Senior Spotlight: Retirees & Rural America
This demographic trend is an exception to the rule that rural counties are losing residents.
Did you know that Baby Boomers are bringing wealth, a demand for services, job opportunities and mini population ‘booms’ to select rural counties? Those seeking fresh air, adventure, a lower cost of living, temperate weather, a low-stress community atmosphere & a higher quality of in their later years are focusing in on a few select areas that offer just that!
In actuality, rural counties as a whole lost residents from 2010-2020. In fact, National Geographic Reports that rural counties account for 98% of the country but are home to only 25% or less of the population. However, a small number of rural US counties are experiencing population growth at a faster clip than the rest of the nation according to the 2020 Census.
The map below represents the fastest growing rural counties in the United States.
Baby Boomers who choose to trade city life for immersion in the great outdoors are not just improving their own quality of life. The local economies benefit from an increased demand in goods & services which creates jobs and revenue in the areas of hospitality, retail, home construction, schools and hospitals.
While the prospect of a rural retirement sounds like a win-win for residents and the desired destinations, there are important considerations for what this setting offers and what it may lack. Next Avenue published a helpful article last year on “The Pros and Cons of Retiring to a Rural Area.” Considerations such as healthcare access, socialization opportunities, exercise classes and delivery service options can be impacted by how rural your community is and how far you are from urban areas.
Resources Used:
Adventurous Boomers Retire In The Great Outdoors
Rural Area: National Geographic
The Pros and Cons of Retiring to a Rural Area
Have you ever considered a rural retirement? What excites you the most about it?
I’d love to hear!
Bobbi
Bobbi Decker
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