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Demographics: Elders in Massachusetts |
Migration of the Older Population in Massachusetts
Introduction
Compared to individuals who are younger in age, people 65 and over are unlikely to move. Homes, neighborhoods,
family and friends tie seniors to their communities in Massachusetts, as they do elsewhere in the United States,
and relatively few leave the state in later life. Yet, because the geographic redistribution of seniors may
have substantial implications for local and state governments, public and social service agencies, and other
entities (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003), interest in the number and characteristics of the individuals who move to
Massachusetts, and who leave Massachusetts for another location, is considerable.
The U.S. Census Bureau obtains information on migration by asking people in the decennial census where they lived
five years previously (for the 2000 Census, respondents were asked where they lived in 1995). Using information
derived from this question, it is possible to determine how many residents of an area were not residents of the
community or state five years earlier, how many left the area, and the geographic places of origin and
destinations for the movers. Figures included in this report are obtained from special tabulations on migration
from the website of the U.S. Census Bureau1; additional information was generated by the authors from the Public
Use Microdata Samples of the 2000 Census of Population.
Older Migrants in Massachusetts
Figure 1 shows that the vast majority of the Massachusetts population aged 65 and over in 2000 reported that they
were also residents of Massachusetts in 1995. Although a substantial minority had moved within Massachusetts during
that time interval-moving to a different house or apartment, moving from Boston to the suburbs, or another
residential change-96% of those living in Massachusetts were residents of the Commonwealth five years previously.
This figure is reflective of the preference of older people across the U.S. to "age in place" in familiar surroundings.
Relatively few among the older population enumerated in Massachusetts in 2000 came from out of state (approximately 3%),
and even fewer came from abroad.
The statistics cited above tell us about the people who were residents of Massachusetts five years earlier, but
they do not shed light on how many left the Commonwealth between 1995 and 2000. In fact, the 22,000 seniors who
moved into Massachusetts between 1995 and 2000 from other states were more than balanced by the almost 37,000
seniors leaving Massachusetts during the same time period, resulting in a net loss of 14,434 individuals aged 65
and over. The resulting net migration rate of -16.6 per 1000 older residents for Massachusetts is the seventh
largest rate of population loss through migration among seniors in the nation (states with higher rates of net
loss for seniors include New York, Alaska, Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Michigan).
Although sizable, the net loss in older population experienced by Massachusetts in the last half of the 1990s
was relatively small in comparison to the loss of younger adults. Figure 2 shows the net internal migration
counts by age group between 1995 and 2000, and illustrates that the net loss among seniors was numerically smaller
than for all other adult age groups. The net migration counts represent the difference between the numbers entering
the state and the numbers in the same age group leaving the state during the 1995-2000 time period. The predominance
of negative values in the chart illustrates that, in almost all groups, more individuals left Massachusetts than
arrived through migration within the United States. The only age groups experiencing net gain through internal
migration to Massachusetts are those age 15 to 24, a pattern that may be largely attributed to the attractiveness
of the Commonwealth's institutions of higher education. All in all, about one-quarter of the total net loss of
54,708 persons experienced by Massachusetts between 1995 and 2000 is attributed to the loss of individuals age 65
and over.
Origins and Destinations of Older Migrants
Where are the older individuals who leave Massachusetts going? Figure 3 shows that most are heading either for
Florida or for a state geographically proximate to Massachusetts. More than 40% of the seniors leaving
Massachusetts for another state between 1995 and 2000 went to Florida, making this far and away the most popular
destination for senior migrants from the area. Eleven percent went elsewhere in the South, but more than one-third
went to another state in New England or elsewhere in the Northeast (including New York, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania). Only 13% went to a state in the Midwest or the West. Figure 4 shows that these same geographic
areas appear in the list of common origin points reported by the seniors migrating to Massachusetts in the same
time interval. About one-fifth of the seniors migrating to Massachusetts between 1995 and 2000 came from Florida,
with another 9% coming from elsewhere in the South. More than half (about 56%) came from elsewhere in New England
or the Northeast, with about 14% arriving from some other state. Although the origin and destination points of
older migrants in and out of Massachusetts are similar, Florida is a more popular destination among out-migrants,
while New England is a more popular origin among in-migrants.
Implications of Older Migration for Population Composition
One reason migration patterns are important is that they have implications for the absolute size of the population.
As reflected by the above figures, more older people are leaving Massachusetts than arriving through migration, so
on balance, migration patterns reduce the absolute size of the older population in Massachusetts. Another reason
migration patterns are of interest, however, is because they shape the demographic and social composition of the
residents of an area, especially if those entering or leaving through migration are significantly different
demographically from those staying in an area.
To address this issue, Figures 5 through 10 compare the characteristics of older in-migrants, out-migrants, and
stable (non-migrant) residents of Massachusetts. These figures reveal that the seniors leaving Massachusetts are by
and large wealthier and younger than their counterparts who stayed in Massachusetts. Moreover, those moving to
Massachusetts during this time period are older, poorer, and more disabled than those already here. The net result
of these countervailing migration patterns is that the processes of in- and out-migration among seniors both erode
the size of the older population and change the demographic profile of older residents of the Commonwealth who
remain in place.
Figure 5 compares the age distribution of the seniors leaving Massachusetts between 1995 and 2000 (the set of
figures on the left) with (1) those who moved to Massachusetts from another state during this time period, (2) those
who immigrated from another country to Massachusetts, and (3) those who lived in the Commonwealth in both 1995 and
2000. Comparing these figures across the migration groups illustrates that those leaving Massachusetts were younger
on average than those who stayed. For example, 57% of the seniors leaving the state were between the ages of 65 and
74, with only 12% over the age of 84. In contrast, 49% of the seniors staying in Massachusetts were 65-74, and 14%
were over the age of 84. Seniors moving to Massachusetts during this time period were older on average than either
of these groups. Fewer than half were aged 65-74, and 18% were age 85 or over. Although the absolute number of
individuals leaving the state in each of these age groups exceeds the number arriving, on balance one result of
these trends is a somewhat more rapid aging of the population of Massachusetts than would otherwise be the case.
The absolute size of the international immigrant senior population is quite small (totaling fewer than 7,000 seniors
entering Massachusetts from abroad between 1995 and 2000), yet this population is substantially younger than the
other groups, with about two-thirds being between the ages of 65 and 74.
The majority of seniors leaving Massachusetts are married and are presumed to leave the state with their spouses
(see Figure 6). Just over half of the senior out-migrants from Massachusetts were married, and about a third were
single women. The senior population living in Massachusetts throughout that time period was somewhat less likely to
be married and somewhat more likely to be single and female. In contrast, both internal and international arrivals
were disproportionately composed of unmarried women. Almost half of the senior arrivals from another state (and 47%
of the senior international arrivals) were unmarried women, and fewer than 40% were married. This pattern suggests
that, on balance, living conditions in the Commonwealth are somewhat more attractive to single individuals than to
their married counterparts. Coupled with the older age structure of movers to Massachusetts from other states, some
portion of this population may be composed of individuals who are return migrants to Massachusetts, perhaps having
survived a spouse.
Indeed, many of the seniors who moved to Massachusetts between 1995 and 2000 were born in Massachusetts and, thus,
they may be referred to as "return migrants." About 37% of the seniors moving to Massachusetts were born in the
Commonwealth (see Figure 7), with almost half having been born in another U.S. state and 15% having been born
outside of the U.S. (Although some of the other arrivals to Massachusetts may have lived in the Commonwealth at a
younger age and, as such, may be "returning" to the state, we cannot determine this with the Census data). Familiar
communities and neighborhoods, long-standing friendships, and the presence of nuclear and extended family members
likely all contribute to return migration of seniors to Massachusetts.
Figure 8 shows that the vast majority of the older population leaving Massachusetts, moving to Massachusetts, or
aging in place are White and non-Hispanic. Much more ethnic diversity characterizes the international immigrant
population of Massachusetts although, again, the absolute size of this population is quite small. The predominant
migration flows affecting the Massachusetts older population therefore have relatively little impact on the race
and ethnic composition of the state.
In addition to shaping the demographic composition of the older population, the pattern of migration has implications
for the financial well-being profile of the older residents of Massachusetts (see Figure 9). Compared to the economic
resources reported by older residents who lived in Massachusetts in both 1995 and 2000, 66% of whom reported living
in households with incomes more than 200% of the federal government-determined poverty threshold, seniors leaving
Massachusetts for another state were more likely to have better financial resources. Among those moving to another
state, almost three-quarters reported incomes more than 200% of the poverty line. In contrast, seniors moving to
Massachusetts from elsewhere in the United States were poorer on average: 18% reported incomes falling below the
poverty line, compared with 14% of those staying in Massachusetts. International arrivals were poorest of all-almost
one-quarter of these recent arrivals lived in poor households.
Migration flows also have implications for the disability profile of Massachusetts seniors (see Figure 10). Seniors
leaving Massachusetts between 1995 and 2000 are very similar to seniors staying behind with respect to disability;
in both groups, about 41% report some level of disability, including 12% reporting a health condition that limits
their self-care capacity. In contrast, close to half of those moving into the state from another state or another
country report some level of disability, including about 17% with a self-care disability. Inasmuch as those seniors
leaving Massachusetts are less disabled than those arriving through migration, on balance the processes of migration
result in the older population of the Commonwealth being somewhat more disabled than it might otherwise be.
Conclusion
Although most Massachusetts residents remain in familiar communities as they move through later life, U.S. Census data
show that more older people moved out of the Commonwealth between 1995 and 2000 than moved into the state. The
destination of choice for those leaving Massachusetts for other areas of the United States was Florida, with New
England destinations also popular. Smaller shares went to other states in the South or Northeast, but relatively few
were distributed elsewhere in the country. We expect that some of the older individuals who left Massachusetts between
1995 and 2000 will return, perhaps many years later. Indeed, seniors who moved to Massachusetts came primarily from
these same geographic areas, giving rise to migration streams that link Massachusetts with Florida and with other
states in New England.
The net loss of 14,434 individuals aged 65 and over during this time interval is significant not only numerically; the
loss also has implications for population composition of seniors living in the state. Within the senior population,
Massachusetts disproportionately loses through migration individuals who are younger and wealthier than those who remain
in the state. In contrast, those moving to Massachusetts from other states, many of whom are return migrants, are older,
poorer, and more disabled than the seniors who are already here. Together, these trends contribute to an older
population that is aging more rapidly, in poorer health, and with fewer financial resources than would occur in the
absence of migration. These migration patterns potentially place a burden on Massachusetts' safety net programs,
especially on Medicaid ( Massachusetts provides half of the financing for Medicaid, with the federal government providing
the rest). High-income elders, who might contribute to the funding of these programs through the payment of taxes,
are disproportionately lost through migration. In contrast, given their income and disability profiles, a
disproportionate share of elders coming to Massachusetts from other states is likely to be dependent on health and
long-term care services financed through Medicaid.
International arrivals are considerably younger than the internal migrants as well as those staying in Massachusetts.
Although the small absolute size of the pool of international arrivals limits the extent to which this component of
migration shapes the overall character of the older population, we note that, like arrivals from other states, older
immigrants to Massachusetts report relatively high disability and low financial resources. Communities that receive
relatively large numbers of older migrants, especially migrants who are aged 85 and over or who are immigrants from
other countries, can anticipate an increase in the demand for health care and social support services. However,
insofar as some portion of migration in later life is motivated by a desire to be close to family and friends,
informal supports are likely to offset some needs for formal assistance.
--Report by Jan Mutchler and Hannah Lee
References
- See tables at:
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/phc-t23.html
- He, W. & Schachter, J. P. (2003). Internal migration of the older population: 1995 to 2000. Census 2000
Special Reports, U.S. Census Bureau.
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