The 2025 55+ Housing Survey asked 1,292 potential homebuyers interested in active adult communities about what they’re looking for in a new home, community, and real estate agent, as well as other relevant questions.
After a few recovery years following the COVID-19 pandemic, people are more determined than ever to seize the moment and make the most of their lives. Therefore, it should be no surprise that the same mentality has entered 55+ housing, with most active adults planning a move within the next few years.
To find out what people 55+ want, 55places conducted our National Housing Survey to determine homebuyer sentiment on a variety of topics. Continue reading to learn more about the survey’s key takeaways and trends in 55+ housing.
Key Takeaways
- The top reason for moving is the desire for a 55+ community (53%), followed by those who desire a new location (51%).
- Over one-third (38%) of people outright prefer to only move to an age-restricted community.
- 48% of people feel the current economic conditions have had no effect on their attitude toward buying a home.
- Those 55+ want to remain active, with 64% noting interest in health and fitness groups within communities.
- 69% of those 55+ are at least considering moving to a new state
The Rise of Community: The Leading Reason People 55+ Choose to Move
With the majority (69%) of respondents preparing to buy their next home over renting, we want to see what’s causing them to look for new homes. 53% of respondents say the top reason they plan to move is because they desire to live in a 55+ community.
Another reason why older adults want to move is to live in a new location. Of the 51% who desire to move to a new location, the top reasons include being near family and friends, better weather, job opportunities, and more.
Those 55+ know what their priorities are and have accelerated their moving plans. Over half (52%) of seniors plan to move in the next 12 months to begin their next chapter.
What hasn’t changed over the past few years is that the most popular state of interest is still sunny and warm Florida, which has increased by 80% from pre-pandemic 2019 to 2025.
Notably, 10% more people are not planning to move to a new state in 2025 (31%) compared to those who responded to the 2020 National Housing Survey (21%). While active adults plan to move into new homes, not all are completely relocating.
Looking for the right new location for you? Discover some of the top states and regions for 55+ housing in the 55places 2025 Active Adult Housing Trends data study.
Living Near Family Isn’t as Important as Nine Years Ago
Despite being the top reason why older adults want to live in a new location, living near family and friends has actually decreased in popularity over the past nine years.
Previously unpublished proprietary data from 55place’s 2016 National Housing Survey showed that 34% of respondents said it was very to extremely important to live within 100 miles of their family. Now, in 2025, only 21% of respondents say they plan to move to a new location to be closer to family–creating a 13% change in consumer sentiment over the nine years.
Some reasons why older adults don’t want to move closer to family include maintaining their independence and having more social interactions among their peers than with family.
Age Matters: Over One-Third of 55+ People Will Only Move to an Age-Restricted Community
With 38% of respondents outright preferring to live in an age-restricted 55+ community, this style of living is becoming increasingly popular among retirees moving into their next chapter. As a comparison, in our 2019 National Housing Survey, less than 1% of respondents said an age-restricted community would be the only place they’d move. Age restrictions come with the perks of less noise and being surrounded by people with similar interests.
As 55places CEO Bill Ness said:
“Most of the residents who reside in 55+ age-restricted communities relish the idea of living in a community where all of the homes, amenities, activities, and lifestyle are specifically tailored to their needs and preferences. Many of the residents lived most of their adult lives catering to the needs and wants of their children, and now they are excited to really get back to living life on their terms by being able to do whatever they want, whenever they want.”
While searching for your new home, one of the questions you should consider is how important age restrictions are to you. Community life is still a popular choice, even for those who haven’t decided if they want to reside in one with age restrictions. Nearly half of respondents, 46%, said they would live in either an age-restricted or non-age-restricted community.
Provided with the definition of active adult communities as an age-restricted neighborhood that provides homes, amenities, and a lifestyle that appeals to those 55 and older, an overwhelming 96% of respondents said they were at least somewhat likely to choose their home in an active adult community.
Economy and Interest Rates Aren’t Stopping Active Adults From Moving
The economy directly impacts the housing market, including interest rates and buyer sentiment. When looking at our 55+ Housing Survey responses, we found that 48% of people aged 55+ feel the current economic conditions have not affected their attitude toward buying a home.
Of those who felt no effect on their attitude toward buying a home because of the current economy, 57% of respondents said that interest rates have had no impact on their plans to move.
According to 55places Chief Revenue Officer Chad Walker:
“I’m encouraged by the findings of our recent survey. This speaks volumes about the confidence and stability within the 55+ demographic. Many of our active adult customers demonstrate their strong equity positions and financial preparedness. Despite broader economic uncertainties, this group remains focused on their next move, highlighting their resilience and long-term commitment to securing their ideal living spaces.”
Following those who felt no effect from the current economy, 46% of respondents expressed negative feelings toward buying a home because of current economic conditions. However, with U.S. consumer sentiment (tracked by the University of Michigan) increasing in December 2024 for the fifth consecutive month, this may positively change heading into 2025.
Despite the current economic sentiment toward buying a new home, 20% of people 55+ are waiting for interest rates to drop before actually buying.
This is likely due to how older adults plan to pay for their next home. In our survey about buying a home, 38% of respondents plan to pay with cash, while 26% plan to take out a mortgage, and 28% aren’t sure how they’ll pay yet.
Of those who plan to take out a mortgage for their next home, a fixed-rate mortgage is favored.
Active Adults Are Making Health and Fitness a Priority
People who are 55+ want to stay active, and we discovered in our Retirement Concerns Survey that health and wellness matter more to 55+ adults than personal finances. This was upheld in our findings in this year’s housing survey, as 64% of respondents stated they are interested in community health and fitness groups—an increase from the 2020 National Housing Survey, where 51% of respondents identified athletic groups as the top activity of interest.
Fitness groups of interest include activities like jogging, walking, hiking, biking, Weight Watchers, yoga, and more.
When looking at the most important community amenities, it’s even clearer that people over 55 want to be active and outdoors. According to the National Library of Medicine, 55+ adults will experience fewer symptoms of depression, better mental clarity, and increased range of motion when they perform regular physical activity. The top three community amenities of importance identified by our 55+ housing survey are a fitness center (58%), an outdoor pool (52%), and an outdoor walking/running trail (49%).
Adults 55+ Are Considering Long-Distance Moves
Over two-thirds (69%) of respondents said they are open to or plan to move to a new state. Among the top states of interest for survey-takers are Florida (34%), South Carolina (26%), and North Carolina (24%). Florida is often a popular option among retirees because there is no state income tax on earnings, including Social Security.
These top three may come as no surprise as they are popular snowbird destinations where many active adults spend their winters. If you’re among those 55+ interested in moving to one of these locations, you can always visit and rent as a snowbird to see if the community and surrounding region meet your needs long-term.
Compared to the states of interest in our 2020 National Housing Survey, in 2025, there was more interest in moving to northeast states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, while interest in western states like Nevada and Texas has waned since 2020.
Despite all the interest in moving to a new state, nearly one-third of respondents (31%) said they do not plan on moving to a new state and instead plan to stay in their current state of residence. This means that they will likely look for 55+ community housing options closer to home rather than a complete relocation.
Conclusion
While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many people’s priorities over the past few years, 2025 will usher in a year of decision-making for those 55+ who desire to move into their next home sooner rather than later. The fact that 61% of 55+ housing survey respondents expect to have moved to a new home, condo, or apartment and left their previous residence within three years highlights the importance of this priority.
55places is here to help you with your next move. We work with expert local real estate agents to help you find the right community for your wants and needs.
Methodology
This survey was conducted by SurveyMonkey Audience for 55places. The survey occurred between November 3, 2024, and November 26, 2024. The results are based on 1,292 total responses and 954 completed surveys. Respondents were recruited through 55places emails, newsletters, and a website banner. Data is unweighted, and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.
