Small Towns Vs Big Cities
Retirement should be about enjoying life - not dodging traffic, stressing out over rent, or dealing with obnoxious noisy neighbors. So now more and more seniors are packing up and heading out of the big city, and they often give one of these 20 reasons as to why they’re leaving.
The Cost of Living Is Just Too High
City prices can make your retirement savings feel like nothing. Between rent, groceries, parking fees, and surprise expenses like a broken appliance, big-city living can have a terrible effect on your bank account. In small towns, things are just less expensive.
Traffic Is a Daily Headache
Getting around used to be exciting, but now it’s just exhausting. Endless traffic jams, anxiety-inducing aggressive drivers, and crowded public transit can make a simple trip to the store feel like you’re at war. Many seniors are moving to quieter places where doing an everyday task isn’t so hard.
Noise Never Stops
Cities are noisy, and there’s simply no way around that. But when you're trying to enjoy a quiet retirement, the constant background noise can wear you down. Seniors are looking for places where they can hear the birds and sleep isn’t interrupted by jerks partying till early in the morning.
Safety Concerns Keep Growing
Unfortunately, some city neighborhoods don’t feel as safe as they used to. Rising crime rates are prompting many seniors to pack up and seek out towns where they feel more secure. It’s a good idea to lock your windows and have a burglar alarm wherever you live, though.
Crowds Everywhere
In big cities, you’re never really alone. Some people like that, but some other people really don’t. Seniors are often looking for more breathing room and less chaos. Smaller towns offer space to slow down and relax, where you could go whole days only seeing your nearest neighbors.
Family Lives Elsewhere
Kids and grandkids are growing up in different places, often far from city centers. Many seniors move to be closer to family, especially when grandchildren are in the picture. Of course, there’s always Zoom calls when you live far apart, but for many that’s just not enough.
Downsizing Makes Sense
Big-city homes can be large, expensive, and full of stuff that you’ve accumulated over the course of a lifetime but don’t need anymore. Seniors are now embracing minimalism and moving to smaller homes in smaller towns. Usually, they’re less stressful.
Parking Is a Nightmare
Parking in the city can make you question your life choices. There’s just so many cars vying for parking space, it gets ridiculous. So many seniors are saying goodbye now to parallel parking battles and embracing the free driveway at a small-town home.
Health Care Is Easier to Navigate Elsewhere
It might sound backwards, but some people report that in smaller communities, medical care is actually a lot better. Long waits and crowded hospital lobbies in the big city are enough to get some people to move across the country, even. After all, you can’t put a price on your health.
Weather Woes
Some cities have harsh winters or boiling hot summers that become harder to handle with age. Icy sidewalks and heatwaves aren’t fun when you’re older and can’t move around as well. And that’s not even getting into hurricanes – many people move just to get away from that threat.
Taxes Are Too High
City living often comes with a big tax bill - property taxes, sales taxes, local surcharges - it all adds up. Seniors without a lot of money are relocating to places with lower taxes so their money goes further and they can afford to buy things they actually want.
They Want a Slower Pace
The fast-paced city lifestyle is for young people working on their hustle, not retirees with mobility issues. Seniors are trading in the chaos and urgency for laid-back living in small towns, where people take time to chat with their neighbors in the grocery store.
Housing Is Hard to Maintain
In many cities, seniors live in older buildings or high-rises that aren’t easy to navigate or maintain. Elevators break, and how can you take the stairs if you have mobility issues? Moving to a single-level home in a quieter area can be a huge relief.
They Crave Nature
Big-city parks are an oasis of calm in amongst the skyscrapers, but sometimes people want more than just an oasis. Seniors are leaving the concrete jungle for places with real trees, lakes, mountains, or just a backyard with a garden.
Community Feels Stronger in Small Towns
City life can be isolating, even when you’re surrounded by people – it’s one of the curious paradoxes of our era. Seniors often say they feel more connected in small towns, where neighbors wave at you and people know your name.
Noise From Neighbors
Apartment living in the city is entirely dependent on how good your neighbors are. If they’re terrible people who play the drums all night, who could blame you for wanting to leave? Seniors just want peace and quiet on the other side of the wall.
They Want to Start Fresh
Retirement is a new chapter in life, and for some, that means a fresh start in a new town. Leaving behind the noise and chaos of city life opens the door to discovering new hobbies, new friends, and even new romantic relationships in calmer settings.
Public Transit Isn’t Always Senior-Friendly
While cities brag about how great their buses and trains are, the truth is more nuanced. Public transport just isn’t designed with older folks in mind – think of all those steep steps. Seniors are moving to towns where everything is easier to access by car, or even on foot.
Homelessness and Urban Decay
Many cities are struggling with visible homelessness and urban decay, which can be heartbreaking and stressful to witness daily. Seniors want to feel uplifted in their surroundings, and some are choosing cleaner towns where they can feel happier.
Big City Life Just Doesn’t Feel Like “Home” Anymore
Over time, the city you once loved can start to feel unfamiliar. Favorite spots close down, the skyline changes, and maybe money issues make themselves obvious. It can be sad to be surrounded by emptiness in that way, so some seniors cut their losses and move away.
