More from the article...

... We looked at the states retirees have increasingly favored in the last decade.

At the same time, we also wanted to analyze whether their choices line up with the retirement cities that are growing most and where retirees are most likely to find a balance of friends, fun, affordability, and healthcare access.

What did we find?

While traditional retirement states are out, that doesn't mean that Grandma and Grandpa are staying home to help. They're moving to escape, chasing locations better known for hiking trails than beaches and bunko nights. And while their choices are increasingly favoring off-the-beaten-track states known for big nature and recreation, some current top cities and growing future hubs for the elderly can be found in traditional retirement playgrounds, where sunny skies and tee times reign.

Key Takeaways

- - - Nontraditional Wyoming has the steepest positive in-move trend among over-65s, with a retiree growth rate ~76% higher than #2 South Carolina and ~105% higher than #3 Idaho.

- - - Florida's out (along with Arizona and Nevada). Each is in the bottom ten states for 65 to 74-year-old out-of-staters moving in.

- - - In spite of the state's waning popularity, Peoria, AZ, is the fastest-growing retirement destination per capita. It also offers the best balance of affordability, an established retiree community, and a range of amenities. ...