By Editor,Martha Williams

Copyright dailymail

Retirement isn’t always palm trees and pickleball. From New Mexico to New York, seniors are quietly packing up and leaving towns once thought to be their ‘forever homes.’

Rising costs and safety concerns are sending retirees packing – even from places that promised peace, community and affordable living. And a new analysis shows where they are fleeing fastest.

And while some might assume states like California and New York are ‘obvious candidates’ for population decline, Heather Taylor, senior personal finance writer at GOBankingRates said this new data paints a bigger picture.

‘These shifts are happening across a wide range of states,’ Taylor said told the Daily Mail.

‘In fact, several states traditionally viewed as affordable retirement destinations appear prominently in the rankings.’

She mentioned New Mexico and Florida – often considered a retirement haven – as two states with a surprising number of towns on the decline for retirees.

According to Taylor, these population shifts ‘reflect a nationwide trend influenced by a mix of economic and lifestyle factors.’

Certainly, retirees need to be mindful of their economic position when choosing a location to settle down in. Most get their income from Social Security, personal savings and investments (like 401(k)s, IRAs and brokerage accounts) or employer-provided pension plans.

With a median income of $54,710 for Americans 65 and older – or an inflated $83,950 when top earners are counted – retirees need to pick their spots carefully if they want comfort, community and a manageable cost of living in their later years.

Researchers from GOBankingRates analyzed towns where at least 20 percent of residents are 65 or older and the total population is at least 5,000.

They then ranked each town by the five-year change in its retiree population.

At the top of the list is Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. (Yes, that’s the real name.)

Once a draw for its slow pace, outdoor activities and low cost of living, the town – renamed from Hot Springs in 1950 – has seen a 25 percent drop in residents aged 65 and older over the past five years.

North Hills, New York, a Long Island suburb known for independent and assisted living, is not faring much better.

Sky-high home prices – a median of $2.6million – and steep property taxes have pushed retirees elsewhere, resulting in a 23.5 percent decline.

Third on the list is Oak Brook, Illinois, which has seen a 22.8 percent decrease over the last five years.

Oak Brook is an affluent suburb located 15 miles west of downtown Chicago. Retirees are leaving in droves, perhaps due to the high property taxes and overall cost of living in both the state and the town specifically. High taxes can quickly drain a fixed retirement income.

‘The median sale price in Oak Brook is around $860,000, which is more than double the US median,’ a representative from local realtor group the Sarah Leonard Team told the Daily Mail.

‘While the tax rate there is actually relatively low, the property value keeps the taxes higher than most retirees or fixed income individuals could afford.’

The realtor explained that while residents can enjoy upscale amenities and access to high-end shopping and dining, these are not qualities that entice ‘most retirees.’

Even Florida’s Fort Myers Beach, usually a retirement paradise, is not immune. It was next on the list with a decline of 21.2 percent. Like many Florida cities, Fort Myers offers an attractive lifestyle of warm weather, outdoor activities and a retiree-friendly environment.

But rising HOA fees and insurance costs in the state prone to natural disasters are a significant concern, especially for those on a fixed income. Additionally, as Americans flocked to Florida after the pandemic, housing prices jumped more than in most other areas.

East Cleveland, Ohio, rounds out the top five, losing 21.1 percent of its retiree population amid high crime rates, increases in poverty and decaying properties. These factors make the area unpopular with retirees, who would likely rather opt for safer, more stable environments.

So while the trends are certainly shifting for those looking to relocate in retirement, there appears to be a lot more to consider than just the weather.