Where are boomers and Gen X moving in 2026?

Older Americans continue to account for the lion’s share of home buyers and sellers across the country. Data published earlier this year by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that during the year ending in June 2025, baby boomers represented 42% of all buyers and 55% of all sellers, while Generation X represented 25% of buyers and 23% of sellers.

While the bulk of these groups aren’t moving far when buying their next home, some boomers and Gen Xers are relocating to other cities and states to find improved affordability, be closer to family or enjoy a change of scenery in retirement.

In late July, U-Haul released its 2026 Midyear Migration Trends report, which revealed that Southeast and Sun Belt states are top destinations for boomers and Gen Xers who packed their bags for a one-way move during the year ending in June 2026.

HousingWire Data analyzed 10 of the top inbound metro areas for these age groups, according to the U-Haul report. The analysis offers home price, sales and supply trends for housing professionals — including reverse mortgage originators — to consider as they target business opportunities.

The HousingWire Data analysis looked at six metrics across single-family homes — including median list prices, annual price changes, estimated weekly sales, median days on market and months of inventory at the current sales pace. The data is current as of Aug. 8.

Additionally, the data includes a Market Action Index (MAI) rating, with scores above 30 indicating more favorable conditions for sellers and scores below 30 favoring buyers.

Across the metro areas analyzed for having large numbers of inbound moves from boomers and Gen Xers, HousingWire found that Wilmington, North Carolina, had the largest yearly price decline at -9.3%. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was the only market that showed meaningful price appreciation at +3.6%.

Unsurprisingly, the most populous metro in the dataset — Phoenix — led the way with an estimated 1,673 weekly sales. Daytona Beach, Florida, had the softest market conditions with 4.3 months of supply and an MAI of 27.7. And Spokane, Washington — despite being devastated by recent wildfires — had the fastest-moving market in the analysis with the median listing spending 56 days on the market.

Gainesville, Florida

Median list price: $379,000

Annual price change: -3.1%

Estimated weekly sales: 87

Median days on market: 84

Market Action Index: 35.9

Months of inventory: 2.4

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida

Median list price: $435,000

Annual price change: -5.4%

Estimated weekly sales: 523

Median days on market: 119

Market Action Index: 34.6

Months of inventory: 2.6

Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, South Carolina

Median list price: $429,900

Annual price change: +3.6%

Estimated weekly sales: 204

Median days on market: 70

Market Action Index: 32.4

Months of inventory: 3.0

Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Arizona

Median list price: $504,985

Annual price change: -2.9%

Estimated weekly sales: 1,673

Median days on market: 70

Market Action Index: 38.5

Months of inventory: 2.1

Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, South Carolina

Median list price: $505,000

Annual price change: -2.7%

Estimated weekly sales: 306

Median days on market: 63

Market Action Index: 34.4

Months of inventory: 2.6

Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona

Median list price: $415,000

Annual price change: -2.1%

Estimated weekly sales: 117

Median days on market: 84

Market Action Index: 35.0

Months of inventory: 2.5

Spokane, Washington

Median list price: $504,900

Annual price change: -2.9%

Estimated weekly sales: 180

Median days on market: 56

Market Action Index: 35.5

Months of inventory: 2.6

Tucson, Arizona

Median list price: $400,000

Annual price change: -3.6%

Estimated weekly sales: 316

Median days on market: 70

Market Action Index: 37.5

Months of inventory: 2.2

Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida

Median list price: $384,900

Annual price change: -1.3%

Estimated weekly sales: 157

Median days on market: 77

Market Action Index: 27.7

Months of inventory: 4.3

Wilmington, North Carolina

Median list price: $494,900

Annual price change: -9.3%

Estimated weekly sales: 244

Median days on market: 70

Market Action Index: 33.6

Months of inventory: 2.7