Even as millennials and Gen Z buyers get a taste of homeownership, older generations still make up a large share of property owners.
Data from the latest American Community Survey from the US Census shows that people 65 and older own 34.1% of all owner-occupied housing units in the US. The Census also found that the same group — an estimated 61.2 million people — has a homeownership rate of 78.6%.
An analysis of Census data by the National Association of Home Builders mapped out where homeowners 65 years and older own the largest share.
“Given the outsized share of homes occupied by baby boomers, the release of this housing stock will have a significant effect on housing markets,” the report said. “However, the effect across regional markets will vary greatly depending on the prevalence of aging householders, migration patterns, and the severity of affordability constraints.”
Florida, unsurprisingly, has the most metro areas with 65-plus-year-old homeowners, anchored by warm weather and retirement communities like The Villages.
Save for Barnstable, Massachusetts, every metro listed is in a warm area. So if you’re looking to buy a home in one of these areas, prepare to live next door to someone of retirement age. Read on to see what areas are packed with older homeowners.
Population and median age were cited from Census Reporter, an independent website that uses data from the American Community Survey.
15. Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ metro area
Douglas, Arizona. DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
Share of households 65 and older: 41.0%
Population: 125,773
Median age: 42.8
14. Port St. Lucie, FL metro area
Port St. Lucie, Florida. felixmizioznikov/Getty Images
Share of households 65 and older: 41.0%
Population: 556,336
Median age: 47.4
13. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL metro area
Fort Myers, Florida. peeterv/Getty Images
Share of households 65 and older: 41.9%
Population: 860,959
Median age: 48.4
12. Santa Fe, NM metro area
Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dee Liu/Getty Images
Share of households 65 and older: 42.7%
Population: 157,765
Median age: 49.3
11. Ocala, FL metro area
Ocala, Florida. Michael Warren/Getty Images
Share of households 65 and older: 44.6%
Population: 428,905
Median age: 47.3
10. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL metro area
Sarasota, Florida. Robert Burnett/Getty Images
Share of households 65 and older: 46.1%
Population: 934,956
Median age: 53.7
9. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ metro area
Lake Havasu, Arizona. James Cross/Getty Images
Share of households 65 and older: 46.3%
Population: 226,479
Median age: 54.2
8. Sebring, FL metro area
Sebring, Florida. felixmizioznikov/Getty Images
Share of households 65 and older: 46.6%
Population: 109,778
Median age: 54.2
7. Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ metro area
Prescott Valley, Arizona. Allison Hahn Smith/Getty Images