2006 State Report > Who We Are > Internal Migration
Who We Are: Internal Migration of the 65+ Population
Many retirees move to South Carolina due to its warm climate and tax advantages. South Carolina's geographic location and its emphasis on tourism can also explain much of the state's attractiveness to retirees. In fact, the South Carolina counties that have attracted the largest in-migration of retirees (like Beaufort, Georgetown and Horry) are major tourist destinations, reflecting the tendency for people to retire where they have previously vacationed.
In 2005, the Tax Foundation ranked South Carolina 33rd in the nation in terms of highest state and local tax burden. The state and local tax burden for South Carolina was 9.7 percent, while the national average state and local tax burden was 10.1 percent. South Carolina taxpayers paid $2,976 per capita for state and local taxes. When considering per capita state taxes only, South Carolina ranks 43rd nationally for 2004 based upon Census data. South Carolina taxpayers paid $1,621 per capita for state taxes in 2004.
The Tax Foundation also ranked South Carolina 35th in the nation for highest per capita state and local property tax collections in 2002. South Carolina's per capita property tax was $754, compared with the national average of $971.
Studies have shown that most migrant retirees are "amenity migrants," looking for places like South Carolina that will provide a new and better lifestyle. Among the most sought-after amenities are a low crime rate, low overall cost of living, mild climate, friendly neighbors and large cities nearby. These more affluent retirees stimulate economic growth in the state, helping to offset the strain to state resources caused by South Carolina's often less wealthy indigenous seniors.
Between 1995 and 2000, there were 31,789 people aged 65 and older who moved to South Carolina from another state. During the same time period, 16,029 people aged 65 and over moved out of South Carolina to some other state, for a net migration of 15,760 residents aged 65 and over. South Carolina's net migration rate for the period between 1995 and 2000 was 33.6, ranking fourth in the nation in terms of net migration gain for people aged 65 and older.
States with the Highest Net Migration Rates for the Population 65 Years and Over: 1995 to 2000
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000.
The net migration rate is based on an approximated 1995 older population, which is the sum of people 65 years and over in 2000 who reported living in an area in both 1995 and 2000 and those who reported living in that area in 1995 but had moved elsewhere. The net migration rate divides net migration, which is inmigration minus outmigration, by the approximated 1995 population and multiplies the result by 1,000.
South Carolina attracted most of its older movers from North Carolina, New York, and Florida. The following table ranks the top ten states for people aged 65 and older who moved to South Carolina between the years 1995 and 2000:
Top States for 65+ Movers to South Carolina Between 1995 and 2000
| Rank | Residence in 1995 | Movers Aged 65 and Over | % of Movers Aged 65 and Over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | 4,336 | 13.6 |
| 2 | New York | 3,951 | 12.4 |
| 3 | Florida | 3,429 | 10.8 |
| 4 | Georgia | 2,502 | 7.9 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 1,935 | 6.1 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 1,920 | 6.0 |
| 7 | Virginia | 1,525 | 4.8 |
| 8 | Ohio | 1,489 | 4.7 |
| 9 | Maryland | 1,093 | 3.4 |
| 10 | Connecticut | 985 | 3.1 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000, special tabulation.