Move Over Florida, Retirees Now Flocking to Texas

The Lone Star State is drawing in retirees based on some very welcoming attractions, including the low cost of living, and no income tax.

The state of Florida is filled with retirees, retirement communities and early-bird meals. But retirees are finding the pastures greener in great big Texas. The LA Times reports that towns like Galveston on the Gulf Coast are being inundated with older people because it offers them some of the nation's lowest housing prices, gas prices and food. It has no income tax, and is one of the strongest economies in the nation. Some of the influx may be coming from Florida. The sunny state revealed its population figures this week, showing a drop of 57-thousand people over the past year. Texas officials predict they will have a boost in their population of 25 million this year of at least 150-thousand people from other states. State demographer, Karl Eschbach says,

"Seniors are a growing part of that trend, lured by aggressive campaigns from state officials and developers."

But naysayers warn that retirees will have to endure some hardships along with the many advantages. Among them, poverty, highway gridlock, crime and unbearable humidity. And parts of Texas that run along the Gulf Coast are susceptible to violent weather, like Hurricanes. But retirees who settle in Florida with its own hurricanes and California with its threats of earthquakes, say they are willing now to take a chance on a different, if more affordable type of community. Two years ago, a one-bedroom condo with a view of the Gulf of Mexico could be had for $130.000. Texas offers a cap on property taxes for seniors, keeping the payments low. For seniors on Social Security or other retirement income, any annual cost-of-living adjustments are the same nationwide, so their income will go further where prices are lower. For health care, seniors can use the University of Texas Medical Branch, or driving a hour west, you reach Houston. with its world-class medical facilities And let's not forget how close Mexico is to Texas. Retirees cross the bridge outside McAllen into Nuevo Progreso, where they can buy medicines at half the price. A huge downside for seniors moving to Texas is that if you don't drive, you won't be able to get around. Big cities in Texas don't have good public transportation. So, that means using taxis or not going anywhere. With all this going on, Texas is expected to be at the top of the list for job growth in the next few years. The Brookings Institute's demographer William Frey finds that in the past decade, the 10-fastest growing metros are in Texas.

"I think Texas has been attracting many seniors in large numbers and has many amenities along with low living costs which lure them,"

Lone Star boosters find fertile ground in California. Last year, more than 82-thousand people moved from California to Texas.