Retirement Towns Facing the Biggest Population Declines

Is California on its way out as a hot retirement destination? All signs point to yes, according to a new study from GOBankingRates ranking the nation’s top retirement towns with the greatest decline in age 65+ population. Seven California retirement towns received mentions in the top 50, accounting for 14% of the ranking and the most towns in any state.

GOBankingRates determined the retirement towns with the largest senior population decline by analyzing places with a population percentage of at least 20% for age 65 and over and total populations of at least 5,000. Each location’s five-year quantity and percentage change in senior population was calculated. All retirement towns are organized from largest to smallest decrease in population age 65 and over.

• A New Mexico town — Truth or Consequences — ranked first with a 25% population decline. Four New Mexico retirement towns, including Ruidoso (#8), Los Ranchos de Albuquerque (#12) and Raton (#33), also ranked in the top 50 for their free-falling retirement populations.
• The top five towns experienced 65+ population declines of more than 21% over a five-year span. They are Truth or Consequences, North Hills (New York), Oak Brook (Illinois), Fort Myers Beach (Florida) and East Cleveland (Ohio).
• Seven California towns ranked for their decreasing ages 65+ populations, the most out of any state. The cities are La Habra Heights (#21), Big Bear Lake (#25), Coronado (#26), Rancho Mirage (#28), Woodside (#32), Half Moon Bay (#39) and Tiburon (#44). 
• Fort Myers Beach (#4), Flagler Beach (#15) and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea (#49) are the only three Florida cities to crack the top 50. Florida accounts for 6% of the 50 total towns with declining senior populations, reinforcing the Sunshine State’s popularity as a retirement hot spot.

Ranked from highest to lowest percentage decrease, these 50 retirement towns have seen the most significant population declines.

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 0.97%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -25%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 22.5%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 30.3%
• Livability score: 70

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -3.9%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -23.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 36.7%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 46.1%
• Livability score: 70

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -1.16%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -22.8%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 30.2%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 38.7%
• Livability score: 75

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -20.4%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -21.2%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 55.1%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 55.6%
• Livability score: 69

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -21.1%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -21.1%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 21.3%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 21.3%
• Livability score: 67

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -2.17%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -20.2%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 24.1%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 29.6%
• Livability score: 78

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 0.72%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -19.8%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.2%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 25.4%
• Livability score: 62

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -0.72%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -19.6%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 25.5%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 31.5%
• Livability score: 64

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -13.4%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -19.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 36.2%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 39%
• Livability score: 75

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -2.15%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -17.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 21.5%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 25.5%
• Livability score: 71

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 2.11%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -16.7%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 26.9%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 33%
• Livability score: 67

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -4.27%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -16.6%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 23.9%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 27.5%
• Livability score: 67

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -10.24%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -16.4%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 21.1%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 22.6%
• Livability score: 60

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -0.49%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -16%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 21.2%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 25.1%
• Livability score: 64

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 6.15%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -13.8%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 32.2%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 39.7%
• Livability score: 78

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 6.27%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -13.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 27.4%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 33.7%
• Livability score: 70

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 2.55%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -13.2%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.2%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 23.8%
• Livability score: 83

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 16.48%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -13%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 21.5%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 28.8%
• Livability score: 70

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -8.29%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -12.8%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 23.5%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 24.7%
• Livability score: 66

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 7.85%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -12.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 24.6%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 30.3%
• Livability score: 82

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 3.03%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -12.4%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 24%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 28.2%
• Livability score: 53

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 3.48%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -11.8%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 28.5%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 33.5%
• Livability score: 60

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 1.23%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -11.6%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.4%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 23.4%
• Livability score: 74

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -9.53%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -11.1%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.2%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 20.6%
• Livability score: 70

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -3.65%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -10.6%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.7%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 22.4%
• Livability score: 63

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -21.4%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -9.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 22.7%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 19.7%
• Livability score: 70

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 3.66%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -9.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.5%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 23.4%
• Livability score: 71

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -3.87%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -9.1%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 49.9%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 52.8%
• Livability score: 49

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -5.05%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -9.1%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 29.1%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 30.4%
• Livability score: 73

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 3.6%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.9%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.3%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 23.1%
• Livability score: 60

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -8.1%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.9%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 20.2%
• Livability score: 68

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -6.5%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.9%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 22.7%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 23.2%
• Livability score: 61

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -2.15%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.7%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 24.4%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 26.1%
• Livability score: 71

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -0.76%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.7%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 28.6%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 31.1%
• Livability score: 85

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 2.89%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.64%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.6%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 23.2%
• Livability score: 84

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 4.15%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.6%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 22.1%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 25.2%
• Livability score: 85

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -4.58%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.3%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 27.9%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 29%
• Livability score: 74

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -0.28%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.2%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 23.5%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 25.6%
• Livability score: 80

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -9.85%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8.1%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 21.8%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 21.4%
• Livability score: 77

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -4%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -8%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.3%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 21.2%
• Livability score: 76

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 5.68%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -7.95%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 21.2%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 24.4%
• Livability score: 58

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 0.48%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -7.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.6%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 22.4%
• Livability score: 70

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -0.72%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -7.1%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 23.1%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 24.7%
• Livability score: 68

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -1.27%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -6.9%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 24.6%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 26.1%
• Livability score: 70

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -0.53%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -6.84%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 25%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 26.7%
• Livability score: 80

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 2.54%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -6.8%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 22%
• Livability score: 79

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 0.13%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -6.8%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 28.5%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 30.6%
• Livability score: 64

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 1.03%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -6.73%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 21.6%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 23.4%
• Livability score: 73

• Total population 5-year percentage change: -6.60%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -6.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 45.1%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 45.1%
• Livability score: 70

• Total population 5-year percentage change: 5.73%
• Population ages 65+ 5-year percentage change: -6.5%
  • 2023 population ages 65+: 20.9%
  • 2018 population ages 65+: 23.6%
• Livability score: 62

Read more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.

Editor’s note: Photos are for illustrative purposes only. In many cases, the closest major city was used.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed retirement towns to find the places with the largest decline in population ages 65 and over. Retirement towns are cities with a population percent of at least 20% for age 65 and over and a total population of at least 5,000, as sourced from the U.S. Census 2023 and 2018 American Community Survey, along with the total households and household median income. The 5-year quantity and percent change in total population and population ages 65 and over were calculated for each location. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and included as supplemental information. The retirement towns were then sorted to show the largest percentage decrease in population ages 65 and over. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Aug. 19, 2025.