Census 2021 Data Shows the Top 10 Places to Retire to

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The 2021 Census results have now been revealed. At Bird & Co we’ve analysed the first set of data released to find out where the 65+ age group are living now compared to when the last census took place in 2011.

According to the data, inner London and Medway are the most popular places to retire to, whilst Southampton and outer London are the least popular amongst the 65+ age group.

This is based on assessing the population in each area within the age groups of 0-19, 20-39, 40-64 and 65+ year olds, and comparing the percentages between 2011 and 2021.

The top 10 most popular counties to live amongst 65+ years in England and Wales, as well as the percentage increase of this age group here between 2011 and 2021, are:

Medway 15%
Inner London 15%
Plymouth 13%
Stoke-on-Trent 10%
Wiltshire 9%
City of Bristol 9%
Hampshire 8%
Bedford 7%
Nottingham 7%
Derbyshire 7%

You can read more about the stats behind these results here.

The 10 least popular places for 65+ year olds to live in England and Wales, as well as the percentage decrease of this age group here between 2011 and 2021, are:

Isle of Wight 10%
Rutland 9%
Cornwall 9%
Torbay 8%
Norfolk 5%
East Sussex 4%
Worcestershire 4%
Southend on Sea 4%
Outer London 3%
Southampton 3%

You can read more about the stats behind these results here.

A Breakdown of the Top Ten Most Popular Areas to Retire to

The over 65s are moving to inner London

When people imagine retirement, escaping the hustle and bustle of city life is one of the first ideas that springs to mind. Considering this, it’s rather surprising that inner London is now one of the most popular places with the 65+ age group.

Every local authority in inner London experienced an increase of the 65+ population, or remained the same, excluding Tower Hamlets which saw a 1% decrease.

The majority of local authorities in London saw a decrease of 0-19- and 20–30-year-olds. Due to expensive housing costs and the ability to work from home, many young people are choosing to leave the city.

Like inner London, Medway has seen a 15% increase amongst the 65+ age group between 2011 and 2021. The town has benefited from regeneration and investment over the last few years. With plenty of culture to offer, and only a short distance from London, Medway has quickly become a popular retirement destination.

Plymouth is the coastal hotspot for retirement

London life isn’t for everyone, and for those over 65+ year olds who prefer a coastal setting, properties in Plymouth are in high demand. There’s been a 13% increase in the over 65 age bracket living in Plymouth since the last census.

Other popular Southwest destinations for retirement include Bristol; boasting the perfect balance of city life and close by countryside to explore.

Another county that has experienced a notable increase in the over 65 population is Stoke-on-Trent. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Stoke-on-Trent has a plethora of tourist attractions that are perfect for retirees and remains an affordable location with an average house price of £147,697.

A Breakdown of The Least Popular Areas for the Over 65s

The Isle of Wight is now one of the least popular areas for the over 65s to live, the census data showed a decrease of 10% of over 65s-year-olds living here. This seems rather unexpected, since this picturesque location seems a worthy retirement destination.

Interestingly, this location is in fact becoming more popular with the younger generations. We’ve seen a 16% increase in the number of 20–39-year-olds moving to the Isle of Wight since 2011.

Norfolk has long been regarded as a retirement hot spot and yet data shows that the over 65s are leaving Norfolk, with a 5% population decrease for this age group.

It could be that the decrease for the 65+ group could be a result of the overall population in Norfolk increasing. Due to this, the percentages may have appeared to decrease when in reality the number of 65+ year old individuals living here may have gone up.

Unexpectedly, Cornwall also experienced a significant decrease of 9%, another destination that’s been historically popular for the older generations.

What is Influencing Where 65+ Year Olds are Choosing to Live?

The Census data reveals that many young people tend to be leaving expensive cities and moving to cheaper locations. Now that so many people can work from home, paying to live in expensive areas is no longer a necessity and the younger generations are taking advantage of this.

The over 65s tend to have accumulated more wealth compared to the generations below them. We’re noticing that this age group are increasingly taking up residence in expensive areas like London.

According to Plumplot the average house price in Inner London is a £733k. One of the most popular locations to move to for the 20-39 age group is the Isle of Wight, which has an average house price of £297k.

Consequently, house pricing may offer some explanation as to the population increases and decreases amongst these different age groups, in different locations.

Want to Move to the Popular Retirement Locations?

One thing’s for sure, the latest release of the census data has certainly revealed some surprises.

If you’re looking to move home and you need support with the conveyancing processes, ensure that you get in touch with our team at Bird and Co by calling 01476 591711.

If you prefer, head to birdandco.co.uk for a conveyancing quote. We look forward to helping you find your perfect home in a new and exciting location.

Our Methodology

The data throughout this article represents the Office for National Statistics 2022 and 2021 Census results.

To calculate the percentages for each location, we took the number of individuals who belonged to that age group and divided it by the total number of people living in that location. We calculated this for the 2021 data and the 2011 data.

Although this data was sourced via reputable sources, its interpretations are that of the Bird & Co researchers.

Data Sources

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