Delaware has been a tax and retirement haven for a little while, and now it has the data to prove it.
A study from moving firm Hire a Helper and published by AARP said that Delaware is seventh in the nation in retirement-specific moves. Delaware is known for its low taxes and its proximity to major urban areas while maintaining a slow, family-friendly pace.
Moves to Delaware for retirement made up 6.2% of those moves nationally in 2024, the study said. The First State is between Tennessee, sixth, and Vermont, eighth. Massachusetts took first, slightly beating out Florida.
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However, in another category of moves made by all retirees, not just for retirement, Florida predictably crushed every other state.
Sussex County is the main destination for retirees, as it’s billed as a quiet place to live near the beach, at least for nine months out of the year. With an average age over 55, it is the oldest county in the state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly a third of the county’s population is 65 or older.
According to the Population Review Bureau, Delaware is the fifth-oldest state in the union by age, with more than 20% of the statewide population over the age of 65.
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Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware ranks high for retirement moves, AARP says