer groups will align with your interests and needs. You might miss your existing neighborhood, local friends, or familiar routines.
Best States To Move to in Retirement
Whether you opt for a retirement community or not, where to move after retirement is a huge decision, and each state has its own perks. Here, we’ll highlight the top five states to consider, many of which are home to some of the best cities for retirement across the country.
1. Florida
A perennial favorite for retirees, Florida offers no state income tax, meaning your Social Security and pension income go further. Add in warm weather, beautiful beaches, senior-friendly communities, and strong health care and social services, and it’s easy to see why so many are moving in retirement to Florida.
2. Wyoming
Wyoming also stands out for its ultra‑low tax burden (no state income tax, very low property taxes) and relatively affordable cost of living. It also offers wide open space, stunning natural beauty e.g., Yellowstone and Jackson Hole), and a slower pace if you’re planning a retirement move away from a big city.
3. South Dakota
South Dakota is another underrated contender, boasting one of the lowest tax burdens among all 50 states, along with a modest cost of living. South Dakota often appears on “best places to retire” lists. It may be a quieter choice, but it's a smart one for budget-conscious retirees.
4. Delaware
Thanks to favorable tax policies and good well‑being metrics (it has the lowest rate of poverty for people age 65 and up), Delaware is also one of the best places to move to in retirement. It offers a moderate climate, easy access to the Mid-Atlantic corridor, and the convenience of a smaller state (which makes everything close by and accessible).
5. New Hampshire
Last but not least, New Hampshire ranks among the highest for retirees in terms of safety, health care quality, and tax‑friendliness — with no state or income sales tax. It also boasts a scenic environment, four-season appeal, and an array of arts and entertainment.
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Planning a Retirement Move
Retirement may be right around the corner for you, or still several years out. Either way, it’s never too early to start planning ahead. Here’s the step-by-step process on how to prepare accordingly.
1. Decide what’s most important to you
As we already covered, deciding where you’ll retire is foundational — it influences everything from climate and cost of living to taxes, health care access, community, and overall lifestyle.
Start by listing a few locations that interest you, and if possible, spend at least a week in each. This will give you a better sense of what it’s like to actually live there full-time.
2. Downsize and declutter
If you’re moving into a smaller home or transitioning from a larger house to something more manageable, downsizing is critical.
Start sorting through your possessions well in advance, deciding what to keep, sell, donate, or discard. The fewer items you have, the less you’ll move (which lowers moving costs) and the easier the transition.
3. Create a timeline and a checklist
Having a clear timeline helps turn a big project into manageable steps. For a retirement move, that might mean deciding where to move one to two years out, then working through a detailed moving checklist to stay on track.
A timeline helps avoid stress and surprises — and ensures you’re not scrambling at the last minute. It also gives you breathing room to adjust if something changes.
4. Review your finances
Moving has real costs — and potential savings. While you might make money from selling your home or a few items around the house while decluttering, you’ll still want to set aside a full budget that accounts for packing and moving services, insurance/tax changes, and other contingency funds. Also, remember to review your savings and ongoing finances to ensure you’re set up for success in retirement in your new home.
5. Stay connected to family and friends
Moving typically means leaving familiar places and routines, so proactively building new ones — while keeping the old ones alive — helps keep the move from feeling isolating. Plan how you’ll stay in touch: consider regular visits, video calls, or joining clubs or groups in your new community that reflect your old interests.
Why Colonial Van Lines Is Great for Moving After Retirement
When planning a long-distance move for retirement, choosing a company that’s not only reliable but also experienced with interstate moving is essential. At Colonial Van Lines, our movers undergo hands-on training at Colonial Van Lines University, where they learn best practices for protecting both your belongings and your home during the packing, loading, and unloading process. And even after five decades of experience and 12,000 moves under our belts, we maintain a 96.5% customer satisfaction score.