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In U.S. Census, Active Seniors Prefer the Suburbs of Metro Areas

Nine of the top 10 counties in the nation for recent active adult home construction are located in suburbs, showing the tendency of many older buyers to move just outside of metro areas.

“About three-quarters of the active adult communities that are built are in close-in suburbs or outer suburbs, although downtown areas are steadily gaining popularity,” said Bonnie Solomon, chair of the NAHB Seniors Housing Council and a vice president of several retirement communities in St. Louis and Kansas City, MO, and Atlanta. “Builders are simply responding to the market demand.”

No suburban area experienced greater growth than Sumter County, FL, which attracts buyers from the Orlando, Lakeland-Winterhaven, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater and Ocala metro areas. According to Census data, 44.9% of the 9,718 homes there that are occupied by people ages 55-74 were built from 1995 to 2000. Additionally, Sumter topped the list for recent home buyers ages 55-74, with 61.6% of all active adults in the county buying a new home during that same five-year span.

Nye County, NV, a Las Vegas suburb, also experienced unprecedented growth, ranking second in both categories. In all, 36.5% of the 4,763 homes there owned by people ages 55-74 were built from 1995 to 2000. Meanwhile, 57.6% of people in the county in that age group bought a new home.

Other counties that ranked high on both lists included Washington County, UT, located in the southwestern part of the state but drawing buyers from Provo-Orem and Salt Lake City; Pinal County, AZ, a Phoenix suburb; Beaufort County, SC, situated near Savannah, GA; and Archuleta County, CO, the only county in the top 10 not near a metro area.

This is the first time Census data has been used specifically to identify active adult housing trends. Although the data is from 2000, it’s the most up-to-date information available on the active adult market.

For more information on other U.S. counties, e-mail Jeff Jenkins or call him at 800-368-5242 x8292.

The top U.S. counties for recent active adult home buyers are:

1. Sumter County, FL
2. Nye County, NV
3. Archuleta County, CO
4. Washington County, UT
5. Collier County, FL
6. Summit County, CO
7. Pinal County, AZ
8. Beaufort County, SC
9. Yavapai County, AZ
10. Flagler County, FL

The top U.S. counties for recent active adult home construction are:

1. Sumter County, FL
2. Nye County, NV
3. McCormick County, SC
4. Greene County, GA
5. Douglas County, CO
6. Archuleta County, CO
7. Washington County, UT
8. Forsyth County, GA
9. Pinal County, AZ
10. Beaufort County, SC

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