Research suggests baby boomers are branching out to new regions

Despite popular belief, a recent analysis of government data by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals that the geographic distribution of households headed by someone age 55 or older is fairly even across most of the country, with more than 30 percent of all households in every state meeting this description. The study sheds valuable light on a key statistic for housing demand among active adults, as NAHB's long-term forecast indicates that the share of 55+ households will grow every year through 2019, when the 55+ category will account for nearly 45 percent of all U.S. households.

"As more baby boomers approach retirement and the average age of the U.S. population increases, many businesses--including home builders--are showing increased interest in designing products that appeal to customers 55 and older," said Paul Emrath, NAHB's vice president of survey and housing policy research. "This research shows that 55+ developments should be possible in every state where population density is sufficient to support new communities of a size that can provide a variety of attractive amenities."