Disparities in Residential Mobility Outcomes Among Older Adults in the United States

The older population in the United States is growing rapidly, yet their residential mobility patterns are understudied. Using the confidential version of the American Community Survey, this study examines variations in residential mobility outcomes across population subgroups, focusing on racial/ethnic and educational groups. Findings reveal disparities among older adult households: households of color and less-educated households often relocate to high-poverty areas, while non-Hispanic whites and college-educated households move to low-poverty areas. These trends highlight residential mobility’s role in perpetuating neighborhood inequality and underscore the need for improved neighborhood quality and accessibility for older adults, whether relocating or aging in place.