7 Cities Boomers Rank as Their Least Favorites — Could They Be Good for Your Retirement?
Written by
John Csiszar
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Baby boomers are currently between 60 and 78 years old, meaning the vast majority of them have either retired or are right on the cusp. Thus, the cities they choose to live in generally appeal to the retiree mindset. Generally speaking, this means they prefer towns that have nice weather and plenty of activities that interest seniors.
While there have been many surveys about which towns retirees prefer to live in, there aren’t nearly as many about which cities baby boomers tend to avoid. To that end, YouGov.com compiled data on cities that are the least favored by boomers. Each of the cities listed below has a favorability rating of 35% or less with boomers, according to YouGov.com.
If you’re considering where you should live during your retirement, this list could be helpful in two ways. On the one hand, it could warn you that you might not want to live in these cities. On the other, it might provide an opportunity to pick up an affordable home or enjoy a lower cost of living, as seniors haven’t flooded the area and driven up prices. Retirement is a personal choice, and it’s up to you to determine which type of city is the best match for you.
Columbus, Ohio
- Boomer positive rating: 34%
- Median age of residents: 33.3 years
If you’re a fan of college football, Columbus might be a great place to retire, as it’s the home of the storied Ohio State Buckeyes. But it’s not exactly the dream locale of most boomers. The college town has a low median age, and its year-round weather isn’t exactly ideal. According to WeatherSpark, Columbus has long, warm and humid summers to go with cold, snowy and windy winters, and it’s generally partly cloudy year-round.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Boomer positive rating: 33%
- Median age of residents: 35.8 years
Tulsa has lots going for it, from its location on the Arkansas River to its art deco architecture and its proud housing of the Oklahoma State University. But boomers aren’t falling over themselves to live there, with only one-third giving it a positive rating. Perhaps the hail, thunderstorms and tornadoes that can be commonplace over the summer are steering them away to more pleasant climes.
Long Beach, New York
- Boomer positive rating: 31%
- Median age of residents: 44.3 years
Long Beach has its namesake picturesque beach and plenty of activities for seniors, but it’s the cost of living that seems to doom it in terms of boomer popularity. According to the Council for Community and Economic Research, Long Beach is one of the most expensive cities in the United States, ranking No. 15 out of 273 cities, with a cost of living 35.2% above the national average. The average home value, according to Zillow, is $813,905, more than twice as much as the national average.
Detroit
- Boomer positive rating: 30%
- Median age of residents: 35.3 years
Perhaps it’s not surprising that Detroit doesn’t rank highly on the list of destinations for boomers, as the city as a whole is still recovering from decades of job losses, population decline and even a bankruptcy filing. But those looking for cheap housing — and a possible investment opportunity — might look at buying a home in Detroit, where prices rose 8.2% over the past year but still remain at an incredibly low $74,882, according to Zillow.
Fresno, California
- Boomer positive rating: 25%
- Median age of residents: 32.4 years
Fresno lies roughly in the center of California, in the heart of agricultural country. It doesn’t really scream “boomer lifestyle,” as the median age of residents is quite low, the poverty rate exceeds 22%, and its agricultural nature puts it fairly far from the ocean or the mountains. However, Fresno does offer all the amenities that most big cities do, and those willing to drive a few hours can still reach the unspoiled glory of Yosemite National Park.
Oakland, California
- Boomer positive rating: 24%
- Median age of residents: 38.7 years
Boomers are decidedly sour on the idea of living in Oakland, with less than one-quarter viewing it positively. The double whammy of high crime and high expenses may be hurting the city’s popularity in the eyes of boomers. Oakland has a crime incidence of 80.78 per 1,000 residents — the highest of any city on this list — but still has a cost of living 40% higher than the national average, according to Payscale.
New Philadelphia, Ohio
- Boomer positive rating: 15%
- Median age of residents: 42.8 years
Most Americans aren’t likely familiar with New Philadelphia, Ohio, a small community of just 8 square miles in size. Unfortunately for the city, however, it ranks dead last in terms of popularity among boomers, with a shockingly low 15% approval rate. Part of the reason may be that the small town of just 17,000 residents doesn’t offer enough amenities to appeal to retirees.
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