Boomer Urban Migration Myth

[RodFarlee]

Are older suburban homeowners returning to the cities that they may have fled years earlier, seeking provide better schools and recreational opportunities for their children? Are they fulfilling a lifetime dream of living within walking distance of upscale restaurants, museums, galleries and theaters?

In a word - no.

concludes the Current Population Survey, based on data from the US Census, Mortgage Bankers' Association and Radian. The study focussed on "retirement age" homeowners between the ages of 50 and 69, and covered the period 2000-2005.

Of those who moved from a Central City location:
35.4% moved to another urban location
52.5% had out-migrated to the suburbs
12.1% to a non-metropolitan area.

Of those who from from a suburban location:
79.5% moved to another suburban house or condo
11.1% moved into the Central City
9.4% moved to a non-metropolitan area.

The study concludes that suburban retirement-age homebuyers are not flocking to the cities in significant numbers and, in fact, not even in numbers sufficient to offset the effect of younger homeowners moving in the other direction.

[TalmudTemple]

It's also knowm as "reverse white flight"