Comparisons Across Three Race/Ethnic Groups in Rural Retirement Counties

Abstract

This chapter examines similarities and differences in the retirement migration process for Blacks, Whites and Hispanics. Using a national-level net migration file, I compare and contrast the types of nonmetropolitan counties with high positive net migration for these three groups. Overall, destination counties tend to be quite different for these groups, with relatively few overlaps. Counties with high net migration rates for Whites are more likely to be amenity-rich counties focusing on recreational activities, whereas both Black and Hispanic high net migration gain counties are often in the respective areas of long-term settlement for each group. Other major county factors investigated include the extent to which high elderly migration gain is associated with gain for the younger population, and measures of location with respect to metropolitan areas, and socioeconomic status. An important variable for all three groups turned out to be the presence of recreational activities in the county. Because we are necessarily dealing here with the properties of areas, inferences about individuals must be made very cautiously. In the discussion section, I consider post-2000 trends.