The Wilmington area is becoming more of a retirement destination as the Cape Fear region competes with Florida for retirees.
A recent article from financial resource FinanceBuzz detailed how retirees are leaving major Florida cities for other states in the Southeast. Cities from South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama were listed as places where retirees are going instead of Florida -- as was Wilmington, North Carolina.
Moreover, census data shows that Wilmington’s population is changing as the area becomes more of a retirement destination.
Here’s why FinanceBuzz says retirees are leaving Florida for Wilmington, and what the data says about how the demographics of the Cape Fear region are changing.
to retire in NC
Retirees are leaving Florida
Make no mistake, Florida is still a major retirement destination. A recent study of 2025 migration trends from HireAHelper showed that Florida was still the country’s top retirement destination, attracting over 45,000 new residents aged 65 and older.
But almost just as many retirees left the state. And many of them headed to other states in the Southeast, including North Carolina, which had a net gain of roughly 3,200 retirement-aged adults.
It’s no secret that Wilmington can be an attractive destination for people leaving Florida. It offers the opportunity to stay close to the beach and in a mild climate. FinanceBuzz posited that cost is also playing a major role, as insurance and housing are cheaper than many of the major cities in Florida.
The article also pointed to Wilmington’s growing healthcare network as a significant factor attracting new residents 65 and older.
Wilmington is getting older
The data is clear: Wilmington’s population has been getting older.
In 2019, about 18% of the Wilmington area’s population was 65 or older, according to the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Fast forward to 2024 -- the most recent year on record – and that figure had increased to 25%.
Charlie Kingree is the Pender County and trending topics reporter for the StarNews. He can be reached at ckingree@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Why retirees are choosing Wilmington over Florida
